Eddie Hearn slams 'deluded' Jake Paul for off-camera comments about Canelo Alvarez

An off-camera conversation between Youtube star Jake Paul and Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has caused tensions.

Doing what he does best at promoting boxing matches saw Hearn ringside with Paul as they co-promoted Katie Taylor’s split decision win over Amanda Serrano in New York.

Taylor’s win was immediately shadowed by Hearn’s comments about Paul’s boxing career. The British promoter labelled Paul as an ‘average’ boxer, making many headlines during fight week.

Talking to the MMA Hour, Hearn said: “The problem is I won’t be disrespectful, but at the same time, I’m not gonna brown nose him because I’m just gonna be honest.

“So I’m saying that you’re an average professional fighter, that’s a massive compliment.”

The Englishman is set to be promoting a two new year deal bout between Canelo Álvarez, who will take on Dmitry Bivol for his WBA light-heavyweight world title in Las Vegas this Saturday.

“Average is very complimentary” is a tremendous line pic.twitter.com/tEri3ThLPW

Paul is eager to build up his brand and boxing career within the sport, and Hearn also stated: “This is a guy [Jake] who, he would say to me off camera, ‘In two years I’ll beat Canelo.’

“And I’ll sort of look around for a camera and realise there isn’t one, and I think ‘Wow.’”

Hearn was asked about whether he believes in Paul’s strong mentality and added, “Yeah, I think he’s so deluded, so deluded.

“But that delusion and that confidence will actually help him in the ring. Because he does genuinely go in there thinking he’s a world class fighter.

“It’ll get him knocked out eventually, but I think people get a little bit baffled by his confidence.”

Hearn was faced with a few issues as he and Paul had initially agreed to a $1million bet on Taylor vs