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      UFC’s Dustin Poirier says he’d be a ‘bum’ if he couldn’t beat Jake Paul in three rounds as YouTuber prepares for Askren

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      UFC star Dustin Poirier admits he’d consider himself a ‘bum’ if he couldn’t knock out Jake Paul in under three rounds.YouTuber Paul is currently gearing up for a boxing match with former UFC welterweight Ben Askren, whom he’ll face a fortnight on Saturday.
      Jake Paul, left, is gearing up to box former UFC star Ben AskrenCredit: Getty
      Jake Paul has ruffled feathers in the boxing and MMA worldsCredit: Getty
      Shockingly, the former Disney actor turned professional boxer is the favourite going into his showdown with the former Olympic wrestler – despite only having two fights to his name.
      The entire MMA community is rooting for Askren to put a beating on the outspoken Paul brother.
      And if he were in Askren’s shoes, Poirier would be embarrassed if he didn’t get the better of the social media star early in the contest.
      He tweeted: “Also while Im at it if i can’t get Jake Paul outta there in 3 rounds im a bumb [sic].”
      The Diamond was quickly quizzed about Paul’s relationship with his American Top Team team-mate Jorge Masvidal.
      A fan tweeted: “Why is Jorge friends with him after Jake called you a bum fighter?”

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      And the Louisiana fighter didn’t mince his words when responding to the question.
      He said: “Ask Jorge what he thinks will happen if i put them paws on Jake.”
      Former ONE Championship and Bellator 170lb king Askren has vowed to drag Paul into deep waters and finish him.
      But the YouTuber – who is 2-0 as a pro following wins over AnEson Gib and ex-NBA star Nate Robinson – is adamant the 36-year-old won’t lay a glove on him.
      Jake Paul will face Ben Askren a fortnight on SaturdayCredit: TRILLER

      He told ESPN: “Go Google Ben Askren’s striking.
      “Hahaha. It’s not going to go that long, it’s not going to go that long.
      “I don’t even think he’ll hit me. I haven’t been hit one time in the face in my past two fights.
      “So I haven’t even been punched as pro boxer one time. Nate Robinson landed one body shot in a clinch.
      “I don’t think Ben Askren will even hit me. That’s my prediction.”
      Jake Paul taunts Ben Askren during press conference by FaceTiming Jorge Masvidal More

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      UFC boss Dana White sets Ben Askren up with trainer Freddie Roach for Jake Paul fight after $2m bet on MMA star

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      BEN ASKREN revealed it was UFC president Dana White who set him up with legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach. Askren, who retired from the UFC in 2019, is preparing to fight YouTuber Jake Paul on April 17.
      Ben Askren and UFC president Dana WhiteCredit: Getty
      YouTuber Jake Paul fights Ben Askren on April 17Credit: Getty
      Paul has called out White several times, and his leading star Conor McGregor.
      And the promoter has grown such a dislike to the social media star, he was willing to help Askren out by linking him up with Roach in Los Angeles.
      Askren, 36, told The Schmo: “Dana’s my buddy now. We’re good. You know, it’s funny how circumstances bring people together sometimes.
      “Even when the UFC traded for me, Dana and I weren’t buddy buddy necessarily and now he really wants me to beat up Jake Paul.”
      Askren was long considered the best MMA talent outside of the UFC, and White refused to sign the former Olympic wrestler.
      But in 2018, Askren traded with ex-UFC champion Demetrious Johnson, who instead moved to ONE Championship in Asia.
      The American grappler had three UFC fights, losing two, the last against Damian Maia in October 2019.
      Afterwards, Askren retired and underwent hip surgery, but this January accepted a fight against Paul.

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      The internet sensation has two knockouts in as many fights, but only against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 36.
      As a result, UFC boss White told Mike Tyson, 54, he would bet $1m on Askren to win.
      Paul, 24, wanted to up the anti to $2m alongside rapper Snoop Dogg, but they were never taken up on the offer.
      UFC star Colby Covington says Jake Paul is ‘an embarrassment to society’ More

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      UFC star Colby Covington says Jake Paul is ‘an embarrassment to society’ and hopes Ben Askren ‘shuts his mouth’

