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Hulk Hogan didn’t receive the warmest of welcomes at WrestleMania 37, which the WWE legend was co-presenting at the weekend. Not quite the same as when his ‘Thunderlips’ character fought Rocky Balboa back in 1982: on that occasion, the iconic wrestler fought the fictional boxing champion in Rocky III, roared on by an approving crowd.
Of course, there was only going to be one winner and that was the hero of the movie, with Rocky eventually beating ‘Thunderlips’ Hulk Hogan. Amusingly, the rival boxer Clubber Lang in Rocky III was played by none other than Mr. T, the professional wrestler and tag-team partner of Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania I in 1985. Believe it or not, real boxers and wrestlers have contested genuine bouts.
Jake Paul versus Ben Askren
If you haven’t already been exposed to all the hype, next weekend there will be a professional boxer taking on a former wrestler and professional MMA star. YouTube celebrity and now boxing pro Jake Paul is fighting Ben Askren, who started his path to fame as an amateur wrestling champ.
When I got the call to fight Logan Paul’s little brother I had to go into Rocky Style training! pic.twitter.com/GDunqgLjmh
— Funky (@Benaskren) March 28, 2021
Taking a look at the current Ben Askren vs Jake Paul betting odds, this is a bout that looks too close to call and makes predictions difficult, given their hugely contrasting backgrounds. Meanwhile, neither fighter can boast a wealth of professional boxing experience. 24-year-old Jake Paul has two knockout victories since turning pro, while 36-year-old Ben Askren is making his boxing debut.
Ben Askren was an accomplished NCAA collegiate wrestler, who also competed with the US Olympic team. He then dominated the welterweight scene in Bellator and the ONE Championship, famed for a fearsome grappling style. Unfortunately, it all went south when he switched to the UFC, winning one fight, then losing twice before announcing his retirement.
Muhammad Ali versus Antonio Inoki
Even if the respective worlds of boxing and wrestling may seem poles apart, both are combat sports that generate a huge amount of interest. That inevitably leads fans to wonder about who might win, when a champion boxer is pitted against a champion wrestler. Back in 1976, such fantasizing actually led to a real contest, between Muhamad Ali and Antonio Inoki.
Still considered by many to be the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Along with four successful defenses of his titles in 1976, this legend of the ring found time to take on Antonio Inoki, who was considered to be the greatest wrestler in Japan.
Nevertheless, billed at ‘The War of the Worlds’ and broadcast to millions of viewers around the globe, this contest eventually turned into little more than a farce. Inoki spent most of the fight on his back, trying to kick at an astonished Ali, who might have felt embarrassed if not for reportedly being paid $6 million to participate. He threw six punches in 15 rounds, and the debacle was called as a draw in the end.
When Fight Worlds Collide
These are just two occasions when boxers have taken on wrestlers. The fictional bout between Rocky and Hulk Hogan was inspired by real fights, which in turn went on to inspire numerous others, including this next encounter between Jake Paul and Ben Askren. Odds may slightly favor the boxer this time, but don’t rule out the wrestler and former MMA star just yet. He just might cause an upset.