Eddie Hearn admits there is no real sporting reason for Anthony Joshua to fight Jake Paul and says critics are right to question it. He says the fight sounds crazy, but it was impossible to turn down.
Hearn believes any boxer would have accepted the offer and says anyone claiming they would not is being dishonest. The fight offers Joshua a huge payday and a big boost to his profile in the United States.
Joshua was already planning a warm-up fight later this year in Saudi Arabia against a low-ranked opponent, mainly to get used to working with his new training team and being back in the ring. Hearn says the Jake Paul fight serves the same purpose but pays around 50 times more.
He insists the plan is simple: Joshua is expected to knock Paul out as quickly as possible. After that, Joshua will return to normal business in 2026.
Hearn says Joshua is scheduled to face a top-level opponent in February and, if that goes well, a long-awaited fight with Tyson Fury could follow.
He believes taking the fight will not damage Joshua’s career or reputation but warns that losing to Jake Paul, or even letting the fight go the distance, would be hugely embarrassing and disastrous for Joshua.
