No Script, Joshua Will Quickly Knock Paul Out - Promoter Hearn Claims
I've got no real justification regarding Anthony Joshua vs. Paul. It's insane the fact it's taking place and I feel the critics are correct.
But, we just couldn't turn it down. No fighter who is sensible would have declined. Anyone who says they would are completely lying outright.
We accepted a bout that we believe is extremely easy, will give AJ a huge profile in the United States and among his career-high paydays.
The Strategy Behind This Bout
AJ was going to have a tune-up bout this November in Saudi - an eight-round contest versus an opponent ranked around 100th in the world heavyweight rankings.
It was a chance to wrap the hands by his new training team, do the ringwalk and go through the motions. Now, we are doing that same run-out but for fifty times the purse.
We possess an obvious strategy planned - to stop Jake out asap. After that, we return to normal service being resumed next year.
Joshua will box against a world-class 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 losing to Paul or the fight even going the full distance would.
It would be an absolute disaster and terribly embarrassing.
Paul vs Joshua Is Not Scripted
So many people have asked me questioning if it's scripted. First of all, we would be investigated by authorities if that were true. That would be against the law. This constitutes a professional contest and a sanctioned bout where fans are wagering.
And does anyone believe I would allow AJ to have a script involving Jake Paul? A script where we might lose or even hold him up? Absolutely not.
We are certainly not providing this opponent an advantage or a chance to claim "I told you I was better than AJ" or "I took rounds from him". That would be catastrophic for Anthony Joshua and we're not going to take that risk.
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 is expected to dominate this opponent however, blimey, allow him two to three stanzas for safety. Since Jake's approach will determine the speed of destruction.
Should he come forward, it will end rapidly. But if he is boxing on the back foot and attempting to tie him up and stick and move, then he might last a few rounds.
We're not going to see AJ charge across the squared circle immediately and begin swinging wildly.
Similar to he did against Ngannou, he will step into the ring, measure him up and then unleash with the heavy artillery.
Paul Can Whack a Little Bit
I have heard the likes of Roy Jones Jr and Teddy Atlas saying you can't count Jake Paul out in this fight. Am I really losing the plot here Is there something they see that I am missing?
Let's get one thing right - Jake is a professional boxer. I think he is a respectable cruiserweight - top 60 or 70 globally.
This isn't an individual that has not laced a pair of gloves previously. He is able to whack with some power. He's sparring Lawrence Okolie and top-10 heavyweights.
Putting aside the victory against Tyson, who was then well past his prime, Jake defeated Chavez Jr - who may have been a done fighter but was hardly a complete mug.
He trained for the fight and was a former titleholder who went to points with Canelo Alvarez and nearly stopped Martinez late in the fight.
So I give credit to Jake Paul for training hard and showing respect to the craft of boxing and he has done a great deal for women's boxing through his Most Valuable Promotions.
Yet in spite of his self-belief, passion, commitment and enhanced ability, he should be getting iced by Anthony Joshua.
Once Joshua Connects, It's Over
Paul and his camp are hoping for a lot of factors. Banking on AJ is underestimating him, hoping AJ is shot, banking on AJ's inactivity will cost him, hoping AJ lacks confidence, banking on AJ's chin has deteriorated.
But, unfortunately for them, AJ is super focused. He's had a camp and he's training as if he's fighting Usyk or in a Dubois rematch.
I anticipate my fighter to win inside two rounds via a brutal KO.
A shot to Jake Paul to the body and he would break his ribs and he wouldn't be able to rise.
If he hits him clean, he will knock him spark out. Or the referee.
We don't know how it could play out however given how AJ throws punches - with the speed and destruction - as soon as Jake is hit on the chin, the fight is over.
Subsequently the focus returns to AJ's two goals he wants to achieve in the remainder of his career in this sport - to face Tyson Fury and to be crowned a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
