When Jake Paul stepped into the ring with Anthony Joshua, most observers predicted a brief night. Instead, the bout unfolded longer than anticipated, forcing many in boxing to reassess what they had just seen.
Among those reconsidering their expectations was Eddie Hearn, the longtime promoter of Joshua. Speaking days after the fight, Hearn acknowledged that the contest surprised him in several ways.
“I thought [Paul vs. Joshua] was much better than I thought it would be,” Hearn admitted. “I know people are going to say, ‘Well, Jake was running and Jake was [holding].’ But at the end of the day, Jake had one job, and that was to try and survive. He was never, ever going to win the fight — ever, ever. If you’d have said to me, ‘Do I think he will go six rounds?’ I’d have said, ‘Absolutely not.’”
How Paul Managed to Stay There
Joshua eventually imposed his power, but Paul found ways to delay the finish. Hearn pointed to movement, positioning, and clinch control as the main reasons the fight did not end early.
“I felt that it would take AJ a couple of rounds to get hold of him because I knew Jake can move a bit and he would be moving off the back foot and he’d be holding, but it was the way that he did it, I think was actually quite impressive.”
“The way that he was strong in the clinch — he wouldn’t let AJ get his shots off in the clinch. He made him miss a few times.”
Paul also forced Joshua to reset on several occasions, slowing the pace and limiting clean exchanges.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Hearn noted that while Joshua landed punches earlier, the fight only truly ended when a clean right hand finally connected.
“Obviously AJ’s been out of the ring for a while, but, to be honest, the most fascinating thing of the whole night, in terms of the fight, was how [Paul] didn’t get flatlined by that right hand,” Hearn said.
“I said going into the fight, it was probably going to take AJ a few rounds to get hold of him, and I also said as soon as he lands clean, the fight’s over.”
“He landed a few before, but the first that he landed really clean was the final shot.”
Even then, Hearn emphasized how unusual it was to see Paul remain conscious after the damage he took.
“He never flatlined Jake. He did break [Paul’s] jaw in two places, which is a disaster, but there are a lot of heavyweights that would’ve been out cold from that right hand. One of them was Francis Ngannou in a pretty similar shot, really.”
Credit Beyond the Result
For Hearn, the willingness to take the fight mattered as much as the performance itself.
“I actually give Jake unbelievable credit for doing it in the first place, but his performance as well.”
He acknowledged that Paul was operating outside his natural weight range.
“I stand by the fact that I think he’s just a decent cruiserweight, but he did go in with Anthony Joshua.”
Hearn questioned who else would be willing to take such a risk.
“The world is full of criticism and opinions and negativity. Who else is doing what he’s doing? What is he, late 20s? Quite phenomenal.”
A Reputation That Keeps Changing
Watching Paul walk to the ring left a lasting impression.
“The guy’s a complete madman. I’m watching him come out to that ring walk and he’s just an incredible entertainer. I’m sort of standing in the ring, going, ‘Is he for real?’ And he did alright.”
Hearn also admitted that his opinion of Paul has evolved over time.
“I used to think he was an average fighter,” Hearn added. “Now I just think he’s a decent cruiserweight. In my opinion, nowhere near world-class, but how many are?”
Commitment That Shows
Hearn credited Paul’s dedication and preparation, noting clear improvement over the years.
“He’s obviously got a really decent chin — maybe not anymore. But he did have a decent chin, because the shots that he stood up to and the final shot, he was conscious, he was trying to get up.”
“He’s dedicated himself to the sport. He’s having serious training camps, he’s got the best facilities, he’s got the best training, he’s got good sparring. So he’s definitely improved.”
Due to the severity of the injury, Hearn believes Paul will not rush back into competition. He expects a lengthy recovery period before Paul returns to the ring.
Hearn was instrumental in launching Paul’s professional boxing career in 2020 when Paul stopped AnEsonGib in the opening round. That fight marked the beginning of a journey many doubted would last.
Years later, after public disagreements and criticism, Hearn now acknowledges Paul’s growth.
From Hearn’s perspective, the fight also delivered major benefits for Joshua. The global audience and exposure helped elevate Joshua’s profile in the United States.
“All in all, it was a wonderful experience for us,” Hearn said.
“AJ made a fortune [and] his star power in the U.S. has gone through the roof.”
Joshua’s next opponent and date remain undecided. While rumors continue, Hearn made it clear that nothing is finalized and discussions are ongoing.
Still, one long term objective remains unchanged.
“We’re happy to fight, but happy also to go into the Tyson Fury fight.”
