JAKE PAUL has issued a heartfelt message of support to former opponent Ben Askren – who needs a life-saving lung transplant.
Askren – who was knocked out by Paul in April 2021 – has been in hospital for weeks over complications from severe pneumonia – following a staph infection.
The former UFC star will need to undergo a lung transplant and has been placed on the waiting list as he continues to fight alongside his beloved wife Amy.
Paul, ahead of his next fight on Saturday against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, spoke out in support of his old adversary.
He said: “My prayers go out to him. I feel sorry for his family, I can’t imagine what they’re going through.
“I just hope that he can recover because there’s so much more to life besides fighting and careers.
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“I’m wishing him the best and I’m here if they need any support.”
Paul, 28, knocked out Askren, 40, in round one of what was his third professional boxing bout.
He has since improved to 11-1 and returns against former middleweight world champion Chavez Jr, 39, in California.
Askren has not fought since his boxing debut loss to Paul – also retiring from MMA in 2019 after a brief run in the UFC.
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The father-of-three – to daughters Alex and Andy and son Ozi – had been unresponsive and in a critical condition in a Las Vegas hospital earlier this month.
He has since been moved to a facility near his home in Wisconsin.
Paul’s promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian added: “(Jake) hit me up two weeks ago when the news broke.
“He asked me if I had heard and I said no. He said ‘I wanted to reach out to his family but I think it’s inappropriate. But if they need anything, I’m there for them,’ and that’s who this kid is.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
