🔗 Share this article Without a Script, Joshua Will Quickly Knock Paul Out - Promoter Hearn Claims I've got no genuine defense regarding AJ vs. Jake Paul. It's insane that it's taking place and I feel the naysayers are right. However, we just couldn't refuse it. No boxer who is sensible would have said no. Anybody claiming they would are utterly dishonest through their teeth. We took a bout that we believe will be very straightforward, will give AJ a huge profile in America and one of his career-high earnings. The Plan For This Bout Anthony Joshua was set to have a tune-up bout in November in Saudi Arabia - an eight-round contest against a guy ranked about 100th in the world heavyweight rankings. This was a chance to wrap the hands with his fresh training team, do the ringwalk and go through the motions. Currently, we are doing that exact run-out however for about 50 times more money. We have a clear game plan in mind - to stop Jake out asap. Then, we go into normal service being resumed next year. AJ will fight against a top-tier opponent in February and - should things go to plan - he will then face Fury. Therefore there is logic behind this craziness and accepting this bout does not affect AJ's legacy. However losing to Jake or the fight even going the full distance certainly would. It would be a complete disaster and awfully humiliating. Paul vs Joshua Is Definitely Not Scripted So many people have come up to me asking whether it's fixed. First of all, we'd be investigated by authorities if it was. It would be against the law. This constitutes a professional fight and a sanctioned bout on which fans are wagering. And does anyone believe I would ever allow AJ to have a script with Jake? A script in which we could lose or even hold him up? No way. We are certainly not providing this guy an edge or an opportunity to claim "I told you I am superior to AJ" or "I took rounds from him". That would be catastrophic for Anthony Joshua and we will not risk that. Public Pressure for an Early Knockout There are also those who say if Anthony Joshua does not knock him out inside the first round then it's an embarrassment. He is expected to walk through this opponent but, blimey, give him two or three stanzas for safety. Since Jake's approach will determine the speed of the finish. If he gets brave, it will all be over rapidly. But if he is boxing on the back foot and trying to tie him up and stick and move, then he might last a few rounds. We're not going to see AJ run across the squared circle immediately and start windmilling. Similar to his approach against Francis Ngannou, he will go in there, measure him up and then unleash with his power shots. Jake Paul Has the Ability to Whack a Little Bit I have heard the likes of Roy Jones and Atlas stating you can't count Jake Paul out in this fight. Am I going crazy ? Is there something they're seeing that I am missing? Let's get one thing right - Jake is a pro fighter. I believe he is a respectable 200-pound fighter - top 60 or 70 globally. This is not an individual that has not put on boxing gloves previously. He can whack a little bit. He's sparring Okolie and top-10 heavyweights. Putting aside the victory against Tyson, who was an old man, Jake defeated Chavez Jr - who may have been a done fighter but was hardly a complete mug. Chavez Jr trained for the fight and had been a world champion who went the distance against Canelo Alvarez and nearly stopped Sergio Martinez in the final round. So I give credit to Jake for training hard and showing respect for the sport of boxing and he has accomplished so much for female boxing with his Most Valuable Promotions. But in spite of his delusion, zeal, dedication and improved skills, he should be being knocked out by Joshua. Once Joshua Connects, It's Over Paul and his camp are banking on many factors. Hoping AJ underestimates him, hoping AJ is past his best, hoping AJ's lack of activity will cost him, banking on AJ is low in self-belief, banking on AJ's durability has deteriorated. But, to their misfortune, AJ is super focused. He's had a training camp and he's training as if he's fighting Oleksandr Usyk or in a potential Daniel Dubois rematch. I anticipate my fighter to win inside two rounds via a brutal KO. He could hit Jake Paul to the body and he would break his rib cage and he wouldn't be able to get up. If he hits him clean, he will knock him spark out. Alternatively could jump in. It is unknown exactly how it will unfold but given how AJ punches - with the speed and power - as soon as Jake is hit on the chin, the contest will end. Subsequently the focus returns to AJ's primary objectives he aims to accomplish in the time of his career in boxing - to fight Tyson Fury and to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
