Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has made a staggering promise, declaring the sport would face a terminal collapse if his fighter, Anthony Joshua, loses to YouTube sensation Jake Paul in their multi-million-pound bout next month.
The Stakes Could Not Be Higher
The highly anticipated professional heavyweight fight is scheduled for Friday, December 19 in Miami, USA. Joshua, the 36-year-old former two-time world champion, is the overwhelming favourite against Paul, who has built a 13-fight professional record primarily around the cruiserweight limit.
The physical disparity between the two was starkly evident during their recent press conference, with Joshua holding a significant 13cm height advantage over his American opponent.
Hearn's Blunt Assessment and Bold Prediction
Hearn did not mince words when assessing Paul's abilities, acknowledging his progress while firmly dismissing his chances against a fighter of Joshua's calibre. "He is a top-50, in the world, cruiserweight," Hearn stated. "He is a legitimate cruiserweight now. I just don't think he's world class and I don't think there's any non-world class cruiserweight that can step up to heavyweight and beat Anthony Joshua."
He then laid his own future on the line with a bombshell declaration. "Maybe I'm wrong. If I'm wrong, I think my time's up. Not just AJ and me retire, I think we should all retire. So AJ the weight of boxing is on your shoulders, my man!"
An Expected 'Obliteration' in the Ring
Hearn's prediction for the fight itself is brutally straightforward. He envisions a swift and decisive victory for the Watford-born heavyweight. "I really believe this is going to be a straightforward obliteration," he told Sky Sports, emphasising that this is a fully sanctioned contest with no pre-arranged outcome.
He believes Paul will quickly regret his decision, stating, "Within less than a minute of that fight he is going to think to himself; 'What on earth have I done here'? And more importantly; 'What am I going to do'? There is absolutely no escape for Jake Paul in this fight."
Hearn expects Joshua's killer instinct to take over immediately. "AJ, he's got no interest in hanging around... the minute he smells blood, he's letting his hands go. And the minute he lets his hands go in this fight, there's a major problem for Jake Paul." He confidently predicted a second-round victory for Joshua, adding he would be disappointed if it took any longer.