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      COLBY COVINGTON called Jake Paul ‘an embarrassment to society’ and hopes Ben Askren ‘shuts his mouth’. Paul faces retired UFC welterweight Askren on April 17 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
      Jake Paul fights Ben Askren on April 17Credit: Getty
      Colby Covington called Jake Paul ‘an embarrassment to society’Credit: Getty
      It will be the YouTuber’s third professional fight, having won the first two by knockout.
      Since his debut in 2020, Paul, 24, has become one of the most polarising fighters in the world, for his brash callouts and loft ambitions.
      But Covington – a UFC mouthpiece in his own right – has backed former rival Askren to silence the internet sensation in the ring.
      He told Helen Yee: “Hopefully Ben goes out there and knocks out Jake Paul.
      “I’m just sick of hearing him talk. He’s just running his mouth and there’s no substance behind anything he says.
      “I think he will [beat Paul], I think he’s just going to put that pressure on him.
      “If he uses the clinch and just ties him up and just gets him tired, there’s no doubt he has a better gas tank than Jake Paul – some little YouTuber.
      “The kid’s a complete joke, he’s an embarrassment to society, he’s an embarrassment to the MMA and boxing world in general.
      “I hope Ben goes out there and shuts his mouth.”

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      Paul beat online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ in January last year before leaving ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 36, out cold in November.
      But Askren, 36, an ex-ONE Championship and Bellator champion, provides the social media phenomenon his biggest step up in competition.
      Paul recently revealed he aims to bring other MMA fighters over boxing, having previously called out Conor McGregor, 32.
      He told Triller: “I want to bring these big name MMA fighters into the boxing ring.
      “With boxing the sky is the limit. I think the potential of what we can make with doing this in the next couple of years is massive.
      “It can become something huge where we’re making hundreds of millions of dollars.”
      Jake Paul taunts Ben Askren during press conference by FaceTiming Jorge Masvidal More

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      Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury could CLASH with Conor McGregor’s mega UFC trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’s blockbuster undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury could end up clashing with Conor McGregor’s latest venture to the octagon.The long-awaited Battle of Britain is in the works for the summer, with both parties working towards a June or July date.
      Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury could take place in July, according to Eddie HearnCredit: PA
      Conor McGregor’s UFC trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier is slated for July 10Credit: Reuters
      Matchroom boxing chief Eddie Hearn, however, recently claimed the fight could take place in the ‘first week’ or the ‘backend’ of July.
      That could end up being a cause for concern as McGregor’s trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier is currently targeted for the same month.
      The third instalment of McGregor vs Poirier is set to headline UFC 264 on July 10.
      The good news for Hearn, however, is the former featherweight rivals’ series decider has yet to be finalised.
      Staging the biggest fight in the history of British boxing in the same month as Poirier vs McGregor III could end up having a detrimental effect on pay-per-view buys for both fights.
      Fight fans in the USA will likely have to pay $89.95 – the price of the much-maligned Mayweather vs McGregor PPV in 2017 – to watch Joshua vs Fury and a further $69.99 to view UFC 264.
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      Those in the UK will have to stump up a minimum of £40 to watch both fights, that is if Joshua vs Fury isn’t priced more than the usual £19.95.
      But Hearn is confident Joshua and Fury’s long-overdue meeting will indeed take place in July.
      During an appearance on The AK and Barak show, he said: “In July.
      “The date depends on many different things. For one venue, it’s the backend of July, and for another venue, it’s the first week of July.
      “There’s been a bit of talk about Wembley, which is difficult, but we got 100,000 capacity, which the government is working towards.

      “Wembley is trying to initiate full capacity. So if we did have full capacity at the end of July, Wembley comes into the conversation.
      “In AJ’s head, this comes down to as much money as possible, but for AJ, I’m not saying he’s looking for the right deal, but he just wants to fight.
      “He wants this fight next more than anything. So if it’s 100,000 at Wembley, Anthony Joshua is 1 million percent signed and in for this fight.
      “Obviously, we have to do our job and go around the world and present all the offers to the fighters, but Anthony Joshua has told me categorically that if it’s Wembley and full up, ‘I’m in.’
      “But firstly, I have to deal with all these approaches for the fighters.”

      Despite the delay in finalising the bout – which was agreed last June – Joshua and Fury are both hard at work in the gym.
      Hearn, 41, said: “AJ is in 100 per cent full camp.
      “In his mind, this is the only fight that is going to happen next. Whoever comes up with the best opportunity, it’s on.
      “I hope that will come from the other side as well because everybody signed a contract, and they have to approve the site and the deal as far as the site offers.
      “But it’s going to be significant.”
      Eddie Hearn says that Wembley back on as venue for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fight More

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      Ryan Garcia, 22, plans to retire from boxing at just 26 to fight in UFC after ‘beating everybody as quick as I can’

