EDDIE HEARN has hit back at Tyson Fury and defended Anthony Joshua’s controversial “kill” remarks ahead of his fight with Jake Paul.
The two-time heavyweight world champion faces YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul on Friday night in Miami in a bout marred with safety concerns.
And AJ came under fire after stating: “If I can kill you, I will kill you.”
He later clarified the comments by conceding that, while he does not wish to genuinely kill Paul, it is the brutal reality of the fight game.
And his promoter Hearn told SunSport: “Boxing is kill or be killed.
“You don’t wish that on your opponent but that’s the mentality you have to go in the ring with “you or them”.
“You can’t win because if Anthony Joshua’s not this barbaric character, everyone goes, ‘Oh, he’s boring, he doesn’t really say a lot.’
“Then he says something like that and everyone goes, ‘Ooh, disgusting. I can’t believe.’ Look we’re putting these guys in the ring to go and knock each other out.
“We can’t then turn around and go, ‘Oh, you can’t say that, you can’t say that.’ It’s barbaric, it’s the fight game.
“And he’s going into the ring with bad intentions tomorrow night. I fear for Jake a lot. And I hope he comes out OK.”
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua – all the info
A true Christmas miracle!
The world will stand still TOMORROW NIGHT as the face of British boxing, Anthony Joshua, is all set to go up against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
AJ steps in on a month’s notice after Paul’s ‘David vs Goliath’ Gervonta Davis clash was axed due to Tank’s civil suit case.
And Joshua will be desperate not to suffer the same fate as legends Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who both lost to YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.
Particularly as a handsome figure was negotiated to get this Judgement Day deal over the line due to AJ’s DAZN contract.
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Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: All the information you need.
Fury was among those critical of Joshua’s comments – branding AJ a “classless loser”.
The two are expected to finally fight next September – and Hearn says it is no surprise the outspoken Gypsy King has inserted himself in proceedings.
He said: “Listen, whenever AJ’s in a big fight, Tyson Fury comes out to play.
“And obviously the timing’s right because hopefully those guys are gonna fight each other.
“AJ’s reputation is impeccable. He would love to knock Tyson Fury out as well.
“And I think if we handle business well on Friday night, you’ll definitely see that in 2026.”
Fury, 37, retired in January a month after his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, but he has continued to tease a comeback.
Joshua, 36, meanwhile returns for the first time since his September 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, 28.
Listen, whenever AJ’s in a big fight, Tyson Fury comes out to play. And obviously the timing’s right because hopefully those guys are gonna fight each other.
Eddie Hearn
And he does so in a professionally-sanctioned heavyweight bout against Paul – where 10oz gloves will be worn.
Joshua tipped the scales at 243.4lbs (17st 3lb) while Paul was TWO STONE lighter at 216.6lb (15st 4lb).
The American – beaten by Fury’s brother Tommy in 2023 – has lost just once in his modest 13 fights – with AJ having as many title bouts in his career.
So defeat would be unthinkable as Hearn added: “If he got beat, it would be a complete disaster.
“Of course, we want to go in there and put a great performance together.
“We want to knock this guy out nice and early and then we want to move on for normal business to be resumed in 2026.
“So the nature of the victory is important. People always say, ‘Oh, a victory by any means necessary.’
“But the reality is you want to do it and you wanna look good, especially at someone at the level of Jake Paul.”
