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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Jake Paul proposes $4million bet ahead of fight with former UFC star Ben Askren

Jake Paul wants to double the stakes after UFC president Dana White said he would bet $1million (£700,000) on the YouTube star losing to Ben Askren.

Paul and former UFC welterweight Askren will face off in a professional boxing bout at the 74,000-seater Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on 17 April.

It is only Paul's third professional fight but he is not short of confidence and was quick to reply after White rubbished his chances against Askren.

Talking on the Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson podcast, White said: "Let's be honest, Jake Paul is not a f****** boxer. I’ll bet a million dollars that he loses this f****** fight.

White rubbished Paul's chances against Askren - and received a quick response from the YouTuber (Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

"A million dollars that he loses this fight."

In response to the UFC president's scathing verdict, Paul proposed they should both put $2million on the line, meaning the winner of the bet will pocket $4million (£2.9m).

The 24-year-old wrote on Twitter : "Dana let’s double the bet up! $2 Million (£1.4m). We wire the money into escrow. $4 million total. Winner takes all. My team will be in touch to make a contract."

Paul has won both of his professional fights by knockout (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Askren was a wrestling-orientated fighter during his time competing in mixed martial arts (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Will Jake Paul beat Ben Askren? Have your say in the comments.

Paul even offered to fight White, 51, after taking on Askren, 36, adding: "After I knockout Ben, we can set up Jake Paul Vs. Dana White 2021 since you consider yourself a 'Boxer' and me a 'YouTuber'."

The American YouTuber has won both of his professional fights by knockout, beating Brit AnEsonGib and former NBA point guard Nate Robinson last year.

He has previously boasted about being one of the most lucrative stars in boxing, telling ESPN in January: "I'm a businessman, this is a show business and I'm a prizefighter, I do this for a prize.

"There's a reason Floyd Mayweather was the highest-paid fighter of all time and that's what I want to achieve in the next five years.

"I'm in the top five [highest-paid fighters]."

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