Ben Askren Admits He Can’t Beat Jake Paul in Boxing

Published 11/23/2021, 8:30 AM EST

Ben Askren embraced the biggest humiliation of his combat career after suffering a first-round TKO loss against Jake Paul in April 2021. The decision of lacing the pro-boxing gloves after his UFC exit was a lucrative idea, but it didn’t prove to be very effective for Askren’s fighting legacy.

Although a few people had backed Ben Askren to beat ‘The Problem Child’, Askren himself has admitted to lacking the capabilities to do so. A veteran wrestler in his prime, Askren had negligible striking accolades. Jorge Masvidal exploited that and handed him a record five-second KO at UFC 239.

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Subsequently, Ben Askren lost to Demian Maia in October 2019 and ended his UFC journey with a 1-2 record. While social media star turned boxer Jake Paul could also beat him in a pro-boxing bout, Askren has shared his views on a potential rematch against ‘The Problem Child’.

In interaction with Lex Clips, ‘Funky’ said, “I am not probably very good. I think he [Jake Paul] is pretty good actually and I am not very good. Now at a low point for me, because when I started training for that I was like 215 pounds, which is the heaviest I have ever been. I came off my hip surgery. Like when I said yes, I will do it like I had literally started working out the week before.”

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The scrap between Askren and Paul was a lopsided affair. ‘Funky’ couldn’t offer anything from his end, and Paul had an easy night. Per reports, Askren earned a whopping $500,000 just to show. Thus, the financial benefits clearly raised Askren’s net worth.

Will we ever see Ben Askren fight again?

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Before the defeat against Jorge Masvidal, Askren was arguably one of the best fighters in the world. He was 19-0 and had held multiple MMA world titles.

With three straight pro combat losses to his name, Ben Askren has faced sheer criticisms from the fans. He is no longer associated with an MMA organization and the chances of him appearing in action are bleak. However, relying on his global fame, ‘Funky’ can re-appear if offered the right deal at the time right time.

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What do you make of Askren’s comments on a potential Paul rematch?

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Written by:

A senior boxing writer at EssentiallySports, Raj Sarkar is a mass media graduate who is currently pursuing his master’s degree in broadcast journalism. In addition to his current role, he has worked with the MMA team at EssentiallySports and has interviewed prominent fighters such as Ritu Phogat and 'The Red King' Rory MacDonald. Combining his bachelor's degree with his adoration for combat sports, he has earned a combined 3000 plus bylines over the last two years.

Ben Askren Admits He Can’t Beat Jake Paul in Boxing

Will we ever see Ben Askren fight again?

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