CONTRACT SHOCK: WHY ANTHONY JOSHUA MUST MAKE 245LBS FOR JAKE PAUL
Anthony Joshua is taking the Jake Paul fight seriously, working with Oleksandr Usyk's team to make the contractual 245lb weight limit for the Miami showdown.
Anthony Joshua is on schedule to make weight for his fight with Jake Paul and is taking the test very seriously.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter, gave this update after speaking with the British heavyweight before his strange yet huge fight with Paul on December 19 in Miami.
For the first time in his career, AJ must meet a specific weight limit, as a clause in the contract says he cannot weigh more than 245lbs on the day of the weigh-in.
He has teamed up with Oleksandr Usyk's team to stay motivated and in shape before the fight, where he is heavily favoured to win.
Hearn told talkSPORT Breakfast that Joshua is doing everything he can to prepare.
He said, He's good; he's really focused, as if he were fighting a top heavyweight.
He always takes everything seriously, and he is doing so for this. He's in great shape.
The difference in this fight is that he has to make a specific weight, which is much lighter than he would be for other fights.
But he's on track and in Miami with not much time left until the fight. I honestly can't believe what's about to happen.
He's ready to go and do a job on him, and I just can't believe we've signed the contract to fight him.
Hearn's thoughts on Paul vs. Joshua as a spectacle
The fight has received widespread criticism, mostly from boxing fans who can't believe it's happening.
But it will be a real fight added to AJ's record, as it has been approved by the Florida Athletic Commission.
Many have suggested that Paul's previous fights, including his heavyweight appearance against Mike Tyson, were 'scripted.'
Paul has denied these claims, and Hearn agrees, saying that Joshua's camp insists on a convincing victory.
He added, It's not going to be an easy night for Jake.
People keep asking me if there is a script. Of course, there isn't.
But yes, there is a script: we are going to go out in the first round and smash him to bits.
Joshua's training for the Jake Paul fight.
Joshua has changed his training environment, leaving the UK and his recent trainer, Ben Davison, who coached him for his last three fights.
After recovering from elbow surgery, the Briton went to Spain to link up with former opponent Usyk's team.
Although he isn't sparring with the Ukrainian, Joshua is living like the most recent undisputed heavyweight champion.
He is sure that this will give him the best chance to beat Paul and compete for a world title in 2026.
EDDIE HEARN ADMITS AUSTIN WILLIAMS CANNOT OUTBOX WBC CHAMPION CARLOS ADAMES
Austin Ammo Williams faces a life-changing chance Saturday as Hearn plots a late-round breakdown of Carlos Adames.
Eddie Hearn isn’t trying to convince anyone that Austin “Ammo” Williams is a better boxer than Carlos Adames. He’s not pitching skill or finesse; he’s talking about grit. If Williams is going to win the WBC middleweight title on Saturday, it won’t be by outboxing Adames. Hearn’s hoping his guy drags Adames into the late rounds, toughs it out, and breaks him down physically.
Here’s the approach: Williams needs to pressure Adames, stay close, and make it ugly. A straightforward boxing match pretty much goes to Adames. So, Williams has to turn it into a dogfight.
“You just got to be a dog in there. You’ve got to hang with him, find a way, and try to combat the skill,” Hearn told DAZN Boxing. “You’ve got to try and trade with him, beat him up on the inside. You just have to not give in and find a way to break him.”
That’s the plan. Hearn figures the real shift probably happens late in the bout, maybe round nine, ten, or eleven, when toughness matters more than clean boxing or early dominance. Williams has to withstand as much punishment as he dishes out, keep pushing, and hope Adames finally breaks.
Hearn’s honesty actually tells you everything. “I don’t think Ammo is going to go in there and outbox Carlos Adames,” he said. He’s not pretending Williams is the slicker guy or has more tools. The path is straightforward: close the gap, trade shots, wear Adames down.
Still, Hearn sees a life-changing opportunity if Williams manages to pull it off. “If Ammo can become a middleweight world champion, he changes his life forever. The opportunity sits right in front of him on Saturday,” he said.
No doubt, Saturday’s a big chance. But it’s a rough road. If all you’ve got is to “find a way” through a gruelling fight, it usually means the champ has the edge when the boxing gets clean.
WHY NATE DIAZ SIGNED WITH JAKE PAUL’S MVP FOR MMA RETURN
Nate Diaz signs with Jake Paul’s MVP to face Mike Perry in an MMA return on the Rousey vs Carano Netflix card.
Nate Diaz is set to join the impressive undercard for the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano bout. The UFC veteran has recently signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and will take on Mike Perry at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on May 16.
Diaz hasn’t stepped into the MMA cage since he submitted Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 back in 2022. After that, he tried his hand at boxing, debuting in the ring a year later, where he lost a points decision to Jake Paul. However, he bounced back in his next boxing match by securing a win against Jorge Masvidal.
There had been buzz about a potential fight between Diaz and Conor McGregor for McGregor’s UFC return, but those plans seem to have fallen through. Their history is well-known; they split victories in 2016, with Diaz dealing McGregor his first UFC loss. Many fans were hoping for a trilogy match, possibly headlining the promotion’s historic White House card.
Now Diaz is gearing up to face Perry at welterweight, following unified MMA rules over five rounds. He’ll be sharing the card with notable names like Francis Ngannou, who recently parted ways with PFL and is scheduled to fight Philipe Lins in the co-main event.
Diaz expressed his excitement about the return, saying, “Glad to be back in action." It’s time. Don’t forget where this all came from. I’ve got plans to keep going for the next decade, wherever it takes me. Time to set the bar again; get ready for a new takeover, again and again.”
He’s been hinting at this comeback for months and even called out Perry as part of a three-fight target list earlier this year. Diaz has openly admitted he has unfinished business in combat sports, aiming to capture gold before he retires.
His signing with MVP raises questions among MMA fans about whether the UFC had discussions with him beforehand, similar to what we saw with Rousey. She revealed she had talks with UFC CEO Dana White before announcing her Netflix fight against Carano, though she later criticised the UFC as a shadow of its former self, saying it no longer delivers the best fights.
While Diaz is undoubtedly the bigger name, Perry brings his own intensity to the card. Known as 'Platinum', Perry had a stint in McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after leaving the UFC in 2021. He, too, has boxed and lost to Jake Paul before making a comeback to combat sports with a win over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 last October.
Perry isn’t holding back, stating, “The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the face.” The fight is set to be streamed on Netflix, with Perry promising Diaz will go “lights out” on May 16.
Nakisa Bidarian, MVP’s CEO, commented on the event’s massive potential, highlighting their record-breaking boxing viewership and expecting to smash those records again with this MMA card. He emphasised the matchup intensity, calling Diaz “the Real BMF” and Perry “the King of Violence", promising a battle from the first press conference through to the final bell.
This event in Los Angeles looks to be one of the biggest nights in combat sports, and Netflix’s involvement signals a bright future for MMA’s growth. More bouts for the card are expected to be announced soon, so keep an eye out for updates as the date approaches.
