Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren Boxing Odds, Line, Start Time: Betting Market Gives Paul 56% Chance to Win

Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren Odds

Update: Jake Paul is a -150 favorite over Ben Askren at DraftKings in Saturday night's Triller PPV from Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. Askren is a +113 underdog, meaning a $100 bet would return $113. A $150 bet on Paul wins $100.

The line has actually been moving in Askren's favor, from Paul -200 to -150 over the last two days. That's a drop in probability by about 6%, from 62.5% to 56.1%. As of this morning, 70% of bets at DraftKings were on the underdog Askren.

The fight is expected to start at around 12:45 a.m. ET.

Paul vs. Askren Start Time

Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren will start after midnight ET and perhaps closer to 12:45 a.m. Triller's main card began at 9 p.m. ET. They're really stretching things out between fights.

It's a sanctioned fight, meaning legal United States sportsbooks can offer odds on it. DraftKings makes Paul a -150 favorite, while PointsBet has him at -176. Both books give Paul a 55-60% chance to win, with the juice removed.

The over/under is 5.5 rounds at DraftKings. Bet365 has "fight will not go the distance" at -187, so books are expecting a knockout or TKO. Paul is +110 to win by KO or TKO, and both fighters are at least +300 to win by decision.

How Paul Got Here

This is the second fight for Paul as part of Triller Fight Club. He knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson as part of the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard in November. Paul entered that fight as a -225 favorite. His only other professional fight came against YouTuber AnEsonGib in January 2020.

Paul does appear to be taking boxing quite seriously, and the odds reflect that. The 24-year-old Ohio native is training with BJ Flores and spent time training with former boxing star "Sugar" Shane Mosely.

“Paul has been training really hard,” Mosley said before Paul's first professional fight. “He surprised me because he’s a YouTuber, but he’s actually training like a real fighter. He worked with me one time and I could see he had good athletic ability. He was a football player, basketball player, he did wrestling — he’s an athlete."

Paul's brother Logan, also a YouTube star-turned-boxer, has fought once professionally. He lost to YouTuber KSI in November 2019. The Paul brothers grew up wrestling in Ohio; Logan placed fifth at the OHSAA State Championships in 2013 at 182 pounds and briefly wrestled at the University of Ohio.

Jake doesn't have the high school history his brother did. Most results turn up a video of him getting pinned by Cornell wrestler Ben Darmstadt, which Askren had fun with in February.

Boxing Debut for Askren

Askren will make his boxing debut after a successful MMA career, which included titles in ONE Championship and Bellator. He fought three times in UFC and is actually most famous for receiving Jorge Masvidal's flying knee that resulted in the fastest knockout in UFC history.

Askren won two NCAA wrestling titles at the University of Missouri and did most of his damage in MMA on the ground, not as a striker. He also qualified for the Olympics and has racked up dozens of accolades in wrestling.

There are no questions about his reputation and ability in combat sports — but how will he transition to boxing?

Paul vs. Askren Tale of the Tape

Paul has a height, age and reach advantage over Askren, who hasn't fought in more than a year.

Jake Paul Fight History

Ben Askren Fight History

All fights in MMA