Eddie Hearn has moved firmly into defence mode as debate intensifies around the possibility of Anthony Joshua facing Jake Paul in a lucrative showdown.
The reaction from boxing purists has been fierce, with many claiming the former unified heavyweight champion should not entertain a fight against a celebrity-crossover opponent.
But Hearn insists the landscape of modern boxing – and the economics behind it – tell a different story entirely.
“Forget the legacy chat because you can’t eat legacy. I hate the chat as well, ‘He’s [Joshua] got a load of money,'” said Eddie Hearn when addressing criticism aimed at Anthony Joshua for appearing open to the fight purely for financial reward.
The promoter is adamant that discussions are ongoing, but nothing is set in stone yet. “We don’t know if we’ll fight Jake Paul yet, but next year, we will fight in February,” said Eddie Hearn when outlining the current plan for Anthony Joshua.
“Should Jake Paul be fighting Anthony Joshua? No. Is there tens, tens, tens, and tens of millions of dollars for Anthony Joshua to have an eight-round runout against Jake Paul? Yes.”
The money attached to the event is what fascinates insiders. Cross-over contests have become a fixture of the sport in recent years, creating new financial benchmarks – and Jake Paul remains the most bankable of the crossover stars.
For Anthony Joshua, according to Hearn, the payday would surpass almost anything available in the traditional heavyweight picture.
The financial upside is too significant to ignore
If the fight does materialise, it would mark one of the most commercially dramatic pairings in recent history: a former unified world heavyweight champion against a YouTuber-turned-boxer. Yet for Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua, the justification is straightforward.
At 36 years old, Joshua is approaching the final stages of his prime earning years. From their perspective, it makes little sense to turn down a generational payday – especially during a period of uncertainty in the heavyweight division.
When asked whether the money Joshua stands to make fighting Paul could exceed the purse available for a long-discussed showdown with Tyson Fury, Hearn said: “We’re considering it, and at the moment, there’s work to be done.
“But could it happen? Yes, it could. The same kind of levels [with Fury].”
The mention of Fury is revealing. A Joshua-Fury fight has long been touted as the biggest possible event in British boxing, yet it has repeatedly failed to materialise due to negotiations, timing and broadcast complications.
The wait has grown frustrating, and Hearn‘s comments make clear that other options – particularly financial ones – remain firmly on the table.
From the perspective of traditionalists, the optics are troubling. A clash with Paul offers little sporting legitimacy. But Hearn argues that the modern fight game is shaped by entertainment value as much as competitive merit.
And in that environment, Jake Paul brings something very few fighters do: guaranteed global attention and extraordinary streaming power.
A fight that challenges boxing’s identity
Critics claim a bout like this devalues Joshua‘s achievements, which include Olympic gold and multiple world titles.
They argue that fighting Jake Paul places spectacle above sport. However, Eddie Hearn believes fans underestimate the commercial forces at play. The promoter’s message is blunt: legacy does not pay the bills – and fighters must look after their futures.
The logic is difficult to dispute. Joshua remains one of the sport’s few true box-office attractions, and pairing him with Paul – whether fans like it or not – creates a financial package unmatched by most traditional title fights.
Whether the fight actually materialises is still uncertain. But the promoter’s stance is unmistakable. In his eyes, the value of legacy will never outweigh the value of opportunity – and when a payday of this magnitude emerges, fighters like Anthony Joshua must seriously consider it.
In modern boxing, perception may be split, but money remains king. And as Eddie Hearn made clear: “You can’t eat legacy.”
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