{"id":73670,"date":"2025-12-17T01:45:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T01:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=73670"},"modified":"2025-12-17T06:25:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T06:25:09","slug":"george-groves-eddie-hearn-anthony-joshua-jake-paul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/george-groves-eddie-hearn-anthony-joshua-jake-paul\/","title":{"rendered":"George Groves Hits Out At Eddie Hearn Ahead Of Anthony Joshua Bout With Jake Paul"},"content":{"rendered":"

George Groves has criticised Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn for selling out Anthony Joshua ahead of his mega-money showdown with Jake Paul.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The former two-time heavyweight champion returns to the ring for the first time in 15 months to take on the American on December 19 in Miami.<\/p>\n

The sanctioned fight has attracted criticism from all quarters, including from the undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, who suggested Paul’s life could be in danger.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Both fighters are set to line their pockets with speculation that it could generate around $140million in revenue when all is said and done.<\/p>\n

Joshua, 36, has suggested that it still wouldn’t be his biggest payday.<\/a><\/p>\n

George Groves hits out at Eddie Hearn<\/h2>\n

There’s a valid argument that Joshua has risked his reputation by agreeing to fight Paul, who rose to fame through his YouTube channel.<\/p>\n

Paul’s previous bouts include a farcical exhibition bout with a 58-year-old Mike Tyson and a handful of boxing fights against former UFC fighters Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva.<\/p>\n

His only defeat came against Tommy Fury almost three years ago.<\/p>\n

Groves, who held the WBA super-middleweight title, believes Joshua’s promoter Hearn needs to take responsibility for making the fight happen.<\/p>\n

He told Foot Italia: “Eddie Hearn has sold AJ out. Promoters aren’t driven by the same things that fighters are driven by.<\/p>\n

“They’re driven by money. The financial gain they get is their legacy. Wouldn’t it have been cool if Joshua just said, ‘f*** that, I’m actually a professional.<\/p>\n

“‘I’m going to fight someone who’s worthy of sharing a ring with me’. I think it would’ve been tough for most people, but I would walk away if I were Joshua. It\u2019s beneath me.\u00a0<\/b>Let someone else take the money. Let someone else sell out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joshua previously quizzed on the financial package involved in the Paul fight, in which he responded: “I want it all, I want more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Groves added: “I don\u2019t know his finances, but say he\u2019s got \u00a3250 million, right? You don\u2019t need anymore.<\/p>\n

“You can always take more, but you don\u2019t need more. If you\u2019re sacrificing legacy or spirit, at what point is money enough? And the promoters will say, ‘you gotta do it’. They\u2019re driven by money. The financial gain they get is their legacy.”<\/p>\n

\n

A man on a mission \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 pic.twitter.com\/2W9Bb6eJHX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) December 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n