Without a Script, Anthony Joshua Will Rapidly Knock Jake Paul Out - Hearn States

I have no genuine justification for Anthony Joshua versus Paul. It's wild the fact it's happening and I think the naysayers are spot on.

However, we just couldn't turn it down. No fighter in their right mind would have said no. Anybody claiming they would are utterly dishonest outright.

We took a bout that we think is quite simple, will provide AJ a huge presence in America and one of the highest paydays.

The Plan Behind This Bout

AJ was going to have a tune-up bout this November in Saudi - an eight-rounder against a guy ranked around 100th in the heavyweight rankings.

This was a chance to get his hands wrapped with his fresh training team, make the ringwalk and go through the motions. Now, we're doing that exact tune-up but for about 50 times more money.

We have a clear strategy planned - to knock Jake Paul out as soon as possible. After that, we go into normal service resuming in 2026.

Joshua will box against a world-class fighter in February and - if all goes well - he will then fight Tyson Fury.

Therefore there's a method to this madness and taking this fight does not affect Joshua's legacy. However losing to Paul or it even going the distance certainly would.

That would be an absolute catastrophe and awfully humiliating.

This Bout Is Definitely Not Scripted

A great many people have come up to me questioning whether it's fixed. Firstly, we would be investigated by authorities if that were true. That would be illegal. This is a professional contest and an officially sanctioned match where fans are wagering.

And does anyone believe I would permit AJ to follow a script with Jake Paul? A plan where we might lose or even hold him up? No way.

We are not providing this opponent an advantage or an opportunity to claim "told you I was better than AJ" or "I won rounds". That would be devastating for AJ and we will not risk that.

Public Pressure for a Quick Knockout

There are also those who say if AJ doesn't stop him in the first round then it is a disgrace.

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

Should he come forward, it will end quickly. However if he is boxing on the back foot and trying to clinch and jab and move, then he may survive a couple of rounds.

We will not see AJ run across the squared circle in the first few seconds and start windmilling.

Just like he did against Ngannou, he will go into the ring, size him up and then go in with the heavy artillery.

Jake Paul Has the Ability to Punch a Little Bit

I've heard figures like Roy Jones Jr and Atlas stating you can't count Jake out in this fight. Am I really losing the plot here Is there anything they're seeing that I'm not?

Let us be one thing right - Jake is a pro fighter. I think he's a decent cruiserweight - top 60 or 70 in the world.

This is not an individual that has not put on boxing gloves previously. He can punch a little bit. He's sparring Lawrence Okolie and top-ten big men.

Putting aside the victory against Mike Tyson, who was then well past his prime, Jake did beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - who may have been a faded fighter but was hardly a complete mug.

He trained for the fight and was a former titleholder who went the distance against Canelo Alvarez and came close to stopping Martinez in the final round.

So I give credit to Jake Paul for his hard work and showing respect to the craft of boxing and he has accomplished so much for women's boxing through his promotion company.

But despite his self-belief, passion, commitment and enhanced ability, he ought to be getting iced by Anthony Joshua.

The Moment AJ Lands, It's Over

Paul and his camp are hoping for a lot of factors. Hoping AJ underestimates him, hoping AJ is shot, banking on AJ's inactivity will be a factor, hoping AJ lacks confidence, banking on AJ's chin has deteriorated.

But, unfortunately for them, AJ is extremely switched on. He has completed a training camp and he is preparing as if he's fighting Usyk or in a potential Dubois rematch.

I anticipate Anthony Joshua to win within two rounds via a devastating knockout.

He could hit Jake Paul to the body and he would break his ribs and he wouldn't be able to get up.

Should he land flush, he will put him spark out. Or could jump in.

We don't know how it could play out however with the way AJ punches - with the speed and power - the instant a punch lands clean, the contest will end.

Subsequently we go back to AJ's two goals he wants to achieve in the time of his career in boxing - to face Tyson Fury and to be crowned a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.