Boxing expert Steve Bunce says Anthony Joshua was given an “offer he simply couldn’t refuse” to fight Jake Paul.
Britain’s Joshua, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, will take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul at Kaseya Center in Miami on 19 December.
The fight will consist of eight three-minute rounds and both fighters will wear regulation 10-ounce gloves.
Joshua, 36, weighed more than 250lbs during his previous three fights but must come in at under 245lbs for the bout.
Bunce said that the fight is “ridiculous” and 28-year-old American Paul is nothing more than a “novice”, but added he can understand the financial appeal for Joshua who is reportedly, external set to earn £36.9m ($50m).
“Last November Jake Paul fought Mike Tyson and nearly broke the world,” Bunce told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“They had something ridiculous like 300 million people watching on different channels and were paid something along those lines in dollars as well.
“And that’s the reason this fight is happening, let’s get it right. AJ has been made an offer he simply couldn’t refuse and he’s accepted.
“I would not deny a single man or woman that boxes professionally a pound note, penny, a cent, a dime, the money for any fight.
“If AJ is being paid as handsomely as we’re told, bear in mind he does a lot of work for the community with his foundation, if it spreads the love around and absolutely loads up his pockets, I’ve no problem with it.”
Bunce said Joshua is “still in talks” over fighting fellow Briton Tyson Fury and the fight against Paul will be “one of the final paydays” for the fighter despite an obvious mismatch.
“AJ will be at least six inches taller and he will be perhaps four stone heavier. He’s an Olympic champion remember – we overlook that fact,” Bunce explained.
“Jake Paul is a terrific novice. He’s a great novice in a weight division below – cruiserweight – and that’s what he is: a novice. But he’s a novice who conjures up these ridiculous fights.”
Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions and Paul’s manager, said he had no concerns about the fight on safety grounds.
“I don’t think it’s reckless in any way shape or form,” he told BBC Sport.
“Jake’s in a much better position than a lot of fights which happen in boxing on a regular basis. I think he has a great shot.
“AJ is big, strong, but slower. He’s more vulnerable to Jake’s movement. In my mind this is more sanctionable than many fights in the sport of boxing.”