Top UFC lightweight Michael Chandler weighed in on the latest celebrity boxing match.
UFC lightweight Michael Chandler, who turned himself into a title contender with a KO of Dan Hooker at UFC 257, is sticking up for his fellow Bellator alum. He did so while speaking to ESPN recently about Ben Askren’s chances versus Jake Paul in the boxing ring.
“I’m telling you, Ben Askren’s gonna beat Jake Paul,” said Chandler (ht bjpenn.com). “Listen, you can say Ben Askren’s boxing isn’t that good, and it’s not, I will agree with you on that. But when it comes to dirty boxing, under hooks, pushing, pulling, grabbing heads. I mean, you’re gonna be in there for eight rounds straight, 16-24 minutes plus a minute in between, Jake Paul will get worn down, Ben Askren won’t. Depending on the ruleset, depending on the referee, depending on how quickly they’re going to break ’em up, Ben is gonna wear on ’em, close the distance, then it’s gonna be really hard to punch Ben Askren when he’s up in your face, pulling on you, punching you to the body, punching you to the head. Albeit, they may be pitter-patter… Ben Askren knocks out Jake Paul, seventh round.”
Askren vs. Paul is currently slated for April 17. The event is promoted by online video platform Triller. That company promoted Paul’s last fight; a demolition of former NBA player Nate Robinson on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr.
The Robinson win took Paul’s pro boxing record to 2-0. His pro debut came in January 2020, when he TKO’d fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib.
Askren retired from MMA in 2019 after a 1-2 run in the UFC where he defeated Robbie Lawler and lost to Jorge Masvidal and Demian Maia.
Prior to joining the UFC Askren was undefeated in a career that spanned eight years and included his clinching of Bellator and ONE welterweight titles.