JAKE PAUL scored a brutal first-round knockout victory over Ben Askren to stretch his undefeated professional record to 3-0.
The YouTuber locked horns with the former UFC welterweight in the early hours of the morning in the main event of Triller Fight Club’s second event in Atlanta, Georgia.
And the ex-Disney star made light work of the former Bellator and ONE Championship 170lb champ, starching him in under a minute with a vicious one-two combo.
An elated Paul said: “This is the craziest moment of my life.
“I told y’all I was gonna 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 that this is for real.”
Paul, 24, started the contest on the front foot, immediately taking the centre of the ring and finding a home for his right hand early doors.
Unsurprisingly, Olympic wrestler Askren, 36, looked to clinch and make the fight a dirty contest.
But he carelessly ate shots as he looked to close the distance and implement his rough-house tactics.
Paul soon became wise to Funky’s game plan and looked to establish his range with his jab.
And his piston-like jab set up a beautiful straight right that sent Askren hurtling to the canvas.
Askren managed to beat the count, although the referee deemed his legs to still be wobbly and called a halt to the contest.
A dejected Askren took to Twitter shortly after his ill-fated boxing debut, writing: “Sorry world.”
Victory over Askren saw Paul remain in the ranks of the unbeaten and answer some of his critics.
The social media star was emotional after the fight and dedicated the victory to his late security guard Shamir ‘Shadow’ Bolivar, who passed away earlier this month.
He said: “This is for Shadow, my security guard, who passed away ten days ago.
“He told me I would knock him out in the first round. He said he had a vision, a dream.
“This has been the hardest ten days of my life. I had to hold it together to keep it going. And I’m just honoured to be here.”
A defiant Paul then sent a message to all the detractors he’s encountered throughout his life.
He continued: “Just a couple of years ago, my teachers were making fun of me in class, telling me I can’t do nothing, telling me I wasn’t smart.
“My schoolmates making fun of me. I used to landscape.
“I just had a dream and I chased it and I worked hard. To think that I’m standing here next to these legends, these legends right here, it’s unbelievable.”
Before the broadcast ended, Triller commentator Snoop Dogg demanded UFC president Dana White stump up the $1million he bet on Askren to beat Paul.
The rapper yelled: “Dana White, where my money at?”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
