Eddie Hearn has spoken out on rumours he's heard about Jake Paul's fight with Mike Tyson following unsubstantiated claims the bout is fixed in favour of the younger fighter.
Paul, 27, and Tyson, 58, will finally meet in the ring on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas - in a huge event to be streamed live on Netflix.
The fight was originally scheduled to take place in July but had to be postponed after former undisputed heavyweight world champion Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up in May.
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Paul has faced criticism for accepting the fight, given the huge age difference between the two men involved. But the YouTuber-turned-boxer has hit back at those questioning Tyson's ability, branding them "disrespectful" at a press conference on Wednesday.
Former super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch has been one of the most vocal critics of Paul and sensationally claimed earlier this week that the fight is "fixed" in favour of the younger man.
"It's an exhibition fight. I don't think it should be happening because Tyson is too old. I don't think it proves anything when Jake Paul beats him, I've heard and believe that there is something in the contract which means Tyson can’t even try and hurt him," said Froch, without providing evidence to back up his claims.
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"I'm sure if Tyson did land a big left or right hook on the chin of Jake Paul, then he could render him unconscious," Froch added. "That's the only chance he would have, if he could land a big shot on his chin.
"I can't really see that happening, though. In my view it's all fixed in advance for Paul and Tyson won't have the opportunity to do that."
Matchroom promoter Hearn has also criticised the fight and says he has no interest in watching Tyson return to professional boxing.
He also commented on the unusual rules for the controversial bout, which has been sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, as well as the unsubstantiated rumours of a secret "agreement" between Paul and Tyson.
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"They don't like the fact that I've been critical about the fight," Hearn told the PBD Podcast.
"I'm honest. I'm not going to brown-nose anyone, I'm going to give it to you straight. I don't like it – I'm a boxing purist. Boxing is a massive part of my life and I don't want to see a 58-year-old Mike Tyson fight.
"It's dangerous and people talk about 'there could be some agreement between them that this will happen, that will happen'.
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"Now you've got 14-oz gloves, two-minute rounds… I don't know. I don't want to see Jake Paul beat Mike Tyson at 58.
"But many will, and I get it."
Hearn has one of his star fighters, Katie Taylor, involved in the event this weekend.
She's facing Amanda Serrano, who is managed by Paul's MVP promotional company, in a rematch of their sensational undisputed lightweight world title fight in 2022 - which Taylor narrowly won by split decision at Madison Square Garden.
Topics: Boxing, Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, Eddie Hearn
Rory O'Callaghan