Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and American boxing star Ryan Garcia have issued stern warnings to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul over his planned fight against former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Both fighters expressed concern that Paul is stepping into extremely dangerous territory by agreeing to face Joshua, a seasoned heavyweight known for his knockout power and elite technical ability.
O’Malley cautioned that the physical mismatch alone should be a major red flag for Paul. According to him, Joshua’s size, experience and proven knockout record make the bout risky for anyone without years of top-level heavyweight experience.
Ryan Garcia echoed the same sentiment, stressing that Joshua is “not the kind of opponent you take lightly.” He warned that Paul may be underestimating the gap in skill and power, adding that the fight could end in serious harm if Paul is not fully prepared.
Jake Paul, who has gradually built his boxing career fighting MMA fighters and mid-tier boxers, has insisted he is ready for the challenge. But critics argue that facing a world-class heavyweight like Joshua is far beyond anything he has encountered so far.
As anticipation builds, many combat sports analysts agree with O’Malley and Garcia—warning that Paul may be biting off more than he can chew by stepping into the ring with a heavyweight powerhouse like Anthony Joshua.