Joshua and Paul will go head-to-head in Miami in a fight met with surprise, plenty of criticism, and fears for Paul's chances.

Paul, who campaigns at cruiserweight, will be making the step up to heavyweight against a two-time world champion, and while 'The Problem Child' is a massive underdog, beating Joshua would be one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. 

Hearn expects Joshua to 'viciously knock out' Paul

If there's one thing Joshua cannot afford to do against Paul, it's to let too many rounds pass before going for the knockout blow. 

Instead, he is expected to be destructive, making easy work of Paul and have the American laid out across the ring canvas not long after the opening bell. 

This is the outcome Hearn expects at Miami's Kayesa Center, as he warned Paul in an interview with iFL TV. 

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"He will find out all about levels and power, and the danger of taking a fight like this," Hearn said.

"He’s going to get viciously knocked out. How bad he gets knocked out probably comes down to a little bit of luck. He needs to get lucky, and nothing lands too clean.

"The biggest result for Jake Paul is that he gets away with it by not getting hit too flush. The artillery will be heavy.

"We’re going in there, locked and loaded with the heaviest artillery in the heavyweight division which will be unleashed on Jake Paul in Miami."

A Paul win will set up a big 2026 for Joshua

As long as Joshua gets the win over Paul, a big 2026 is being planned for the Olympic gold medalist. 

It's likely that it will be the final year of Joshua's boxing career, and Hearn has a number of routes to go down to make sure AJ's career goes out with a bang. 

While there are supposedly plans to make the long-awaited all-British showdown with a currently retired Tyson Fury, there is also the goal of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion, which is a real possibility with the future of unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk uncertain.

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