Eddie Hearn has confirmed a rule chance for Anthony Joshua’s fight with Jake Paul on Friday night.
Joshua and YouTube star Paul will face off in a highly controversial clash in Miami which is worth just shy of £140million.
The boxing world has been divided over the showdown, with many fearing it could be dangerous for Paul. AJ, a two-time unified world heavyweight champion, has insisted he has a ‘licence to kill’. Paul remains undeterred. ‘Let’s kill each other,’ he said.
Though the bout is at heavyweight, Paul has slapped Joshua with a weight restriction, with the Brit not allowed to go in heavier than 245lbs – lighter than his usual weight, having come in at 252.5lbs in his last bout against Daniel Dubois.
It seems Paul, 28, has also managed to get his opponent’s camp to agree to a bigger ring that usual, with a 22x22ft ring to be used – nearly the biggest allowed.
After Hearn, Joshua’s manager, revealed the news to IFL TV, Paul said at the final press conference: ‘That’s accurate. Pretty standard. I think fights range from 20-foot rings to 24-foot rings.
‘So, 22 feet, I feel great about it.’
There was unease when Joshua made his threat on Tuesday, saying: ‘If I can kill you, I will kill you’. But he explained: ‘It’s my job, we fight. We have a licence to kill.
‘I’m sure many people don’t understand it but this is what my job is. I just enjoy what I do.
‘Whatever happens, happens – as long as my hand is raised, that’s what’s important, respectfully.
‘That’s just what the mentality we have to have as fighters. I don’t know if other fighters think that way. Maybe they’re a bit more tame.
‘The way my mind works. When you’re in the ring, it’s a dangerous thing. Anything can happen.
Joshua also rebuffed the accusation that he is putting the good of boxing at stake by taking a fortune to fight a YouTube creation in this artificially created event.
‘It’s OK that I am supposed to have the weight of boxing’s credibility on my shoulders. It’s another challenge I want to meet,’ the Briton said.
‘This not all about the money for me (somewhere between £30-£50million) nor my biggest pay cheque. I want to show the world my proper boxing skllls.’
Paul responded: ‘No-one has done more for boxing lately than me by disrupting the old game.’
