Without a Script, Anthony Joshua Will Swiftly Stop Paul Out - Promoter Hearn Claims

I've got no genuine justification for Anthony Joshua versus Jake Paul. It's crazy the fact it's occurring and I feel the critics are spot on.

But, we simply could not reject it. No fighter in their right mind would have declined. Anybody claiming they would is utterly dishonest through their teeth.

We took a bout that we believe will be extremely easy, will provide AJ an enormous profile in the United States and one of the highest earnings.

The Plan Behind the Fight

Anthony Joshua was set to have a run-out fight this November in Saudi Arabia - an eight-rounder versus an opponent who was ranked around 100th in the world heavyweight rankings.

This was an opportunity to wrap the hands with his fresh training team, do the ringwalk and go through the motions. Now, we are doing that same run-out however for 50 times more money.

We have a clear game plan in mind - to stop Jake Paul out as soon as possible. After that, we return to normal service resuming next year.

Joshua will box against a top-tier opponent in February and - if all goes well - he will then face Fury.

So there is logic to this madness and accepting this fight will not harm Joshua's legacy. But a loss against Jake or it even going the distance certainly would.

That would be a complete disaster and terribly humiliating.

Paul vs Joshua Is Not Scripted

So many individuals have asked me questioning if it's scripted. Firstly, we would be investigated by the FBI if that were true. That would be illegal. This is a professional contest and an officially sanctioned match on which fans are wagering.

And does anyone believe I would allow AJ to have a script with Jake Paul? A plan where we could lose or even make him look bad? No way.

We are certainly not providing this opponent an edge or an opportunity to say "I told you I am superior to AJ" or "I took rounds from him". This would be catastrophic for AJ and we will not risk that.

Public Pressure for a Quick Finish

There are also those saying if AJ doesn't knock him out in the first round then it's an embarrassment.

He's expected to walk through this opponent however, goodness, give him two or three rounds just in case. Since how Jake approaches it will reflect on the speed of the finish.

If he gets brave, it will end rapidly. But if he fights defensively and attempting to clinch and jab and move, then he might survive a few rounds.

We're not going to see AJ run across the squared circle immediately and begin swinging wildly.

Just like his approach against Francis Ngannou, he will go into the ring, measure him up and then go in with his power shots.

Paul Can Whack a Little Bit

I've heard the likes of Roy Jones Jr and Teddy Atlas stating you cannot dismiss Jake Paul out in this fight. Am I losing the plot ? Is there anything they see that I am missing?

Let us be something right - Jake Paul is a professional boxer. I believe he's a decent cruiserweight - top 60 or 70 globally.

This is not a guy that has not put on boxing gloves previously. He is able to punch with some power. He spars Lawrence Okolie and top-10 heavyweights.

Forgetting the win over Tyson, who was then an old man, Jake defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - who might have been a faded fighter but was not a total pushover.

Chavez Jr prepared for that bout and was a former world champion who went the distance with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and nearly stopped Martinez late in the fight.

Therefore I actually credit Jake Paul for training hard and demonstrating respect to the craft of boxing and he has done so much for women's boxing with his promotion company.

But in spite of his delusion, passion, commitment and enhanced ability, he ought to be being knocked out by Joshua.

Once Joshua Connects, It's Over

Paul and his camp are banking on many things. Banking on AJ is underestimating him, banking on AJ is shot, hoping AJ's inactivity will be a factor, banking on AJ is low in self-belief, banking on AJ's chin isn't what it once was.

But, unfortunately for them, AJ is extremely focused. He has completed a training camp and he's training as if he's fighting Usyk or in a Daniel Dubois second fight.

I expect Anthony Joshua to triumph within two rounds with a brutal knockout.

He could hit Jake to the midsection and it could break his ribs and he would be unable to rise.

Should he land flush, he will put him to sleep. Alternatively could intervene.

We don't know exactly how it will unfold but with the way AJ punches - with the speed and power - the instant Jake is hit on the chin, the fight is over.

Then the focus returns to AJ's primary objectives he aims to accomplish in the time of his career in this sport - to fight Fury and to be crowned a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.