🔗 Share this article Without a Script, Anthony Joshua Will Swiftly Knock Paul Out - Hearn Claims I have no real defence for AJ versus Paul. It's crazy that it's taking place and I think the skeptics are correct. However, we simply could not refuse it. No boxer who is sensible would have declined. Anyone who says they'd refuse is utterly dishonest outright. We accepted a fight that we believe will be very straightforward, will provide AJ an enormous presence in America and among his career-high earnings. The Strategy For the Fight AJ was going to have a tune-up bout in November in Saudi Arabia - an eight-round contest against a guy ranked about 100th in the heavyweight rankings. This was an opportunity to wrap the hands by his new coaching staff, do the ringwalk and go through the motions. Currently, we're doing that exact run-out but for about fifty times the money. We have a clear game plan in mind - to knock Jake out as soon as possible. After that, we go into regular business resuming next year. AJ will fight versus a world-class fighter next February and - if all goes well - he will then fight Fury. Therefore there's a method to this madness and taking this bout does not affect AJ's legacy. But a loss against Jake or it even going the distance would. That would be a complete catastrophe and terribly embarrassing. This Bout Is Definitely Not Scripted A great many people have asked me asking whether it's fixed. First of all, we would be investigated by authorities if that were true. That would be illegal. This constitutes a professional contest and a sanctioned bout on which people are betting. And do you think I would permit AJ to follow a pre-written plan with Jake Paul? A plan where we could lose or even make him look bad? No way. We are not giving this guy an edge or an opportunity to claim "told you I am superior to AJ" or "I took rounds from him". This would be devastating for AJ and we're not going to risk that. Public Pressure for a Early Finish Then there are those saying if Anthony Joshua does not stop him inside the first round then it's an embarrassment. He's expected to dominate this opponent however, goodness, give him two or three stanzas just in case. Because how Jake approaches it will determine the pace of destruction. If he gets brave, it will end quickly. However if he is boxing defensively and trying to tie him up and jab and move, then he might last a couple of rounds. We're not going to see AJ charge across the squared circle immediately and begin swinging wildly. Just like his approach against Francis Ngannou, he will step into the ring, measure him up and then unleash with his power shots. Paul Can Whack Somewhat I've heard the likes of Roy Jones Jr and Atlas saying you cannot dismiss Jake Paul in this bout. Am I really going crazy ? Is there something they see that I'm not? Let us be one thing clear - Jake Paul is a pro fighter. I believe he is a respectable cruiserweight - ranked in the top 70 globally. This is not a guy who has never put on boxing gloves previously. He is able to whack with some power. He spars Lawrence Okolie and top-10 big men. Putting aside the victory against Tyson, who was well past his prime, Jake defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - who may have been a done fighter but was hardly a total pushover. Chavez Jr trained for the fight and had been a titleholder who went the distance with Canelo Alvarez and came close to stopping Martinez in the final round. Therefore I give credit to Jake Paul for training hard and demonstrating respect to the craft of boxing and he has accomplished so much for women's boxing through his promotion company. But despite his delusion, passion, dedication and improved skills, he should be getting iced by Anthony Joshua. The Moment Joshua Connects, It's Over Jake and his team are hoping for a lot of factors. Hoping AJ underestimates them, hoping AJ is shot, hoping AJ's lack of activity will be a factor, hoping AJ lacks self-belief, hoping AJ's chin isn't what it once was. But, to their misfortune, AJ is super switched on. He has completed a training camp and he's training like he's fighting Oleksandr Usyk or in a potential Dubois second fight. I anticipate Anthony Joshua to win inside two rounds via a brutal knockout. A shot to Jake Paul to the body and it could break his ribs and he would be unable to get up. If he hits him clean, he will put him spark out. Alternatively could intervene. It is unknown how it could play out however given how AJ punches - with his speed and destruction - the instant a punch lands clean, the contest will end. Subsequently the focus returns to AJ's two goals he aims to accomplish in the remainder he has left in boxing - to face Tyson Fury and to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.
I have no real defence for AJ versus Paul. It's crazy that it's taking place and I think the skeptics are correct. However, we simply could not refuse it. No boxer who is sensible would have declined. Anyone who says they'd refuse is utterly dishonest outright. We accepted a fight that we believe will be very straightforward, will provide AJ an enormous presence in America and among his career-high earnings. The Strategy For the Fight AJ was going to have a tune-up bout in November in Saudi Arabia - an eight-round contest against a guy ranked about 100th in the heavyweight rankings. This was an opportunity to wrap the hands by his new coaching staff, do the ringwalk and go through the motions. Currently, we're doing that exact run-out but for about fifty times the money. We have a clear game plan in mind - to knock Jake out as soon as possible. After that, we go into regular business resuming next year. AJ will fight versus a world-class fighter next February and - if all goes well - he will then fight Fury. Therefore there's a method to this madness and taking this bout does not affect AJ's legacy. But a loss against Jake or it even going the distance would. That would be a complete catastrophe and terribly embarrassing. This Bout Is Definitely Not Scripted A great many people have asked me asking whether it's fixed. First of all, we would be investigated by authorities if that were true. That would be illegal. This constitutes a professional contest and a sanctioned bout on which people are betting. And do you think I would permit AJ to follow a pre-written plan with Jake Paul? A plan where we could lose or even make him look bad? No way. We are not giving this guy an edge or an opportunity to claim "told you I am superior to AJ" or "I took rounds from him". This would be devastating for AJ and we're not going to risk that. Public Pressure for a Early Finish Then there are those saying if Anthony Joshua does not stop him inside the first round then it's an embarrassment. He's expected to dominate this opponent however, goodness, give him two or three stanzas just in case. Because how Jake approaches it will determine the pace of destruction. If he gets brave, it will end quickly. However if he is boxing defensively and trying to tie him up and jab and move, then he might last a couple of rounds. We're not going to see AJ charge across the squared circle immediately and begin swinging wildly. Just like his approach against Francis Ngannou, he will step into the ring, measure him up and then unleash with his power shots. Paul Can Whack Somewhat I've heard the likes of Roy Jones Jr and Atlas saying you cannot dismiss Jake Paul in this bout. Am I really going crazy ? Is there something they see that I'm not? Let us be one thing clear - Jake Paul is a pro fighter. I believe he is a respectable cruiserweight - ranked in the top 70 globally. This is not a guy who has never put on boxing gloves previously. He is able to whack with some power. He spars Lawrence Okolie and top-10 big men. Putting aside the victory against Tyson, who was well past his prime, Jake defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - who may have been a done fighter but was hardly a total pushover. Chavez Jr trained for the fight and had been a titleholder who went the distance with Canelo Alvarez and came close to stopping Martinez in the final round. Therefore I give credit to Jake Paul for training hard and demonstrating respect to the craft of boxing and he has accomplished so much for women's boxing through his promotion company. But despite his delusion, passion, dedication and improved skills, he should be getting iced by Anthony Joshua. The Moment Joshua Connects, It's Over Jake and his team are hoping for a lot of factors. Hoping AJ underestimates them, hoping AJ is shot, hoping AJ's lack of activity will be a factor, hoping AJ lacks self-belief, hoping AJ's chin isn't what it once was. But, to their misfortune, AJ is super switched on. He has completed a training camp and he's training like he's fighting Oleksandr Usyk or in a potential Dubois second fight. I anticipate Anthony Joshua to win inside two rounds via a brutal knockout. A shot to Jake Paul to the body and it could break his ribs and he would be unable to get up. If he hits him clean, he will put him spark out. Alternatively could intervene. It is unknown how it could play out however given how AJ punches - with his speed and destruction - the instant a punch lands clean, the contest will end. Subsequently the focus returns to AJ's two goals he aims to accomplish in the remainder he has left in boxing - to face Tyson Fury and to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.