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      RYAN GARCIA revealed he plans to retire at 26 to leave enough time to fight in the UFC. Garcia, 22, is touted as boxing’s next ‘Golden Boy’ – the name his promoter Oscar De La Hoya once went by.
      Ryan Garcia is planning a move into MMA after retiring from boxingCredit: Tom Hogan
      The lightweight sensation is unbeaten in 21 fights, and coming off a career best win in January, stopping Luke Campbell, 33, in round seven.
      So it came as a shock when Garcia announced plans to hang up the gloves in just four years time.
      But in conversation with retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren on his YouTube channel, he opened up on plans to make a move into MMA.
      Garcia said: “Hey, let me tell you something Ben; I’ve never said this on air, I’ve always said I’m going to retire at 26.
      “Everybody looks at me crazy, right? But I’m doing it to go into the MMA ring.
      “So, I’m going to need you to teach me some wrestling techniques before I even start trying to dive in there.
      “Some little wrestling, then we’ll go from there. So, I’ve never said that out loud in my life.
      “But yeah, I plan to beat everybody I want to beat in boxing as quick as I can, get out – of course I could dive back for big opportunities – but I want to show the world not only can I box, I feel I can become the best warrior in the world.”
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      UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 32, made his boxing debut in 2017, losing to Floyd Mayweather, 44, in a crossover spectacle.
      And recently two-weight undisputed women’s champion Claressa Shields announced she had signed for Professional Fighters League.
      Shields, 26, is set to make her MMA debut in June, having started training with UFC icon Jon Jones.
      But only James Toney has transitioned from boxing to the UFC, but did so in 2010, aged 42.
      Toney was beaten with ease in three minutes, taken down and submitted by Randy Couture.
      Garcia said: “Nobody has ever dominated boxing and then tried to dominate UFC.
      Boxing legend James Toney was beaten in the UFC in 2010Credit: Getty – Contributor
      UFC legend Jon Jones pictured with Claressa ShieldsCredit: @claressashields

      “They’ve done in later, later, later on in their career when they’re already done.
      “But never when they’re still fresh and they still have some juice left in them.”
      Garcia has flirted with a move into the cage, and called out McGregor as well as his training partner Dillon Danis.
      Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who retired in May, wanted to instead face the boxer in the ring.
      But talk has since died down, and Garcia is now open to working with Cejudo, 34, and Askren, 36, to gain grappling coaching.
      He said: “Let’s do it. I’m down to hang out with both of you guys and you guys just turn me into a monster. 
      “I’ve got Henry Cejudo and Ben Askren in my corner, that’s pretty devastating to me.”
      Ryan Garcia shows off explosive speed with blistering punch combo More

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      UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou warns Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury he WILL box after being inspired by Mike Tyson

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      NEW UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has sent out a warning to boxing stars Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury ahead of their £200m unification clash.Ngannou finally reached the UFC summit after knocking out Stipe Miocic in their rematch, having initially lost to the American in 2018.
      Francis Ngannou has vowed to eventually box after being inspired by Mike TysonCredit: Instagram / @hoboxingpodcast
      AJ is currently boxing’s WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight title holderCredit: Instagram
      The Gypsy King is the WBC heavyweight champion of the worldCredit: Instagram
      His attention swiftly turned to a fight with Jon Jones, who announced a move up to heavyweight last year.
      But Ngannou, 34, believes Bones, 33, does want to fight him as the American tries to solve a payment dispute with UFC’s Dana White.
      However, he has now followed on from the dethroned Miocic declaring his desire to face AJ or the Gypsy King in the ring by talking up a bumper big-money crossover of his own.
      And it stems from his first fighting hero Tyson – the legendary boxer he aimed to emulate after arriving in Paris from Africa before he even knew what MMA was.
      Speaking to ESPN, the Cameroonian said: “This is in the future, it’s somewhere, definitely. I’m going to box; I have to box in my career.
      “My main dream has always been the noble art and even though I deviated into MMA, which I love, I still have to fulfil something in boxing.”
      Ngannou also revealed he has no desire to sit waiting around and basking in his glory.
      Instead he wants two more fights before the end of 2021 – and he is happy to face anyone should Jones not climb into the cage with him.
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      He added: “I don’t know what’s happening between Jon Jones and the UFC but something seems wrong and I think maybe he’s handled it in the wrong way.
      “But that’s not my business, there are a lot of contenders ready to fight and there are a lot of fights here.
      “For the first time, I’m the man who is making the call, I don’t have to sit down and wait for people; they are waiting for me and I am ready.
      The Predator is desperate to face Jon Jones in the octagon nextCredit: Getty
      “I can choose to fight and I want to fight twice this year. I hope that fight happens, I would love that fight but if not I will move on. I am ready to fight in the summer, maybe August, so that I can also fight in December.”
      He added: “If it was up to me, Jon Jones is a good one. I’ve taken the best heavyweight of all time out so now to take the pound-for-pound No.1 guy out would be good; it would be good for the resume.
      “I think he wants a challenge but I think he is also at the stage in his career where he wants a big pay cheque, and I can’t argue with that.
      “He is the greatest and the pound-for-pound No.1 guy, you can’t deny anything in this sport to Jon Jones.”

