Jake Paul’s Weight Cap Request
Prominent boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has shed light on the reasoning behind Jake Paul’s request for a weight cap on heavyweight Anthony Joshua. Hearn also revealed a strategic move he made in response to this demand.
Anthony Joshua’s Weight and Fight Details
Anthony Joshua, boasting a professional record of 28 wins and 4 losses, with 25 of those victories coming by way of knockout, is required to weigh no more than 245 pounds at the official weigh-in for his upcoming bout on December 19. However, once the fight begins, there is no restriction on the weight he can carry into the ring.
Negotiations and Fight Stipulations
Hearn recounted his conversation with Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, where he stated that he had exaggerated Joshua’s weight in an effort to negotiate more favorable terms.
“I had spoken to Joshua, and he was around 265 pounds, but I mentioned to Nakisa that he was nearly 290 pounds instead,”
Hearn shared during his appearance on BBC 5 Live.
In his exchange with Bidarian, Hearn acknowledged his disinterest in unusual fight stipulations like ‘balloon gloves’ or shortened two-minute rounds, which Paul had suggested could be part of the bout. Instead, when Hearn inquired about the duration of the fight, they settled on eight rounds after discussing a ten-round format. Interestingly, the Paul camp expressed a desire for Joshua to drop weight, suggesting that while they didn’t intend to create an unfair advantage, they felt the need for Joshua to face some form of disadvantage.
Jake Paul’s Confidence
During a pre-fight press conference last week, Jake Paul boldly asserted his confidence, claiming he would knock Joshua out and asserting that he believes he can triumph over the former two-time unified heavyweight champion.
