Former world champion Amir Khan has warned YouTube star Jake Paul that he risks getting ‘killed’ in the ring if he pursues his ambition to fight heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, PUNCH Sports Extra reports
“Jake Paul would get killed against Joshua,” Khan told Coin Casino.
“And I think maybe he should take that fight just to show that he’s got the balls to fight a heavier guy. And secondly, when he does get hurt badly, he’ll send that statement all around to the YouTubers that you need to take boxing seriously.”
Khan, a former light welterweight champion, compared the potential matchup to a famous movie scene, saying, “I really think that Joshua could probably kill him in that ring. That’ll be like Ivan Drago versus Apollo Creed in Rocky 4. So if he wants to do that, he needs to watch that.
“Because if you’re a YouTuber and you’ve got a big following, you can’t just think you can get in the ring and fight these big names—because one day someone’s gonna get killed.”
The outspoken Ohio native Paul, who boasts an impressive 11-1 professional boxing record, is scheduled to face former undisputed WBC middleweight world champion Julio Chavez in Anaheim, California at the end of June.
Despite the sizeable weight and experience difference, Paul has previously claimed he has the ability to knock out the Watford veteran if they ever share the ring together.
Paul’s ambitious callout appears to have gained some traction with Joshua, who responded to the challenge in March by posting a photo on his Instagram story of a call between him and Paul, with a cryptic caption which read ‘2026.’
The former two-time world heavyweight champion’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed that Joshua would be open to such a contest.
“I look at it and think Jake Paul against Anthony Joshua,” Hearn told Matchroom Boxing.
“For me, we’d do it for the banter. AJ would fight Jake Paul. He’d fight anyone, to be honest with you. If Jake Paul wants to step up and fight Anthony Joshua he’d need the relevant insurance. The only disappointing thing was he said 2026.
“No disrespect to Jake Paul, it’s a straightforward night’s work.”
Paul most recently featured in November last year, turning in a controversial unanimous decision win over former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson in Texas. That bout was reportedly watched by 60 million households on Netflix.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer was seemingly on the verge of securing a Cinco De Mayo showdown with Canelo Alvarez before the Mexican opted to sign a four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season.
