🔗 Share this article No Script, Joshua Will Rapidly Knock Paul Out - Promoter Hearn Asserts I've got no genuine justification for AJ vs. Jake Paul. It's wild that it's occurring and I believe the critics are right. However, we just couldn't reject it. No fighter in their right mind would have said no. Anybody claiming they would is completely lying through their teeth. We took a fight that we believe will be very straightforward, will provide AJ a massive presence in America and one of the highest paydays. The Plan Behind the Fight Anthony Joshua was set to have a tune-up bout this November in Saudi - an eight-rounder versus an opponent who was ranked about 100th in the world heavyweight rankings. It was a chance to get his hands wrapped by his new coaching staff, do the ringwalk and get some rounds in. Now, we are doing that same tune-up however for about 50 times more purse. We have an obvious game plan in mind - to stop Jake Paul out asap. After that, we go into regular business being resumed in 2026. Joshua will box against a world-class opponent next February and - if all goes well - he will then fight Tyson Fury. So there is logic behind this craziness and accepting this fight does not affect Joshua's legacy. However losing to Paul or it even going the distance would. It would be an absolute disaster and awfully humiliating. This Bout Is Not Scripted So many individuals have come up to me asking whether it's fixed. First of all, we'd be investigated by the FBI if it was. It would be illegal. This is a professional contest and an officially sanctioned match where fans are wagering. And do you think I would ever permit AJ to follow a pre-written plan with Jake? A plan where we might lose or even hold him up? No way. We are not providing this opponent an advantage or an opportunity to claim "I told you I am superior to AJ" or "I won rounds". That would be devastating for Anthony Joshua and we're not going to risk that. Expectations for an Early Finish There are also those who say if Anthony Joshua does not stop him in the first round then it is a disgrace. He is expected to walk through this guy however, blimey, give him two or three rounds just in case. Because Jake's approach will determine the pace of destruction. Should he come forward, it will all be over quickly. But if he fights defensively and attempting to tie him up and stick and move, then he might survive a couple of rounds. We will not see AJ charge across the squared circle in the first few seconds and start windmilling. Similar to his approach against Ngannou, he will go in there, size him up and then go in with his power shots. Jake Paul Has the Ability to Punch Somewhat I have heard figures like Roy Jones Jr and Atlas saying you can't count Jake in this bout. Am I going crazy here Is there anything they're seeing that I am missing? Let us be one thing clear - Jake Paul is a professional boxer. I believe he is a respectable 200-pound fighter - top 60 or 70 globally. This isn't a guy who has never put on boxing gloves before. He can punch a little bit. He's sparring Okolie and top-10 heavyweights. Forgetting the victory against Tyson, who was then an old man, Jake did beat Chavez Jr - who may have been a faded fighter but was not a complete mug. Chavez Jr trained for that bout and was a former world champion who went the distance against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and came close to stopping Martinez late in the fight. Therefore I give credit to Jake for training hard and demonstrating respect to the craft , and he has accomplished so much for women's boxing through his promotion company. But in spite of his delusion, zeal, dedication and enhanced ability, he should be getting iced by Joshua. The Moment AJ Lands, It Is Finished Jake and his team are banking on a lot of things. Hoping AJ is underestimating him, hoping AJ is shot, banking on AJ's inactivity will cost him, hoping AJ lacks self-belief, hoping AJ's durability has deteriorated. But, unfortunately for them, AJ is super focused. He's had a training camp and he's training like he's fighting Usyk or in a potential Dubois second fight. I anticipate Anthony Joshua to win inside two rounds with a brutal KO. A shot to Jake to the body and it could break his rib cage and he would be unable to rise. Should he land flush, he will knock him to sleep. Alternatively the referee. We don't know exactly how it will unfold but with the way AJ throws punches - with his speed and power - as soon as a punch lands clean, the contest will end. Then we go back to AJ's primary objectives he wants to achieve in the remainder of his career in boxing - to fight Fury and to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
