Eddie Hearn has pushed back hard after Jake Paul’s manager, Nakisa Bidarian, claimed that Anthony Joshua would be an “easier fight than Gervonta Davis” because Davis is faster. Speaking ahead of the December 19 showdown in Miami, Hearn insisted that Paul is about to meet real heavyweight speed and that Joshua’s athleticism is being badly underestimated.
Hearn said he’s bothered not just by Bidarian’s comments, but by the belief within Paul’s camp that they can genuinely beat Joshua. Paul enters the fight 12-1 (7 KOs), while Joshua sits at 28-4 (25 KOs). Despite the gulf in pedigree, Hearn acknowledges why Paul’s team feels confident. Joshua hasn’t fought in 14 months and is coming off a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois.
Paul is also leaning into the idea that Joshua’s age, inactivity, and recent setbacks have made him vulnerable. Hearn says these narratives are fueling Jake’s belief that he can win. But Hearn maintains that none of that changes the reality: Joshua is still a full-sized heavyweight with levels of power and speed Paul has never faced. “Mate, wait until you see AJ’s speed. It’s going to be frightening,” Hearn warned, adding that Paul, despite having real fights under his belt, is still “a decent cruiserweight” - not a heavyweight on Joshua’s level.
As the December 19 Netflix event at the Kaseya Center draws near, Hearn emphasized that Joshua isn’t the type to get dragged into trash talk. AJ’s mindset, he says, is simple: respect the opponent, then punish him in the ring.
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