Jake Paul and Ben Askren hype Triller fight with insults

Social media star Jake Paul and MMA fighter Ben Askren added drama to their April 17 boxing bout with a war of words during their press conference. 

Jake Paul and Ben Askren headline a Triller Fight Club boxing card on Saturday, April 17, and got the drama started with heated words and physicality.

Paul (2-0, 2 KOs) is a social media star trying to make a career in boxing. He boasts over 20 million subscribers on YouTube and is undefeated during his boxing campaign. His boxing wins go down as professional bouts, although his wins came against fellow social media star AnEsonGib and former NBA player Nate Robinson. In November, Paul’s knockout of Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. card went viral for its ferocity.

Askren (19-2) was an elite MMA fighter before retiring in 2019 after his second consecutive loss. He held the Bellator and ONE welterweight championships. He’s now 36 years old and is giving boxing a try against the 24-year-old Paul in a professional boxing match scheduled for 8 rounds. This contest marks Askren’s boxing debut.

During a press conference on March 26, Paul and Askren fielded questions from the media and also traded verbal barbs, likely in an attempt to add drama to their Triller pay-per-view bout.

Paul and Askren insulted each other well before media members asked them questions.

“Anyway, I would do a homicide on you if I wanted to,” said Askren if they were ever to meet in a dark alley.

Jake Paul and Ben Askren combine to add hype to their April 17 Triller Fight Club boxing match from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

Paul did a lot of talking as well. He’s treating this like a serious boxing match with lots of soap opera-like theater.

“And there’s a large majority of people who think he’s going to win,” said Paul. “And then there’s others — there’s the other half who know I’m going to win.”

Askren is a former professional fighter, but Paul doesn’t think his skills will transfer well to the boxing ring.

“I think he’ll be easier to beat than Nate Robinson,” Paul told FanSided during the press conference.

After the press conference, Paul and Askren went face-to-face to take photos. The words continued to fly, but Askren put his hand up to Paul’s face and gave it a push as he turned and walked away. Paul retaliated with a shove to Askren’s back.

Paul and Askren are doing a proper job of selling their fight. The fight is produced by Triller and can be streamed through the FITE.TV app for $49.99. In addition to Paul vs. Askren, professional boxers Regis Prograis and Ivan Redkach will square off as the co-main event.

Other boxing bouts are on the card, along with musical performances from Snoop Dogg’s supergroup E-40, Justin Bieber, and more artists, which should culminate in a unique event.