I've got no genuine justification for AJ vs. Jake Paul. It's wild that it's occurring and I believe the critics are right. However, we just couldn't reject it. No fighter in their right mind would have said no. Anybody claiming they would is completely lying through their teeth. We took a fight that we believe will be very straightforward, will provide AJ a massive presence in America and one of the highest paydays. The Plan Behind the Fight Anthony Joshua was set to have a tune-up bout this November in Saudi - an eight-rounder versus an opponent who was ranked about 100th in the world heavyweight rankings. It was a chance to get his hands wrapped by his new coaching staff, do the ringwalk and get some rounds in. Now, we are doing that same tune-up however for about 50 times more purse. We have an obvious game plan in mind - to stop Jake Paul out asap. After that, we go into regular business being resumed in 2026. Joshua will box against a world-class opponent next February and - if all goes well - he will then fight Tyson Fury. So there is logic behind this craziness and accepting this fight does not affect Joshua's legacy. However losing to Paul or it even going the distance would. It would be an absolute disaster and awfully humiliating. This Bout Is Not Scripted So many individuals have come up to me asking whether it's fixed. First of all, we'd be investigated by the FBI if it was. It would be illegal. This is a professional contest and an officially sanctioned match where fans are wagering. And do you think I would ever permit AJ to follow a pre-written plan with Jake? A plan where we might lose or even hold him up? No way. We are not providing this opponent an advantage or an opportunity to claim "I told you I am superior to AJ" or "I won rounds". That would be devastating for Anthony Joshua and we're not going to risk that. Expectations for an Early Finish There are also those who say if Anthony Joshua does not stop him in the first round then it is a disgrace. He is expected to walk through this guy however, blimey, give him two or three rounds just in case. Because Jake's approach will determine the pace of destruction. Should he come forward, it will all be over quickly. But if he fights defensively and attempting to tie him up and stick and move, then he might survive a couple of rounds. We will not see AJ charge across the squared circle in the first few seconds and start windmilling. Similar to his approach against Ngannou, he will go in there, size him up and then go in with his power shots. Jake Paul Has the Ability to Punch Somewhat I have heard figures like Roy Jones Jr and Atlas saying you can't count Jake in this bout. Am I going crazy here Is there anything they're seeing that I am missing? Let us be one thing clear - Jake Paul is a professional boxer. I believe he is a respectable 200-pound fighter - top 60 or 70 globally. This isn't a guy who has never put on boxing gloves before. He can punch a little bit. He's sparring Okolie and top-10 heavyweights. Forgetting the victory against Tyson, who was then an old man, Jake did beat Chavez Jr - who may have been a faded fighter but was not a complete mug. Chavez Jr trained for that bout and was a former world champion who went the distance against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and came close to stopping Martinez late in the fight. Therefore I give credit to Jake for training hard and demonstrating respect to the craft , and he has accomplished so much for women's boxing through his promotion company. But in spite of his delusion, zeal, dedication and enhanced ability, he should be getting iced by Joshua. The Moment AJ Lands, It Is Finished Jake and his team are banking on a lot of things. Hoping AJ is underestimating him, hoping AJ is shot, banking on AJ's inactivity will cost him, hoping AJ lacks self-belief, hoping AJ's durability has deteriorated. But, unfortunately for them, AJ is super focused. He's had a training camp and he's training like he's fighting Usyk or in a potential Dubois second fight. I anticipate Anthony Joshua to win inside two rounds with a brutal KO. A shot to Jake to the body and it could break his rib cage and he would be unable to rise. Should he land flush, he will knock him to sleep. Alternatively the referee. We don't know exactly how it will unfold but with the way AJ throws punches - with his speed and power - as soon as a punch lands clean, the contest will end. Then we go back to AJ's primary objectives he wants to achieve in the remainder of his career in boxing - to fight Fury and to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.