Former world champion Amir Khan has warned that Jake Paul risks serious harm against Anthony Joshua, suggesting the matchup could mark the end of influencer boxing if the YouTuber-turned-fighter suffers a damaging defeat.

Khan made the comments ahead of Paul’s scheduled bout with former unified heavyweight champion Joshua, a contest that has drawn widespread attention due to Paul’s prominence outside the sport and Joshua’s established credentials at the elite level of professional boxing.

“I think this could be the end, one of the last fights we ever see where a YouTuber jumps in the ring with a professional fighter because I think that Jake could get hurt badly, and it could stop all this influencers getting in the ring,” said Khan, according to Daily Mail Boxing.

Khan expanded on the dangers he believes Paul faces against a heavyweight puncher of Joshua’s calibre. “It’s only gonna take that one and I think someone like AJ who can bang and hit hard and has the power, former world champion, he can definitely hurt and boxing is a sport that you can be killed in,” said Khan, according to Daily Mail Boxing.

He also questioned whether Paul has underestimated the challenge in front of him. “Imagine that right hand he throws and catches him clean, the damage he’s gonna do… (Paul) has bitten off more than he can chew in this fight,” Khan added.

The bout represents one of the highest-profile crossover fights to date, pairing a former heavyweight champion with a social media star who has built a lucrative boxing career despite limited professional experience.

Paul has previously faced former MMA fighters and lower-level boxers, while Joshua is a two-time heavyweight world champion with victories over multiple elite opponents, making the outcome and potential consequences a significant talking point within the sport.