      Francis Ngannou confirms he wants Jon Jones showdown next but is up for Stipe Miocic trilogy if needed More

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      Jake Paul claims he will call out Dustin Poirier if he beats Conor McGregor in trilogy UFC fight after $50m offer

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      JAKE PAUL plans to call out Dustin Poirier if the UFC star wins his summer trilogy fight with Conor McGregor.Paul aggressively pursued a big-money boxing match with The Notorious after his viral KO of ex-NBA star Nate Robinson last November.
      A trilogy fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor is set to take place in the summerCredit: Reuters
      Jake Paul plans to call out Dustin Poirier if the American beats Conor McGregorCredit: Getty
      But the YouTuber seemingly ended his pursuit of a clash with the Irishman after seeing him lose his UFC 257 rematch with Poirier.
      And the 24-year-old plans to pivot to a showdown with Poirier should The Diamond be successful in his rubber match with the UFC’s poster boy, which is slated for July.
      He told ESPN: “I just think McGregor has that name where he will be big in this sport for a while.
      “But if he loses again to Poirier, I’ll be like ‘Yo, let me fight Poirier.’ Why not?
      “He has to win in his own sport first and then maybe we can figure something out.”
      Former Disney star Paul believes he’s the biggest fight available to McGregor following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement from mixed martial arts last October.
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      Jake Paul is cutting no corners with his diet
      He said: “I’m Conor’s money fight right now, as crazy as that sounds. Khabib retired, he’s all pissed off about it.
      “Jake Paul vs Conor is the money fight. It’s funny, what world are we living in where that even makes sense?”
      He added: “If I was Conor he should’ve tooken (sic) the $50million I offered him to take ‘the easier’ fight.
      “He got $10 million with a little bit of backend for the UFC event against Dustin but he lost. So why not take $50 million to fight a YouTuber?
      Jake Paul began aggressively pursuing a boxing match with Conor McGregor late last yearCredit: INSTAGRAL@JAKEPAUL
      “That’s what he should’ve done, quite frankly. Now he has to fight his way back. That’s the most embarrassing loss of his career.
      “He got knocked out, TKOed. He should’ve taken the Jake Paul fight. More money, more hype.”
      Before Paul can think about fighting Poirier or McGregor, he must first win his boxing match with former UFC star Ben Askren.
      The younger Paul brother will lock horns with the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight champion a fortnight on Saturday.

      Paul he reckons a win over Askren will show the world he’s a legitimate boxer, saying: “It will build a lot of credibility.
      “And if he can make it past a couple rounds it will truly show the boxing community, like, this kid can actually box and I think people will respect that.
      “I’ve been putting in the work, training with world champions and sparring with world champions and it’s gonna show.”
      Jake Paul taunts Ben Askren during press conference by FaceTiming Jorge Masvidal More

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      UFC legend Anderson Silva signs boxing contract to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr aged 45 after being axed by Dana White

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      UFC legend Anderson Silva has signed a contract to fight boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Silva, 45, will face former middleweight champion Chavez Jr on June 19, at Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico.
      Anderson Silva has signed a contract to fight boxer Julio Cesar Chavez JrCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Canelo Alvarez pictured with Julio Cesar Chavez JrCredit: EPA
      He told TMZ Sports: “When I look back at my journey, I see that nothing has been in vain.
      “I am extremely happy for the opportunity to test my boxing skills with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
      “I train continuously, always striving for resilience and to overcome obstacles. Fighting is my everlasting breath.”
      Chavez Jr, 35, added: “I have rededicated myself to the sport that I love and I will be ready to face anyone in the light-heavyweight division starting with Silva.
      “I will be prepared to be victorious on June 19.”
      Silva was released by the UFC last year after defeat to Uriah Hall, the Brazilian’s third on the bounce.
      Afterwards, the middleweight legend vowed to continue fighting and his exit from the UFC allowed him to venture into boxing.
      He has twice boxed before, a loss in 1998 and a win in 2005, and was always linked with facing Roy Jones Jr.

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      Jones, 52, returned himself in November, drawing to heavyweight icon Mike Tyson, 54, who made a comeback 15 years after retiring.
      RJJ and Silva were in talks to finally fight, but the news comes out of left field that Chavez Jr will instead share the ring with the UFC icon.
      Headlining on the night will be Chavez Sr, 58, against Hector Camacho Jr, 42 in an exhibition bout.
      Camacho is the son of Hector Sr, who fought Chavez in 1992 but sadly passed away in 2012.
      UFC legend Anderson Silva trains after being called out by boxing icon Roy Jones Jr More