Eddie Hearn has told Sky Sports that Anthony Joshua’s proposed fight with Jake Paul will not be an exhibition, but a heavyweight bout under Queensbury rules.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Thursday, Hearn revealed that nothing has been confirmed regarding the fight yet, but preparations are underway.
“No, it’s not an exhibition. We’re not interested in exhibitions. This is a real battle,” Hahn said.
“There are things that need to be resolved and discussed. It’s going to be a real match with Queensberry rules, 10-ounce gloves. Rounds will be agreed upon. Weight, even if that’s an issue, we might settle on a number that’s more suitable for Jake.”
“This is a heavyweight fight. There was a little bit of a buzz from the media last night.
“I’m moving up from cruiserweight to heavyweight. This year I was supposed to have an eight-round fight on the undercard somewhere.
“We didn’t expect it to be against Jake Paul, but it just so happens that if it happens, it’s going to be 50 times the amount we were going to fight for.
“I think if there’s a chance that that fight could happen next week, we’ll probably hear about it. Despite the rumors, it hasn’t happened. I’ve been approached by MVP. I have my doubts.
“So if he’s crazy enough to entertain it, we’ll be happy to go along with it, to be honest.
“Given the level of funding involved, I think it would be virtually impossible to turn down the opportunity to take part in that match. But like I said, nothing is confirmed yet. We’ll see what happens.”
Hearn also revealed that next year’s mega-British fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury remains an ambition, regardless of whether a fight with Paul happens or not.
“Our plans are firmly set with Turki Al Sheikh for 2026, and that’s the big fight in February with Tyson Fury.
Hearn says Joshua is still looking ahead to an eventual fight with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.
“That’s what’s being discussed. That’s what he’s telling us to make happen. I’ll leave it to him.
“So if we run out of money, let’s wipe out Jake Paul before Christmas and make some stupidly sweet money, I don’t know if it’s £50m or £60m.If not, we won’t do it and we’ll wait until February.But you know, I think some people will get carried away.
“The best thing to do in this situation is to be genuinely honest. We’re not going to turn that down. If that kind of money goes out and we’re a little short, that’s totally fine.
“The serious stuff, the world championship ambitions we have, the fight with Tyson Fury, that’s the focus of what we’re doing. But this will be the little thing in between.”
“Paul and his team were crazy enough to believe they could win and AJ got shot.”
As for Paul and his team, Hearn believes they think Joshua stands to lose, but the promoter says that’s a big mistake.
“If you want to fight, we’ll fight. I’m not interested in AJ’s exhibition,” he said.
“If you want to step up to heavyweight and you want to do that, Mr. Paul, you talk about a good fight. By the way, if he makes it, he’s a brave man.”
Hearn says he has not yet confirmed anything about a potential matchup with Paul.
“Now you’re going to go into another stratosphere. We’re just as likely to wake up tomorrow morning and see Jake Paul fighting someone else. And we were just pawns in the whole media circus around Jake Paul.”
“But actually, the funny thing is, I think there are people on his team and even Jake Paul who believe they can win this fight. They believe Anthony Joshua was shot. They believe he’s been out for a year and a half.”
“It’s easy to think you have a chance. For me, I don’t. But you never know.”
Bellew talks AJ vs. Paul | “If that happens, it’ll last as long as Joshua wants it.”
Tony Bellew told Sky Sports on Thursday:
“No, that’s brutally and honestly impossible to answer (imagining an AJ vs. Paul fight happening).
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Tony Bellew doubts whether the rumored fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will happen, but if it does, AJ would be the overwhelming favorite to win.
“He (Paul) was supposed to fight Gervonta Davies last week. You went from Gervonta Davies, who I think is six inches shorter than you and five stone lighter, to now a guy (Joshua) who is probably about four or five inches taller than you and 100 pounds heavier.
“So from one sweeping policy to the next, I don’t believe in that.
“Gervonta Davis would have knocked him out. If Gervonta Davis was allowed to wear 10-ounce or 8-ounce gloves, which he would have been allowed to wear, he would have wiped out Jake Paul.”
“If Anthony Joshua steps into a boxing ring wearing 10-ounce gloves and Jake Paul is on the other side of the ring, this will continue for as long as Anthony Joshua wants it.
“They will pay enough money. If enough money is paid, certain committees and certain groups will sanction whatever.”
