Safety fears as YouTube star Jake Paul faces former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua

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Some fighters have warned that, given the gulf in class, physical size and talent, Jake Paul (left) risks serious injury.

PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM ANTHONY JOSHUA/INSTAGRAM

LOS ANGELES – YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul faces former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Dec 19 in a money-spinning made-for-streaming bout that has triggered alarm across the boxing world.

Just over a year after his

much-derided victory over a 58-year-old Mike Tyson

The Netflix-backed spectacle, which reportedly will see the fighters split a staggering US$184 million (S$237.5 million) purse, has drawn fierce criticism, with many questioning why it was sanctioned.

The British Board of Control has said it would not have approved the fight on safety grounds. Other fighters have warned that, given the gulf in class, physical size and talent, Paul risks serious injury.

For his most recent fight in June, Paul, who is 1.85m tall, tipped the scales at 90.4kg.

Britain’s Joshua, who at 1.98m towers above Paul, weighed in at 114.5kg for his last outing in 2024.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s long-time promoter, described the fight on Dec 19 as a “catastrophic mismatch” before the contracts had even been signed.

Other voices in the boxing world, though, have painted a darker picture, with former world heavyweight champion David Haye warning that the fight could be Paul’s “last day on earth”.

Amir Khan, Britain’s former light-welterweight champion, said