I've got no genuine defense regarding AJ vs. Jake Paul. It's insane that it's taking place and I feel the naysayers are right. However, we just couldn't refuse it. No boxer who is sensible would have said no. Anybody claiming they would are utterly dishonest through their teeth. We took a bout that we believe will be very straightforward, will give AJ a huge profile in America and one of his career-high earnings. The Plan For This Bout Anthony Joshua was set to have a tune-up bout in November in Saudi Arabia - an eight-round contest against a guy ranked about 100th in the world heavyweight rankings. This was a chance to wrap the hands with his fresh training team, do the ringwalk and go through the motions. Currently, we are doing that exact run-out however for about 50 times more money. We have a clear game plan in mind - to stop Jake out asap. Then, we go into normal service being resumed next year. AJ will fight against a top-tier opponent in February and - should things go to plan - he will then face Fury. Therefore there is logic behind this craziness and accepting this bout does not affect AJ's legacy. However losing to Jake or the fight even going the full distance certainly would. It would be a complete disaster and awfully humiliating. Paul vs Joshua Is Definitely Not Scripted So many people have come up to me asking whether it's fixed. First of all, we'd be investigated by authorities if it was. It would be against the law. This constitutes a professional fight and a sanctioned bout on which fans are wagering. And does anyone believe I would ever allow AJ to have a script with Jake? A script in which we could lose or even hold him up? No way. We are certainly not providing this guy an edge or an opportunity to claim "I told you I am superior to AJ" or "I took rounds from him". That would be catastrophic for Anthony Joshua and we will not risk that. Public Pressure for an Early Knockout There are also those who say if Anthony Joshua does not knock him out inside the first round then it's an embarrassment. He is expected to walk through this opponent but, blimey, give him two or three stanzas for safety. Since Jake's approach will determine the speed of the finish. If he gets brave, it will all be over rapidly. But if he is boxing on the back foot and trying to tie him up and stick and move, then he might last a few rounds. We're not going to see AJ run across the squared circle immediately and start windmilling. Similar to his approach against Francis Ngannou, he will go in there, measure him up and then unleash with his power shots. Jake Paul Has the Ability to Whack a Little Bit I have heard the likes of Roy Jones and Atlas stating you can't count Jake Paul out in this fight. Am I going crazy ? Is there something they're seeing that I am missing? Let's get one thing right - Jake is a pro fighter. I believe he is a respectable 200-pound fighter - top 60 or 70 globally. This is not an individual that has not put on boxing gloves previously. He can whack a little bit. He's sparring Okolie and top-10 heavyweights. Putting aside the victory against Tyson, who was an old man, Jake defeated Chavez Jr - who may have been a done fighter but was hardly a complete mug. Chavez Jr trained for the fight and had been a world champion who went the distance against Canelo Alvarez and nearly stopped Sergio Martinez in the final round. So I give credit to Jake for training hard and showing respect for the sport of boxing and he has accomplished so much for female boxing with his Most Valuable Promotions. But in spite of his delusion, zeal, dedication and improved skills, he should be being knocked out by Joshua. Once Joshua Connects, It's Over Paul and his camp are banking on many factors. Hoping AJ underestimates him, hoping AJ is past his best, hoping AJ's lack of activity will cost him, banking on AJ is low in self-belief, banking on AJ's durability has deteriorated. But, to their misfortune, AJ is super focused. He's had a training camp and he's training as if he's fighting Oleksandr Usyk or in a potential Daniel Dubois rematch. I anticipate my fighter to win inside two rounds via a brutal KO. He could hit Jake Paul to the body and he would break his rib cage and he wouldn't be able to get up. If he hits him clean, he will knock him spark out. Alternatively could jump in. It is unknown exactly how it will unfold but given how AJ punches - with the speed and power - as soon as Jake is hit on the chin, the contest will end. Subsequently the focus returns to AJ's primary objectives he aims to accomplish in the time of his career in boxing - to fight Tyson Fury and to become a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.