Former world champion Amir Khan has issued a stark and sobering warning about the potential consequences of the upcoming fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, stating the mismatch could have tragic, real-world repercussions far beyond the spectacle.
A Dangerous Mismatch Beyond Entertainment
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Sport at the IBA 2025 Boxing World Championships in Dubai last weekend, Khan did not treat the proposed bout as a laughing matter. He paused gravely when asked about it, emphasising the inherent risks of the sport. 'People get killed in boxing,' Khan stated bluntly. 'That's the reality of it and that's the risk of a fight like this.'
Khan admitted he initially thought the clash between the former Olympic gold medallist and two-time unified heavyweight champion and the YouTuber-turned-boxer was a joke. However, seeing the fighters face-to-face changed his perspective entirely. 'I didn't believe it at first, I honestly thought it was a wind up,' he said. 'Then I saw them head to head, and I saw Jake looking up at the sky. I thought, wow, this is actually happening.'
For Khan, this is not novelty entertainment but a perilous collision. He believes it could signal the end of an era for internet celebrities facing elite professionals. 'I think this could be the end of YouTubers jumping in with real active fighters,' he warned. 'Because it only takes one shot. One bad night, one clean shot and someone can get seriously hurt. We've seen the way someone's whole life can be altered.'
The Frightening Power and Legacy at Stake
Khan highlighted the vast gulf in experience and proven power between the two men. He pointed to Joshua's knockout victories over formidable opponents like Francis Ngannou, Wladimir Klitschko, and Dillian Whyte as evidence of his destructive capability. 'AJ can bang,' Khan said. 'He's a former world champion. He's got power, size, everything. If he lands clean, the damage he can do is scary. Especially when he is landing it on someone like Jake Paul. He's not capable of taking that sort of power. He's still new to the game.'
The Bolton fighter, drawing on his own career experience, stressed the thin line in the sport. 'Boxing is a sport where you can be killed,' he reiterated. 'Imagine AJ freezing him with one shot and catching him clean. That's not a game anymore. That's his life. It could never be the same again.' He used Joshua's demolition of Ngannou as a cautionary reference, noting that Paul possesses none of the MMA star's proven durability.
This leads to an urgent ethical question: should the bout be sanctioned? Khan is sceptical of boxing commissions acting as a moral barrier when vast sums are involved. 'Let's be honest about how boxing works,' he said. 'When there's big money involved, money talks. If the cheque is big enough, people suddenly stop asking questions. That's the reality of the sport.' He believes financial power can override safety concerns, buying silence and allowing high-risk fights to proceed.
Joshua's Legacy Demands a Decisive Victory
Khan also dismissed any notion of the fight being scripted, arguing it would irreparably damage Anthony Joshua's legacy. 'I really hope it's not scripted,' he said. 'Because if it is, it damages AJ's career and his legacy in a big way... This is an Olympic gold medallist. He's a multiple-time world champion. He's a real professional fighter who's dedicated his life to boxing. You don't build a legacy like that and then throw it away just for money.'
For Joshua to emerge with his reputation intact, Khan insists there can be no ambiguity. 'If AJ wants his legacy to stay intact, he has to win this fight properly,' Khan asserted. 'Not scrape through, not mess around. He has to knock him out. That's the only way people will accept it.' Anything less, he warns, would invite ridicule and long-term damage to the British star's standing in the sport.
In conclusion, Amir Khan's assessment is one of profound concern. He sees the Friday night fight in Miami not as a harmless exhibition but as a potentially dangerous event where the physical stakes are terrifyingly real, driven by a financial engine that too often overlooks the welfare of the participants.
