Hearn: Paul’s team wants Joshua to cut weight

Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has revealed that Jake Paul’s team had asked if Joshua could drop some weight ahead of their December 19 bout. 

What initially seemed like a joke to many was finally confirmed last week when Joshua and Paul faced off for the first time. The contrast between the two, physically, could not be more obvious, with Joshua towering over the former YouTuber. 

This, however, did not stop Paul from sounding like his usual self, declaring that he would KO the former two-time heavyweight champion as he had some advantage. 

He said, “He is one of the best heavyweights ever, but I believe fighting a smaller man is often harder for a heavyweight because of the speed difference, the footwork, the angles, the head being off-centre. 

“All that power is great, but I just have to avoid that one shot for eight rounds, and I believe I can do that. I know I can pick him apart, score points, and make this a great contest.”

No doubt, that is big talk for someone who has 7 KOs against Joshua’s 25.

One of the bigger issues heading into the fight has been how to bridge the gap between the two. Joshua is a heavyweight fighter, whose weight was currently captured at 245 pounds (111 kg), while Paul weighs 200 pounds (90.7 kg) and fights at the cruiserweight level. 

Weight aside, both men are at different points of their career, with Joshua being the more accomplished fighter, and one of the best boxers of his generation. The only way Paul can have some chance against him is by balancing things out a bit. 

According to Hearn, Paul’s promoter, Nakisa Bidarian, reached out to him to see if it was possible that Joshua could drop down in weight for the fight. 

Hearn said: “I said I’m not interested in balloon gloves and two-minute rounds but he said it was a real fight. I asked if it was 10 rounds or eight rounds, they said fine to eight.”

He continued, “They said, ‘The only thing is that Jake will weigh about 220 pounds and we want AJ to come down in weight.’ He’s a heavyweight and hasn’t cut weight before. 

“They said, ‘Look, we’re not being funny, and it’s not that we need an advantage, but we need you to have some disadvantage.‘“

From Hearn’s discussion, there was no admission to whether or not they accepted Bidarian’s proposal or any mention of what the weight for the fight would be. But it won’t be unusual for Joshua to cut some weight or Paul to add, for some fairness.