Having YouTube celebrity Logan Paul as the special guest of honour for Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 37 was quite the coup for WWE. That being said, Paul probably didn’t expect the night to end as it did, winding up being carried out of the ring after being dropped to the floor with a trademark stunner. Meanwhile, Kevin Owens celebrated his victory in style and possibly showed what is in store for Paul’s sibling, Jake, who will be battling Ben Askren in the boxing ring.
Welcome to @WWE, @LoganPaul! Thanks for coming. #WrestleMania @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/UMSGjLIuWY
— WWE (@WWE) April 12, 2021
The big event will be the third professional bout for the 24-year-old, scheduled for April 17 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Taking place at a huge and impressive venue, millions are expected to tune in.
When the bout was first announced in December 2020, the choice of opponent caught many by surprise. However, the majority of boxing tipsters were predicting a comfortable victory for Jake Paul against Ben Askren, the vastly experienced but retired former MMA star. After all, Ben Askren was known for his grappling and wrestling skills, rather than his punching power.
Nevertheless, as the event draws closer the odds have been shortening. Indeed, the latest Jake Paul vs Ben Askren odds would seem to suggest a tight contest, which could go the full distance of eight rounds. Jake Paul is the slight 4/5 favourite and still expected to go for an early knockout victory, having won his first two fights via that approach.
However, nobody should underestimate the boxing potential of Ben Askren, who has been working with some prominent pugilism experts, aiming to improve the impact and precision of his punches. Still, after Logan Paul was unceremoniously floored at WrestleMania 37, there’s every chance that Ben Askren might chance doing the same to Jake Paul next weekend.
Ben Askren appeared to be finished with fighting, following two hugely disappointing UFC defeats, which lead to the 36-year-old announcing his immediate retirement from the professional MMA scene. Then came the online smack-talk with Jake Paul, who goaded the veteran wrestler and mixed martial artist into a professional boxing match.
Jake Paul is certainly no stranger to talking the talk, which has earned him over 20 million subscribers on YouTube, although he’s also shown he can walk the walk since becoming a pro boxer. By comparison, Ben Askren has never participated in a professional boxing match, which might lead to him turning to some tricks from his wrestling repertoire.
The man known as ‘Funky’ might be tempted to get dirty, according to the predictions of UFC coach Firas Zahabi, who believes Jake Paul can expect to get a serious mauling in the boxing ring. Ben Askren may clinch and jostle his opponent, rather than box cleanly, looking to sap the stamina of his much younger opponent.
If that happens, don’t be too surprised to see Jake Paul hitting the canvas, in the same unforgiving way his older brother Logan Paul did at WrestleMania 37. Even at the risk of disqualification, Ben Askren will push boxing rules to their very limits, aiming to beat the online celebrity he now faces.
