ATLANTA – Jake Paul says Ben Askren won’t be able get away with any trickery in their boxing match.
Not long after Saturday’s Triller Fight Club headliner was announced earlier this year, Askren told MMA Junkie there were no clauses in his contract that would prevent him from using MMA tactics, such as a takedown or slam. In the days leading up to the contest, however, that’s apparently changed.
Paul said the contracts have been finalized for the eight-round bout at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and there’s specific language that will severely penalize Askren.
“I don’t think the fight will last long enough for him to even think about taking me down,” Paul told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “We just signed the bout agreement days ago. He will lose his purse if he does that. … If he does do something like that, his purse is eliminated in the bout agreement. If he wants to lose all the money for the fight, then sure, go ahead. I am beating him up in wrestling shoes. He’s going to get beat up in wrestling shoes, which I think is hilarious.”
According to Askren, however, Paul’s claim isn’t true (via Twitter).
This is false https://t.co/G0RzMwb6qF
— Funky (@Benaskren) April 14, 2021
This is false
As far as the fight, many pundits believe Askren’s best chance of winning will be to rough up Paul by clinch fighting and dirty boxing, trying to wear him down. Askren has predicted a seventh-round TKO, which aligns with the thinking that a longer fight would better serve him well.
Paul said he’s well aware of Askren’s best path to victory, but he has no intention of allowing it to happen.
“I don’t think Ben will be able to get near me,” Paul said. “My distance control is 10 times better than his. And if he does, he’s going to get busted up on the inside. That’s one thing we really worked on in this camp is my inside fighting game. He can come in, but he’s going to get cracked. If he wants to hold me, he’s just going to be losing by points.”
In the lead-up to Saturday’s fight, Paul has dealt with personal issues. He released a lengthy statement denying a sexual assault allegation made by TikTok personality Justine Paradise. Prior to that, his longtime head of security, Shadow, died of a heart attack.
Paul said he’s using the latter situation as inspiration, and he wants to fulfill a prediction that was presented one day prior to his friend’s sudden passing.
“Early knockout for Shadow,” Paul said. “Shadow said it’s going to be 2:28 in the first round, and he said he had a vivid dream and he told me that the day before he passed away.”
