The organisers of the upcoming mega-fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua have issued a blunt denial against a wave of online accusations alleging match-fixing and manipulated outcomes in Paul's recent bouts.
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the company behind the December 19th clash, finds itself under intense scrutiny. This follows conspiracy theories suggesting Paul's points victory over 59-year-old Mike Tyson and other fights were rigged or contained secret contractual clauses.
With boxing regulators and insiders warning the Miami showdown could be unsafe and damage the sport's credibility, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian has launched a forceful defence. He insists their operations are fully transparent and regulated.
Federal Crimes and FBI Scrutiny
Bidarian did not mince words when addressing the allegations directly. He stated that claims of scripted outcomes are not only false but would constitute federal crimes.
He stressed that all of Jake Paul's fights are subject to rigorous oversight, including USADA testing, state athletic commission approval, and public rule-sets. He emphatically declared that if there were any truth to the fixing rumours, authorities would be "on our a** in two seconds".
Addressing the specific criticism of the Mike Tyson fight, Bidarian acknowledged the unusual stipulations—two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves—but highlighted that both were publicly disclosed and approved by the Texas Athletic Commission.
He also drew a pointed comparison to the UFC's ongoing integrity issues, stating, "You can rest assured, unlike Dana White in the UFC... we do not."
Safety Concerns and Doping Protocols
The fight proceeds under a cloud of suspicion, compounded by the British Boxing Board of Control's (BBBofC) refusal to sanction it in the UK. Concerns have mounted over whether the YouTube-star-turned-boxer possesses the skill and resilience to withstand a two-time heavyweight champion like Joshua.
Bidarian also tackled another growing online theory: the suspicion around Paul's drastic weight fluctuations. Critics have questioned how Paul could cut to 195lbs for a cancelled fight with Gervonta Davis, then balloon to a planned 245lbs for Joshua in just six weeks.
He insists this will be closely monitored, revealing that both fighters are enrolled in the highest level of USADA testing.
"Jake was tested eight times by USADA during the past... seven weeks," Bidarian said. "That's just going to continue. Randomised testing, frequent testing."
Is The Fight Dangerous?
Despite Joshua's fearsome knockout record against legends like Wladimir Klitschko and his recent demolition of Francis Ngannou, Bidarian rejected the argument that the fight is inherently dangerous for Paul.
"I think every boxing match is dangerous," he conceded. However, he argued that Paul facing Joshua is "less dangerous than many fights that are on boxing cards as promoters are building boxers' careers against journeymen, who are there to get knocked out."
He dismissed the idea that Joshua's size alone makes the matchup irresponsible, pointing out that Joshua lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk, who weighed around 221lbs. The 245lb weight limit for the fight was agreed upon because it is a weight at which Joshua feels comfortable and has fought at before, with no rehydration clause.
In a surprising assessment, Bidarian even suggested that Anthony Joshua is a more winnable fight for Paul than the elusive and powerful Gervonta Davis would have been, albeit more dangerous in terms of pure knockout power.
Finally, he assured that Paul's boxing career does not hinge on this single result, listing future potential fights with Tommy Fury, Ryan Garcia, and even Terence Crawford, irrespective of the outcome against Joshua on December 19th.
