YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul didn’t just claim victory over former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.—he also used the spotlight to support a former rival in need. In his post-fight interview, ‘The Problem Child’ took a moment to highlight the severe crisis facing Ben Askren. But why does Askren need help?

The former Olympian and MMA fighter was hospitalized earlier this month with a severe case of pneumonia, which quickly escalated due to a staph infection. According to his wife, Amy Askren, he was in critical condition, unresponsive and sedated in a Wisconsin hospital. Subsequent updates revealed he was on a ventilator and ECMO machine but had begun showing signs of improvement.

Eventually, doctors determined Askren would require a lung transplant. Thankfully, with infections under control, he was officially added to the transplant list and is now awake. UFC President Dana White also offered support, sharing a donation link on his Instagram story. “Click the link to help Ben Askren,” he posted. And today, Paul joined the cause after his unanimous decision win over Chavez Jr.

During the post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, Paul stated, “I just want to take a moment to say a prayer for Ben Askren and I am praying for his family and we all need to support him. He has a donation link that everyone should go and donate to. I talked to a couple of my friends, me and Logan, we’re going to be donating some money. So everyone should donate to that. Prayers to Ben Askren and his family.”

Jake Paul had defeated Askren when the two faced each other back in April 2021 via first-round knockout. Regardless, this isn’t the first time Paul has spoken about Askren’s current health crisis. 

Jake Paul shares an emotional message with Ben Askren

Earlier this month, Jake Paul sent an emotional message of support for Ben Askren, who is currently battling a severe health crisis. Despite their heated past rivalry, ‘The Problem Child’ was sincere when expressing concern over his former opponent. “My prayers go out to him,” Paul told reporters before his fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

“I feel sorry for his family, I can’t imagine what they’re going through,” he added. “I just hope that he can recover because there’s so much more to life besides fighting and careers. I’m wishing him the best, and I’m here if they need any support.” Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s business partner, later revealed that Paul wanted to get in touch with Askren’s family. But he chose to wait out of respect.

That being said, Jake Paul seems to have joined the line of supporters to help Ben Askren in his time of need. Everyone from EssentiallySports wishes Askren and his family a fast recovery. What did you make of Paul’s gesture?