Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has expressed a surprising stance regarding a potential fight between his charge, Anthony Joshua, and celebrity boxer Jake Paul. Hearn indicated he would not necessarily prevent such a bout from happening, despite his view that it would be a severely one-sided affair.
Jake Paul recently added another win to his evolving boxing record, following his initial fame as a YouTuber and Disney figure. In his thirteenth professional fight on June 28th, Paul defeated former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Following this latest triumph, `The Problem Child` wasted no time in issuing several ambitious challenges to other fighters.
Hearn`s Reaction to the Callout
To the frustration of boxing purists and critics of his foray into the sport, Paul is increasingly being seen as a legitimate contender. He has even secured a ranking within the WBA`s cruiserweight top 15, which could potentially position him for an unlikely world title opportunity, perhaps against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
However, Ramirez wasn`t the only significant name Paul targeted after his victory over Chavez Jr. He also set his sights on a much larger opponent: former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. While Joshua has yet to publicly comment on the challenge, his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, has weighed in.
Speaking about the potential matchup, Hearn told talkSPORT: “He’s calling out Anthony Joshua, who is a heavyweight monster. I think Jake Paul is crazy enough to fight Anthony Joshua because the money would be absolutely obscene.”
Hearn didn`t hold back on his assessment of the fight`s competitiveness. “It’s a catastrophic mismatch that people would tune in to watch,” he continued, “because it would be the end of Jake Paul. It’s that dangerous.”
Interestingly, it is precisely the prospect of Paul`s career coming to an end that would make Hearn consider approving the fight. In a separate interview with Sky Sports, Hearn suggested he would encourage Joshua, saying, “Yeah, go on mate. Go and deal with this guy. Get him out of the game.”
Paul`s Championship Ambitions
While many observers dismiss the seriousness of Paul`s callout of a fighter in a weight class far above his own, the 28-year-old consistently maintains that his aspirations in boxing, particularly his goal of winning a world title, are genuine.
He recently reinforced this ambition in a social media post, stating that becoming a world champion remains his primary objective in the sport. He reflected on the effort involved, writing, “I’ve worked hard to get here but there is nothing to celebrate. Long road ahead and I’m more committed to it every single day.” He added, “I may veer off the path now and again, but being a world champion is my desired ultimate destination.”
Considering his stated goal, it is more probable that Paul will concentrate on ascending the cruiserweight ranks to pursue a potentially controversial title shot, possibly against Gilberto Ramirez, rather than immediately seeking a bout with a much larger and more experienced heavyweight like Anthony Joshua.
