By Henry Aldrich
YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul sent Ben Askren to the canvas with a straight right hand midway through the first round of their cruiserweight fight, and even though Askren got up, referee Brian Stutts decided Askren couldn’t go on, giving Paul a first-round knockout at 1:59 in the first round at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Paul (3-0, 3 KO) then collapsed to the canvas in tears before celebrating and doing pushups in the ring.
Paul was patient for the first minute while Askren chased him around the ring.
Then, as Paul began to get comfortable, he made quick work of the 36-year-old Askren. Paul set up the straight right with a jab, and the solid contact sent Askren down. After the fight, Paul climbed up into the broadcast booth to celebrate with Snoop Dogg.
“It’s been four months. I’ve been in training camp every day,” Paul said on Triller after the fight. “I deserved that s—. This is the craziest moment of my life.
“I told y’all I was going to do it in the first round. I told y’all I’m a real fighter. I don’t know how many times I’ve got to prove myself this is for real.”
Paul landed 9 of 26 punches in the fight, while Askren landed 3 of 14 punches. It was the last two of Paul’s punches that did the most damage. Paul told Snoop Dogg after the fight he didn’t even get a chance to really get warmed up.
