LAS VEGAS – They were supposed to be separated by plexiglass according to the COVID-19 protocols, but Jake Paul didn’t want any of that when it came time to face Ben Asrken at Triller’s press conference.
Paul hit Askren in the face and said nonsense, which he had done almost without interruption since he entered the closed set in Sin City. When he turned to the cameras, however, Askren kept looking and then slapped him across the face and left.
Paul could have tricked the UFC veteran right there, but he contented himself with a backward push to his opponent.
That was a rather lukewarm end to a press conference full of bravado and insults as the April 17 headliners promoted the event at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Askren barely took the bait offered by the excited Paul and slipped in a line while his youngest opponent scored Jorge Masvidal for some extra jabs.
YouTube star Paul competes in the third professional boxing match of his career against Askren, a career fighter and MMA fighter who is making his debut in the square circle. The fight is the headline of the April 17 event, five months after Triller’s online blockbuster with Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr.
Check out the full press conference below: