🔗 Share this article No Script, Joshua Will Rapidly Stop Jake Paul Out - Hearn Claims I've got no genuine justification regarding AJ vs. Jake Paul. It's wild that it's taking place and I believe the critics are spot on. However, we just couldn't refuse it. No fighter who is sensible would have said no. Anybody claiming they'd refuse are utterly dishonest outright. We accepted a bout which we believe is extremely easy, will give AJ a massive profile in America and one of the highest earnings. The Plan For This Bout AJ was going to have a tune-up bout this November in Saudi - an eight-round contest against an opponent who was ranked about 100th in the world heavyweight rankings. This was a chance to get his hands wrapped with his fresh training team, do the ringwalk and go through the motions. Currently, we are doing that exact run-out however for fifty times the money. We have a clear game plan in mind - to knock Jake out asap. Then, we return to normal service being resumed in 2026. AJ will fight versus a world-class fighter in February and - should things go to plan - he will then face Tyson Fury. Therefore there is logic behind this craziness and accepting this bout does not affect AJ's legacy. But losing to Paul or the fight even going the distance would. It would be a complete catastrophe and awfully humiliating. Paul vs Joshua Is Definitely Not Scripted So many individuals have come up to me questioning if it's scripted. Firstly, we would be investigated by the FBI if that were true. That would be against the law. This is a professional fight and a sanctioned bout on which fans are wagering. And does anyone believe I would ever permit AJ to have a pre-written plan involving Jake? A script where we might lose or even make him look bad? No way. We are not giving this opponent an advantage or a chance to claim "I told you I am superior to AJ" or "I took rounds from him". This would be catastrophic for Anthony Joshua and we're not going to risk that. Public Pressure for a Quick Knockout Then there are those who say if Anthony Joshua does not stop him in the first round then it's a disgrace. He is expected to dominate this opponent however, blimey, allow him two or three stanzas for safety. Because Jake's approach will reflect on the speed of the finish. If he gets brave, it will all be over rapidly. But if he is boxing defensively and attempting to tie him up and stick and move, then he might survive a couple of rounds. We're not going to see AJ run across the ring immediately and begin swinging wildly. Similar to he did against Francis Ngannou, he will go in there, size him up and then unleash with the heavy artillery. Paul Can Whack a Little Bit I have heard the likes of Roy Jones Jr and Teddy Atlas stating you can't count Jake Paul in this bout. Am I really losing the plot ? Is there something they're seeing that I am missing? Let's get one thing clear - Jake Paul is a professional boxer. I think he is a respectable 200-pound fighter - ranked in the top 70 in the world. This is not an individual who has never put on boxing gloves before. He is able to punch with some power. He's sparring Lawrence Okolie and top-ten heavyweights. Putting aside the victory against Mike Tyson, who was then well past his prime, Jake did beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - who may have been a faded fighter but was not a total pushover. He prepared for the fight and was a former titleholder who went to points against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and came close to stopping Martinez late in the fight. So I actually credit Jake for training hard and showing respect for the sport , and he has done a great deal for female boxing with his promotion company. Yet despite his delusion, passion, dedication and enhanced ability, he should be getting iced by Anthony Joshua. Once AJ Lands, It's Over Jake and his team are hoping for many things. Hoping AJ underestimates him, hoping AJ is past his best, banking on AJ's lack of activity will cost him, hoping AJ lacks confidence, hoping AJ's chin isn't what it once was. However, unfortunately for them, AJ is super focused. He's had a camp and he is preparing like he is facing Oleksandr Usyk or in a potential Daniel Dubois second fight. I anticipate my fighter to triumph within two rounds via a brutal KO. A shot to Jake to the midsection and he would break his rib cage and he wouldn't be able to get up. Should he land flush, he will put him to sleep. Alternatively could intervene. It is unknown how it could play out but given how AJ throws punches - with the speed and power - the instant a punch lands on the chin, the fight is over. Subsequently the focus returns to AJ's primary objectives he wants to achieve in the time he has left in boxing - to face Tyson Fury and to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
