YouTube star Jake Paul wins latest boxing match in first round against Ben Askren

By: ABC57 Staff

Posted: Apr 18, 2021 11:03 AM EDT

Jake Paul celebrates after defeating Ben Askren in their cruiserweight bout during Triller Fight Club at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 17 in Atlanta. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images

Originally Published: 18 APR 21 01:51 ET

Updated: 18 APR 21 09:23 ET

By Travis Caldwell, CNN

(CNN) -- YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul defeated former MMA fighter Ben Askren in a much-anticipated boxing match with a first-round TKO, as the two squared off Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Paul, 24, entered the match with a professional record of 2-0, previously defeating fellow YouTube personality AnEsonGib and former NBA star Nate Robinson.

Askren, 36, who announced his MMA retirement in 2019 citing hip problems, made his boxing debut.

Before turning toward a boxing career, Paul has been widely known on social media as a brash and controversial YouTube star, where he has more than 20 million subscribers.

In the days leading up to the fight, Paul called the match against Askren the "biggest moment of my life" in a video posted to YouTube.

The fight, scheduled for eight rounds, was hosted by Triller, a video-making and social-networking app.