Joshua was scheduled to fight in Saudi Arabia instead as he looked to bounce back from a devastating loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 but money talks.

Hearne wrote in a column for BBC Sport: “I have no real defense of Anthony Joshua vs. Jack Paul. It’s crazy that it’s happening and I think the critics are there.

“But we just couldn’t rule it out. No boxer in their right mind would have said no. Anyone who says they do is absolutely lying through their teeth.

“We took a fight that we believe will be very straightforward, give AJ a huge profile in America and one of his career-high pay days.

“AJ was going to take part in a run-out fight in Saudi in November – an eight-rounder against a guy who was ranked about 100 in the heavyweight division.

“It was a chance to wrap hands, ringwalk and go through the motions with his new training team. Now we’re doing the same run-out but for 50 times more money.”

Defeat would be ‘terribly embarrassing’

Defeat is unthinkable for the Briton and Hearn accepts more regular fights – Joshua continues to target a clash with Tyson Fury – once this lucrative sideshow is out of the way.

He added: “We have a clear strategy in mind – to decommission Jack as soon as possible. Then we go into normal service again in 2026.

“AJ will fight a world-class opponent in February and – if all goes well – then Tyson Fury.

“So there’s a method to the madness and taking this fight doesn’t affect AJ’s legacy. But losing to Jack or him will go the distance.

“It would be an absolute disaster and terribly embarrassing.”

The fight is not scripted – listen

Friday’s bout will attract a huge television audience but Hearn dismissed suggestions the fight has already been scripted, damaging Joshua’s reputation.

“A lot of people have come up to me and ask if it’s scripted,” he said. “First, we would be investigated by the FBI if it were. That would be illegal. This is a professional competition and a sanctioned bout where people bet on it.

“And do you think I would ever allow AJ to have a script with Jack? A script where we could lose him or hold him and look bad? No way.

“We’re not giving this guy any edge or opportunity to say, ‘I told you I’m better than AJ’ or ‘I’ve won rounds’. This would be catastrophic for AJ and we’re not going to take that risk.”