George Groves has expressed his belief that boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has betrayed Anthony Joshua and thinks the heavyweight champion should opt out of his upcoming fight against Jake Paul.
The former two-time heavyweight champion is set to face the YouTuber-turned-boxer in Miami, Florida, in an eight-round bout where both fighters will use 10oz gloves. The match’s outcome will be recorded on their professional records.
Joshua has not competed since his loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 but sees this fight as a chance to gain valuable experience before returning to serious competition in 2026.
Groves, a former super-middleweight champion, criticized Hearn for his handling of Joshua’s career and advised the British boxer to withdraw from the impending fight just days before it takes place.
The highly-anticipated clash between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul is scheduled for December 19 in Miami and will be available for streaming on Netflix, accessible to fans through Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle.
In an interview with FootItalia, Groves condemned Hearn for prioritizing financial gain over Joshua’s career and suggested that Joshua should refuse to fight Paul and seek a more deserving opponent. He emphasized that Joshua should not compromise his professional integrity for monetary benefit.
Despite doubts surrounding the match, Joshua has vowed to approach it seriously and promised to dominate his opponent. The former world champion is focused on a potential future showdown with Tyson Fury.
Joshua expressed his determination to succeed in the upcoming fight, stating his readiness to give his all in the ring and carry the responsibility of representing the sport of boxing. He acknowledged the high expectations placed upon him but remains steadfast in his commitment to delivering a strong performance.