Jake Paul and Ben Askren showed up at about the same weight, but in notably different physical condition ahead of Saturday night’s Triller Fight Club PPV main event.
Paul (2-0, 2 KO) weighed in at 191½ while Askren, making his boxing debut, weighed in at 191.
But Askren, the 36-year-old former MMA standout, was soft and had what Paul described as a “beer belly,” while the 24-year-old YouTuber was fit and in shape as he usually is. He’s a good bit taller than Askren, too.
Here’s a photo of the two side-by-side, plus Askren straight up on the scales:
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“I thought Jake Paul’s cheerleading squad was quite rude,” a seemingly indifferent Askren joked in his interview with Ray Flores. “We’ve got the legendary Michael Buffer up here, these motherfuckers are interrupting him. That was terrible! Rude, guys!”
Askren predicted a seventh round TKO, though to be clear he didn’t say which one of them would win.
“I see a guy who’s underestimating me. I see a guy who’s taking this as a joke. I see a guy who said, ‘I have to take a shit’ in the face-off,” Paul said. “This is the last 24 hours that we will all have to hear Ben Askren. This one means a lot to me.”
Paul dedicated the fight to his bodyguard “Shadow,” who passed away, and said of Askren, “I don’t think he makes it out of two rounds. I mean, look at the guy. He’s got a beer belly. Clearly didn’t take training camp seriously. Look we all did the talking, we did the entertainment shit, but now it’s time to let the fists fly.”
Askren then made a joke about Paul’s hairline after Paul left the stage.
This is an editorial, my opinion, doesn’t have to be yours or anyone else’s: Ben Askren does not care about this fight, and Jake Paul seemed low-key legit embarrassed about how Askren showed up on the scales. That’s the first time I’ve ever described a Jake Paul public emotion as “legit.”
Pay-Per-View Undercard (9 pm ET, PPV)
In the co-feature, former 140 lb titlist Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (25-1, 21 KO) is back in a 10-round bout against Ivan Redkach (23-5-1, 18 KO), the only true boxer vs boxer fight on the main card. Prograis weighed in at 143, with Redkach at 142, both good to go.
Former UFC champion Frank Mir will have a massive weight advantage as he makes his pro debut against 44-year-old former cruiserweight champ Steve Cunningham (29-9-1, 13 KO), but that may not do much for him in the ring. The 41-year-old Mir, never known for his stand-up game, weighed in at 276 lbs, with Cunningham still shredded and fit at 206. Cunningham has not fought since 2017, and took this fight as a replacement for Antonio Tarver, who couldn’t get licensed in Georgia.
The opener will see entrepreneur/”boxer” Joe Fournier (8-0, 8 KO, hasn’t “fought” since 2016) face reggaeton artist Reykon, who has never fought before. Fournier weighed in at 187, with Reykon at 178½, which would be a bad enough difference if we didn’t point out that Reykon also weighed in wearing socks, sandals, shorts, a hoodie, and a football jersey over the hoodie.
“Freeview” fights (8 pm ET, Fite TV)
- Junior Younan 171½ vs Jeyson Minda 171½
- Quinton Randall 149 vs William Jackson 144