Boxing
Hearn defends Joshua – Jake Paul in a real heavyweight fight
Published
7 months agoon
Promoter Eddie Hearn has explained why Anthony Joshua chose to fight Jake Paul next month on December 19, claiming it was a financial slam dunk. He let fans know it was coming “real heavyweight fight” eight rounds, not an exhibition. The two will headline the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on Netflix.
Why Jake Paul replaced the tuning
Hearn claims former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) was going to run away anyway, but Jake Paul replaced them for money they “couldn’t refuse.”
One gets the impression that this is a pre-emptive move on his part, intended to soften the harsh reaction of fans. Hearn doesn’t need to explain why AJ is taking this fight. The money dwarfs what Joshua could get for fighting anyone else.
Ruiz-level payout revealed
Hearn has already mentioned that he will earn similar money for this fight as he earned in his rematch with Andy Ruiz on December 7, 2019. He made $80 million or more from that fight. It makes sense why Joshua should fight Jake.
“A lot of people are very excited that Anthony Joshua has almost driven Jake Paul out of the boxing world,” promoter Eddie Hearn told Boxing in the match roomtalking about the December 19 fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul.
What happens if AJ falls asleep?
Hearn needs to consider the potential of Jake Paul knocking out Joshua because that is something that could happen. Joshua has never had so much impact resistance in his career. Now, after twelve years as a professional, he is delicate. Jake hits harder than challenging enough to do what Ruiz and Dubois did.
This isn’t a situation where Joshua can just come in and win. Unlike Francis Ngannou, Jake Paul can fight and has the potential to knock out Joshua. The knockout AJ suffered last year against Dubois will not do him any favors in terms of easing Paul’s punishment.
“You have to admire Jake Paul’s heart. He has faced criticism about the standard of his opponent,” Hearn said. “Now he’s entering a whole up-to-date stratosphere. They made us an offer that was huge financially. We were planning a potentially miniature eight-round fight this year. Now he’s taking on Jake Paul in an eight-round fight for more money than we could have imagined.”
Jake Paul is an opponent Joshua has no choice but to take seriously. He has power and does exactly what Daniel Dubois did in AJ’s last fight on September 21, 2024, knocking him out if he can land it correctly. At some point it will land. The only question is whether 36-year-old Joshua’s chin will hold up?
“So, as you heard from Turki Alalshikh, the sedate stuff starts in 2026. But at the same time, it was an offer you couldn’t refuse. It’s a huge event. As AJ said in his press release: “No mercy.” This is not an exhibition. This is truly a heavyweight fight,” Hearn said.
If Jake knocks out Joshua, it will be intriguing to see what direction Hearn goes. After a few excuses about what happened, will he push AJ in a different direction or will he push for a rematch? It will be fun to listen to Hearn try to explain his defeat.
👀 @EddieHearn conversations #JakeJoshua in the latest episode of Flash Knockdown ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/oGDNbfJadP
— Boxing at Matchroom (@MatchroomBoxing) November 20, 2025
Last update: 20/11/2025
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Boxing
Tim Bradley explains why Lamont Roach can beat William Zepeda
Published
13 minutes agoon
June 13, 2026
Bradley says Roach’s experience against pressure players and southpaws will give him an advantage on August 1
Tim Bradley thinks Lamont Roach Jr. he is the player best placed to make William Zepeda lose. In a speech on his YouTube channel, Bradley selected Roach as the winner of the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1 and cited the fight’s stylistic advantages as a key factor.
“I’m picking Roach to win this fight,” Bradley said on his channel. “I think it’s a perfect match in style. I think Roach fights southpaws better than orthodox fighters.”
Roach comes into the fight coming off a draw with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and a contentious draw with Gervonta Davis, as well as two physically demanding fights against high-pressure fighters that Bradley says has prepared him for Zepeda’s relentless approach.
“I think he fought one of the best southpaws in the world in Tank Davis. And he did damn well against him,” Bradley said. “He wasn’t scared by the force of the impact.”
Bradley believes Roach has the tools needed to neutralize Zepeda’s pressure.
