Eddie Hearn Addresses Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Being 'Scripted'

Eddie Hearn has addressed talk about Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua's upcoming superfight being "scripted" with a damning comment.

Paul had initially been scheduled to fight Gervonta Davis in an exhibition in Miami but will now square off against two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua in a professional contest in the 'Magic City'.

The pair held a press conference at the Kaseya Center on Friday and had the mandatory face-off - with Joshua towering over his opponent.

It will be an eight round affair, live around the globe on Netflix - with Paul and Joshua looking to break the record viewing figures recorded in the former's fight with heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in November 2024.

Paul continues his unprecedented run in boxing as he looks to prove his abilities with an active fighter who is one of the best heavyweights of his generation.

With just one loss to Tommy Fury on his record, the 28-year-old's fights have regularly been labelled as "rigged" - particularly his early knockouts against MMA fighters past their prime and the underwhelming meeting with Tyson.

But Hearn, Joshua's long-time promoter dismissed that going into this encounter as he explained Joshua's exact approach to proceedings.

Paul and Joshua lock horns next month. Image: Getty

Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Hearn said: "By the way, just make one thing very, very, very clear. This whole, 'Oh well if it's scripted' - please stop with that bulls***". One, we would never, ever enter a fight - by the way that is illegal.

"This is a professional sanctioned contest. Imagine saying to Mike Tyson, 'Yeah mate, don't hit me'. Do you honestly think that Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian would have even the front to say to me, 'Right, here's the proposal, eight rounds, ten ounce gloves but you're only around to throw punches from the fourth round'.

"He's going to go in there and destroy him. That is what he's going to do. Eight rounds, ten ounce gloves and the weight was set below 245lbs - which is not easy for AJ - he's been fighting at about 255 lately but we also understand, there's got to be some kind of disadvantage because it's like Father Christmas just came down the chimney with a sack load of cash and went, 'Hello AJ, we're going to give you a wonderful Christmas, here it all is for a little run-out in Miami' and after that you can have a couple of days on the beach.

"You're never going to keep everybody happy, you can't take an Olympic gold medal and you can't take away two world heavyweight championships."

Joshua is determined to knock Paul out in his return to the ring. Image: Getty

Joshua has confirmed controversial disadvantage for Paul fight

Paul's only previous fight at heavyweight was against Tyson, 31 years his senior, as he has typically competed at light heavyweight and cruiserweight. Having been preparing for a lightweight in Davis not that long ago, he has admitted that putting the weight back on has been challenging.

"I was cutting for Gervonta [Davis], so it’s been tough building my strength back up for this. But I’ll be anywhere between 215 and 225 pounds."

At 6 ft6, Joshua is considerably bigger than his opponent and so he will have a restriction imposed on him going into December 19.

That's because although heavyweights do not usually have a weight limit to meet, 'AJ' cannot come in any heavier than 245lbs on the scales.

"I think that is the case," Joshua confirmed when asked about the weight rule by Ariel Helwani.

"111kg (245lbs) is what I've got to weigh in at. That is what I am focusing on. Anything else after that is a bonus after that."

Joshua came in at more than 250lbs for his last fight against Daniel Dubois in September 2024 but was under 245lbs for both losses to Oleksandr Usyk.