Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says he has “no actual defence” to the critics that recommend his combat with Jake Paul is a harmful mis-match and concedes his man dropping can be an “absolute catastrophe and awfully embarrassing.”
Joshua and Paul conflict in Miami on Friday in a combat that will probably be screened on Netflix and can reportedly earn each fighters someplace within the area of £70million.
Pitting a former two-time world heavyweight champion towards a person who has developed right into a boxer from a YouTube star seems one other worrying improvement for the game.
Joshua was scheduled to combat in Saudi Arabia as an alternative as he appeared to bounce again from a devastating defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 however cash talks.
Hearn wrote in a column for BBC Sport: “I’ve no actual defence of Anthony Joshua versus Jake Paul. It’s loopy that it’s occurring and I believe the critics are spot on.
“However we simply couldn’t flip it down. No boxer of their proper thoughts would have stated no. Anybody who says they’d are utterly mendacity by way of their enamel.
“We took a combat that we consider will probably be very simple, will give AJ an enormous profile in America and one among his career-high paydays.
“AJ was going to have a run-out combat in November in Saudi – an eight-rounder towards a man who was ranked about a hundredth within the heavyweight division.
“It was a possibility to wrap the palms together with his new coaching group, do the ringwalk and undergo the motions. Now we’re doing that very same run-out however for 50 occasions extra money.”
Defeat can be ‘terrible embarrassing’
Defeat is unthinkable for the Briton and Hearn admits extra common fights – Joshua continues to focus on a bout with Tyson Fury – will comply with as soon as this profitable sideshow is out of the way in which.
He added: “We’ve a transparent technique in thoughts – to knock Jake out asap. Then we go into regular service being resumed in 2026.
“AJ will combat towards a world-class opponent in February and – if all goes nicely – he’ll then combat Tyson Fury.
“So there’s a technique to this insanity and taking this combat doesn’t have an effect on AJ’s legacy. However dropping to Jake or it even going the space would.
“It could be an absolute catastrophe and awfully embarrassing.”
Combat just isn’t scripted – Hearn
Friday’s bout will appeal to an enormous tv viewers however Hearn dismissed recommendations the combat has already been scripted, declaring the reputational harm that might trigger to Joshua.
“So many individuals have come as much as me asking if it’s scripted,” he stated. “Firstly, we’d be investigated by the FBI if it was. It could be unlawful. It is a skilled contest and a sanctioned bout the place persons are betting on it.
“And do you suppose I’d ever enable AJ to have a script with Jake? A script the place we would lose and even maintain him up and look dangerous? No manner.
“We’re not giving this man an edge or an opportunity to say “instructed you I used to be higher than AJ” or “I gained rounds”. This could be catastrophic for AJ and we’re not going to threat that.”
