Ben Askren gets support from unlikely rival Jake Paul

Dana Becker

Ben Askren gets support from unlikely rival Jake Paul image

While it is hard to defend Jake Paul at times for his approach to the sport of boxing, you cannot deny that he does good as well. Paul showed that he actually has a heart following his win Saturday night.

Paul defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. live on DAZN pay-per-view from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. And while the in-ring performance caused headlines for the wrong reasons, his post-fight words did for good.

"The Problem Child" let it be known that he is upset by the lack of support that UFC CEO Dana White and others have shown for Ben Askren, who is battling for his life and in need of a double-lung transplant.

"It's just insane," Paul said. "Insurance is a (expletive) scam and it's so sad. Right when you need these companies, they're not there and it's (expletive) up. His insurance denied him to get the transplant, which is also one of the most expensive surgeries, which is why they denied it.

"It sucks that no one is doing anything. I was obviously super busy so we're figuring out the donation now. But none of these people like Dana or anyone are stepping up. I feel like I have to do something."

Both Paul and his brother, WWE superstar Logan Paul, hare donating to Askren. Back in 2021 in his third pro boxing bout, Paul defeated Askren via first round TKO.

Askren, a former standout amateur wrestler, won gold in ONE FC and Bellator before signing with the UFC. Back in June, he was hospitalized with severe pneumonia that became a staph infection.

Dana Becker

Dana Becker is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has been a sports writer since 2000, covering high school sports, the Big 12 and more for On SI, The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others.