Barry McGuigan has strongly criticized the upcoming boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, voicing concerns for the YouTuber’s safety.

On Monday, Joshua revealed plans to face Paul in a showdown valued at around £140 million, as he seeks to make another bid for the heavyweight world title.

This event marks only the second heavyweight bout for the relatively inexperienced Paul, who previously faced Mike Tyson in a contentious match streamed on Netflix last November.

McGuigan joins a growing chorus of critics questioning the legitimacy of this high-profile fight.

He described it as ‘absolutely dangerous’ for Joshua, now 36, to challenge Paul under a ‘no-holds-barred contract’.

Barry McGuigan has hit out at Anthony Joshua’s upcoming fight with Jake Paul

Joshua is making his return to the ring with a controversial, mega-money fight in Miami

McGuigan expressed his concerns to The Telegraph, stating, “If everything is above board, one must worry about the possibility of Joshua delivering a severe knockout to Jake Paul.”

‘And the truth is, for four or five rounds, he [Paul] might be able to talk himself up and not get hit clean. But you would imagine that if Joshua hit him properly, he would really badly hurt him.’

McGuigan drew comparisons to Joshua’s show-fight with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou – who was obliterated inside two rounds.

‘Joshua went out in two rounds and absolutely obliterated him and knocked him out very badly,’ said McGuigan. ‘How in the hell is Jake Paul going to do any better than him?’  

Meanwhile, the general secretary of the BBBofC Robert Smith said the governing body would have ‘almost certainly’ rejected an application to stage the fight in the UK.

‘We would have had to consider the fight here if there had been an application to put it on, but I’m almost certain it would have been a ‘No’. It would not have been seen to be to the benefit of the sport.’ 

The eight-round affair, which will be contested in three-minute rounds and with 10oz gloves, marks the first fight for Joshua, 36, since he was crushed by Daniel Dubois 14 months ago.

It will also require some drastic adjustments to the boxers’ weights, with the limit being set at 245lbs. Joshua has weighed more than 250lbs in each of his last five fights, while Paul weighed around just 200lbs for his last bout in June. The general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control has said a clash between these two would not be sanctioned on British soil.

McGuigan pointed to AJ’s demolition of Ngannou as an example of the danger Paul faces

‘Jake or anyone can get this work. No mercy,’ Joshua said in a statement. 

‘I took some time out and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected. Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.’

Meanwhile ‘The Problem Child’ Paul, who has a record of 12 wins and one loss since moving into boxing, vowed that ‘Britain’s Goliath’ will be ‘put to sleep’.