Jake Paul faces Anthony Joshua in a Netflix bout, drawing safety fears from promoters and fighters who warn of a dangerous mismatch and serious injury risk.
LOS ANGELES: YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul will face former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Friday in a lucrative streaming event that has sparked widespread safety concerns.
The bout at Miami’s Kaseya Center, backed by Netflix, will see the fighters split a reported $184 million purse.
Many in boxing have questioned why the fight was sanctioned, citing a vast gulf in class, size, and experience between the 28-year-old Paul and the 36-year-old Joshua.
The British Boxing Board of Control stated it would not have approved the fight on safety grounds.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s long-time promoter, described the contest as a “catastrophic mismatch” before contracts were signed.
For his last fight in June, the 6ft 1in Paul weighed 199.4 pounds, while the 6ft 6in Joshua weighed 252.5 pounds for his previous bout in 2024.
Former world heavyweight champion David Haye warned the fight could be Paul’s “last day on earth.”
Britain’s former light-welterweight champion Amir Khan said a crushing Joshua win could end the trend of crossover fights involving internet celebrities.
“I think this could be the end of YouTubers jumping in with real active fighters,” Khan told the Daily Mail.
Khan believes Paul stands no chance if Joshua utilises his physical advantages and superior skill.
“AJ can bang,” Khan said. “If he lands clean, the damage he can do is scary.”
Paul, who has a record of 12 wins and one defeat, insists he is ready to shock the world.
“I like to challenge myself against the best,” Paul said last month.
Joshua insists he is taking the fight seriously and plans a dominant performance.
“If I’m gonna be honest, I’m gonna break his face, I’m gonna break his body up, I’m gonna stomp all over him,” Joshua said.
UFC hall-of-famer Michael Bisping dismissed any chance of a Paul upset.
“There’s no way on this Earth that this fight ends with Jake Paul knocking out Anthony Joshua,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.
Bisping warned that if the fight is genuine, Paul could be in serious danger.
“In boxing, people die,” Bisping said. “This is not a game.” – AFP