I've got no genuine justification regarding AJ vs. Jake Paul. It's wild that it's taking place and I believe the critics are spot on. However, we just couldn't refuse it. No fighter who is sensible would have said no. Anybody claiming they'd refuse are utterly dishonest outright. We accepted a bout which we believe is extremely easy, will give AJ a massive profile in America and one of the highest earnings. The Plan For This Bout AJ was going to have a tune-up bout this November in Saudi - an eight-round contest against an opponent who was ranked about 100th in the world heavyweight rankings. This was a chance to get his hands wrapped with his fresh training team, do the ringwalk and go through the motions. Currently, we are doing that exact run-out however for fifty times the money. We have a clear game plan in mind - to knock Jake out asap. Then, we return to normal service being resumed in 2026. AJ will fight versus a world-class fighter in February and - should things go to plan - he will then face Tyson Fury. Therefore there is logic behind this craziness and accepting this bout does not affect AJ's legacy. But losing to Paul or the fight even going the distance would. It would be a complete catastrophe and awfully humiliating. Paul vs Joshua Is Definitely Not Scripted So many individuals have come up to me questioning if it's scripted. Firstly, we would be investigated by the FBI if that were true. That would be against the law. This is a professional fight and a sanctioned bout on which fans are wagering. And does anyone believe I would ever permit AJ to have a pre-written plan involving Jake? A script where we might lose or even make him look bad? No way. We are not giving this opponent an advantage or a chance to claim "I told you I am superior to AJ" or "I took rounds from him". This would be catastrophic for Anthony Joshua and we're not going to risk that. Public Pressure for a Quick Knockout Then there are those who say if Anthony Joshua does not stop him in the first round then it's a disgrace. He is expected to dominate this opponent however, blimey, allow him two or three stanzas for safety. Because Jake's approach will reflect on the speed of the finish. If he gets brave, it will all be over rapidly. But if he is boxing defensively and attempting to tie him up and stick and move, then he might survive a couple of rounds. We're not going to see AJ run across the ring immediately and begin swinging wildly. Similar to he did against Francis Ngannou, he will go in there, size him up and then unleash with the heavy artillery. Paul Can Whack a Little Bit I have heard the likes of Roy Jones Jr and Teddy Atlas stating you can't count Jake Paul in this bout. Am I really losing the plot ? Is there something they're seeing that I am missing? Let's get one thing clear - Jake Paul is a professional boxer. I think he is a respectable 200-pound fighter - ranked in the top 70 in the world. This is not an individual who has never put on boxing gloves before. He is able to punch with some power. He's sparring Lawrence Okolie and top-ten heavyweights. Putting aside the victory against Mike Tyson, who was then well past his prime, Jake did beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - who may have been a faded fighter but was not a total pushover. He prepared for the fight and was a former titleholder who went to points against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and came close to stopping Martinez late in the fight. So I actually credit Jake for training hard and showing respect for the sport , and he has done a great deal for female boxing with his promotion company. Yet despite his delusion, passion, dedication and enhanced ability, he should be getting iced by Anthony Joshua. Once AJ Lands, It's Over Jake and his team are hoping for many things. Hoping AJ underestimates him, hoping AJ is past his best, banking on AJ's lack of activity will cost him, hoping AJ lacks confidence, hoping AJ's chin isn't what it once was. However, unfortunately for them, AJ is super focused. He's had a camp and he is preparing like he is facing Oleksandr Usyk or in a potential Daniel Dubois second fight. I anticipate my fighter to triumph within two rounds via a brutal KO. A shot to Jake to the midsection and he would break his rib cage and he wouldn't be able to get up. Should he land flush, he will put him to sleep. Alternatively could intervene. It is unknown how it could play out but given how AJ throws punches - with the speed and power - the instant a punch lands on the chin, the fight is over. Subsequently the focus returns to AJ's primary objectives he wants to achieve in the time he has left in boxing - to face Tyson Fury and to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.