Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua has been CANCELLED after the American was given a black eye in training by British boxer Lawrence Okolie.
That is the verdict from former heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne, who has revealed all on what he has heard around camp.
Last month, it was announced by Paul that he was set to meet Joshua in the ring in a highly-controversial bout scheduled for December 19.
The Youtuber-turned-boxer, who has never fought at heavyweight level before, has been warned that facing AJ could be dangerous considering the gulf in boxing experience and weight.
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But Stiverne, who held the WBC heavyweight title from 2014 to 2015, has revealed that an injury to Paul in training has forced the fight to be cancelled.
Speaking to Gambleonline.ca, the 47-year-old said: "I’ve just heard somewhere that he was injured, that it’s not happening.
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua could be off according to former boxing champion Bermane Stiverne
|PA
"I just heard not long ago it was cancelled. I don’t know what’s going on.
"Lawrence Okolie gave him a black eye or something and from what I heard the fight is not happening after sparring sessions [with world ranked fighters]. It might be a lie, or it might be true, but I don’t know. That’s what I was hearing and it wouldn't surprise me."
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While Paul has admitted that he was left bruised up after a sparring session with Okolie, who is preparing for his next fight in Nigeria later this month, there has been no official word on a fight postponement.
There has been precedent for eye injuries in training causing fights to be cancelled, including Tyson Fury's first fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
On that occasion, a serious eye injury that needed stitches forced Fury to reschedule the fight from February 17 to May 18.
Jake Paul appears to have suffered an eye injury though the full extent of the problem has not been revealed
|X
However, there are not much details over Paul's injury currently - with even photographic evidence not revealing the full extent of the problem.
Should the fight go ahead, the bout is scheduled for December 19 at the Miami’s Kaseya Center in a professional encounter.
There are not many who are backing Paul, including Stiverne, who believes AJ will wrap up the clash within three rounds - and that is being kind to Paul.
When asked how the fight will go, Stiverne said: "I think it’s going to be up to Joshua. I don’t see it go past three rounds — and I’m being generous.
"Yeah, I don’t see it. I don’t see this fight going more than that.
"Anytime [Paul] steps in the ring with a legitimate fighter or anybody, he has a lot of problems from what I see. I only saw him fight maybe three times.
"The first time I saw him was against Tommy Fury and he lost that fight. Then I saw a couple of highlights and I remember I saw him fight Nate Robinson and he won but it was nothing.
Jake Paul struggled against Tommy Fury and has not been tipped to do well against Anthony Joshua
|PA
"Then I saw him with Mike Tyson. Even with Mike, I mean, the skills that he has are very limited — and for him to step in the ring with one of the best heavyweights today… it’s a bit much.
"Maybe one of the top 10 or top 20 [at a lesser level to Joshua] that would make sense. But boxing is not what boxing used to be, so there are a lot of different kinds of fights. Now from what I heard, it’s going to be different rules, with the Muhammad Ali Act taken off and all kinds of nonsense.
"But like I said, this is the new era, so this is what’s going on — people are more interested to watch YouTubers rather than major fights. I think that the last fight with Crawford and Canelo should have been one of the mega fights, like one of the best fights ever.
"But you’ve got guys like Jake Paul coming in and getting more viewers. He gets more viewers than the actual mega fights. This is what we have to deal with today in boxing. These fights, these exhibitions, are taking over the sport."