Jake Paul officially has his next date in the ring, but this time he will be competing against an actual professional fighter.
The controversial YouTuber turned celebrity boxer will face UFC fighter Ben Askren in an eight-round pro boxing match on April 17, according to ESPN‘s Ariel Helwani. The tilt will be hosted under the Triller Fight Club banner and will act as the main event.
Askren received special permission from UFC to take the fight, Helwani reports. The 36-year-old retired from MMA last year and underwent successful hip surgery in August.
Paul has caused waves in the boxing world after his debut last January against fellow YouTuber Ali Loui Al-Fakhri (also known as AnEsonGib). In November, he beat former NBA player Nate Robinson in a second-round knockout that sent Twitter into overdrive.
Since then, Paul has been called out by many athletes, like NHL winger Evander Kane and NFL running back Le’Veon Bell.
Paul’s brother, Logan Paul, is also preparing to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an exhibition boxing match tentatively scheduled for Feb. 20.
Jake Paul, like his brother, has been embroiled in controversies and has come under fire for calling COVID-19 a “hoax,” throwing a maskless party at his mansion in July amid the pandemic, being accused of participating in a riot at an Arizona mall during George Floyd protests and having the FBI confiscate weapons from his home as part of a raid.