“When guys who like to get forward and be aggressive, nine times out of 10 they don’t like being tackled,” Bradley said. “Roach has the ability to do it. He has the knowledge and the IQ to be able to do it. And if he does it, he will win this fight.”
Bradley also cautioned that Roach cannot afford to leave matters in the judges’ hands, arguing that he needs to create more separation than in recent draws with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most vital fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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Last update: 2026/06/13 at 14:20
Boxing
Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’
Published
2 hours agoon
June 13, 2026
Roy Jones Jr has announced his price and is demanding an eight-figure purse if he is to make it through the ropes.
At his peak, the American became one of the best players to ever grace the sport, and his breathtaking speed and overall physical prowess made him seem almost unbeatable.
After winning world titles at middleweight, super middleweight and airy heavyweight, Jones even moved up to heavyweight and dethroned John Ruiz to win the WBA belt in 2003.
The pound-for-pound legend retired in 2018, when many thought his best days were behind him, only to take it to the next level exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020
Although it was a non-contest, many believed that Tyson outplayed Jones, who then returned professionally against Anthony Pettis and lost an eight-round decision to the former UFC champion in 2023.
Since then, the 57-year-old has remained on the safer side of the competition, but is now eyeing another comeback, this time against Misfits boxer Tommy Fury.
Having delved into the power side of the sport following previous professional victories over Jake Paul and KSI, Fury is now preparing to face former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.
I’m talking to Betting showroomJones said he would only be willing to challenge the 27-year-old if he was handsomely rewarded for his troubles.
“Is me vs. Tommy Fury dead? Nothing is dead forever. Roy Jones is still alive. Tommy Fury is still alive. Who knows? For the right money, it would make me go to the gym to get ready.”
“If they give me $10 million of course. Ten and more, yes. If they don’t give me $10 million and more, then no, I’m not wasting my time.”
Fury’s six-round exhibition match with Hall will take place later today at the Manchester Arena, although the result will not affect his professional record of 11-0 (4 KO).
“There are a confined number of fights and he can’t fight every fighter. So why don’t you consider that [Iglesias and Sheeraz] think about who wants to be at the front of the line,” Kellerman said on InsideRingShow.
Kellerman rejected the idea that Canelo was firing any of the fighters.
“He’s not saying he’s ignoring Sheeraz and Iglesias. In fact, he just gave them a path. He said, ‘I’m fighting Mbilli.’ You are fighting each other. This is not a duck. This is about business,” Kellerman said.
Sheeraz has already made it clear that he has no interest in following the route proposed by Canelo. Responding to a suggestion from an earlier interview, the British fighter said he respected Alvarez but would not allow another boxer to dictate his career decisions.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could answer many of the remaining questions about both men.
Canelo is preparing to fight Mbilli, a fighter widely viewed as one of the most threatening fighters in the division due to his constant pressure and furious attacks. Meanwhile, Sheeraz has had two fights since moving up to 168 pounds, a fight against Edgar Berlanga, who he stopped in July 2025 after Canelo had already beaten him a year earlier, and 39-year-old Al Begic for the vacant WBO title.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could eliminate many of the questions that still haunt both men. Sheeraz would have the opportunity to silence critics who believe his super middleweight resume is slim, while Iglesias could reaffirm a growing reputation that has led some fans to consider him the division’s boogeyman.
The winner would pose a bigger and more marketable challenge. Instead of facing Sheeraz immediately after his victory over Begic, Alvarez could face an opponent who had a decisive victory over another world champion, adding more significance to what could be one of the final marquee fights of his career.
Max Kellerman reacts to Canelo Álvarez’s comments about Hamzah Sheeraz and Osleys Iglesias 👀#InsideTheRing | The latest episode LIVE NOW on YouTube The Ring 📺 pic.twitter.com/tfOhDtjgit
— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) June 12, 2026
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Tim Bradley explains why Lamont Roach can beat William Zepeda
Roy Jones Jr Says He’ll Return to Fighting One Fighter If He Gets an Eight-Figure Salary: ‘It’ll Make Me Prepare’
Hamzah Sheeraz should fight Osleys Iglesias first
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