EDDIE HEARN has revealed that a major stipulation change has been made for Anthony Joshua’s showdown with Jake Paul.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion collides with the YouTuber-turned-boxer in a shock showdown early on Saturday morning.
Paul, 28, has tried to slightly tip the stunning odds against him in his favour by hitting Joshua with a weight restriction.
AJ, who is looking leaner and meaner than usual, will not be permitted to weigh more than 245lbs for the Miami melee.
But Paul has also got Joshua to agree to fight him in a much larger ring than usual.
Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn revealed to IFL TV that the pair will throw down in a 22x22ft ring, which is nearly the biggest squared circle you can get.
And Problem Child Paul confirmed the bigger ring size early on Thursday morning.
During the final pre-fight press conference, he said of the ring being bigger than usual: “That’s accurate.
“Pretty standard. I think fights range from 20-foot rings to 24-foot rings.
“So, 22 feet, I feel great about it.”
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Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua – all the info
A true Christmas miracle!
The world will stand still THIS FRIDAY as the face of British boxing, Anthony Joshua, is all set to go up against social media sensation 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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Boxing fans took to X to reveal their theories as to why the duo are fighting in a larger ring.
One wrote on X: “Such a joke, going to be dancing around that ring all night.
“I’ll take some Joshua by decision action, though.”
Another said: “More space, more running. Jake better use every inch if he wants to survive.”
And another said: “Jake doing athletics.”
One remarked: “So Paul can run away.”
Another chimed in: This will allow for extra running room.”
Joshua’s clash with Paul will be his first outing since his brutal fifth-round KO loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September.
Paul, meanwhile, was last in action in June when he defeated former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr via unanimous decision.
