Joshua will retire if Paul beats him – Hearn

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn says British-Nigerian heavyweight Anthony Joshua must demolish Jake Paul on December 19 or face retirement alongside him

With Paul gearing up to face Joshua at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, Hearn acknowledged there is significant pressure on the former two-time unified heavyweight champion.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn acknowledged Paul’s skills but pointed out that he still falls short of being skilled enough to beat Joshua.

Hearn brushed off any notion of the fight being rigged, calling it “illegal” to do so. Moreover, he even commended Paul for signing up for a “real fight”. But what happens if Joshua ends up losing to Paul? Hearn has a plan of action if that ever happens.

“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!” he said.

However, Hearn continues to remain confident about Joshua’s performance in the fight. “I really believe this is going to be a straightforward obliteration,” he stated.

“There is absolutely no escape for Jake Paul in this fight. You will find out very quickly what this game is all about. And it will not be pleasant for you. AJ, he’s got no interest in hanging around. He’s not capable of doing that. He can’t do it because the minute he smells weakness, 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.”

Joshua holds a 28-4 record with 25 knockouts, while Paul brings a 12-1 record with seven knockouts into the contest.