Eddie Hearn has insisted {that a} bout between Anthony Joshua and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul could be a “actual combat” slightly than an exhibition.
Joshua, 36, is alleged to be poised to finish his 14-month hiatus from the ring by returning for a big-money fight with the polarising Paul, with studies claiming a deal is near being finalised for the pair to throw down in Miami in December.
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The previous world heavyweight champion has not fought since his fifth-round stoppage defeat to British rival Daniel Dubois final September.
The reception to the prospect of “AJ” squaring off with Paul has been largely important, with many claiming the problem is much beneath Joshua’s customary whereas additionally expressing concern on the threat of significant damage for Paul, the smaller man.
Paul, 28, lost to Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy in 2023 earlier than he beat ageing boxing great Mike Tyson, 59, in an eight-round contest final yr and had been on account of face Gervonta Davis till a civil lawsuit towards the WBA light-weight champion scuppered that proposed 14 November exhibition fight.
However in keeping with Hearn, a conflict with Joshua could be a heavyweight contest beneath Queensbury guidelines.
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“No, not an exhibition,” Hearn informed Sky Sports. “We’re not interested by exhibitions. It is an actual combat.
“There’s stuff to be resolved and mentioned. It might be an actual combat with Queensberry guidelines, 10-ounce gloves. The rounds could be agreed. The load, I imply, we might come all the way down to a quantity that is extra fitted to Jake, if that’s even a factor.
Jake Paul could possibly be Anthony Joshua’s subsequent opponent (AP)
“It is a heavyweight combat. There was a little bit of a leaping of the gun from the media final evening. It is a cruiserweight shifting as much as heavyweight.”
Hearn, who additionally expressed ambitions of finally getting a “Battle of Britain” signed with Tyson Fury for 2026, acknowledged that it was all the time the intention for Joshua to get again within the ring earlier than the tip of the yr.
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Whereas the chance of Paul has come considerably as a shock, he says the combat is within the works although nothing is confirmed.
“We had been going to have an eight-round combat this yr, on an undercard someplace,” Hearn added.
Anthony Joshua misplaced to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium final September (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Archive)
“We did not count on that to be towards Jake Paul, but it surely simply so occurs that whether it is, it is for 50 instances extra money than we had been going to combat for.
“I believe if there’s any probability of that combat occurring subsequent week, you may most likely hear about it. It isn’t finished, regardless of rumours. We’ve had an strategy from MVP (Most Worthwhile Promotions). I’ve my doubts.
“I imply, if he could be loopy sufficient to entertain that, we’d be prepared to oblige, in all honesty.
“I believe it could be nearly not possible for the degrees of cash concerned to show down the chance to be in that combat. However, like I mentioned, nothing confirmed but, and we’ll see what occurs.”
