Anthony Joshua may have secured a devastating knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami, but the American is still expected to walk away with more money from the bout once all financial calculations are complete.
Both men reportedly earned $92 million each from their heavyweight exhibition clash, sharing a combined purse of $184 million. The contest, which ended in the sixth round after a dominant performance from Joshua, represented the biggest payday of the British boxer’s career.
Fighting at the Kaseya Centre and streamed worldwide on Netflix, the bout attracted massive global attention. Joshua overwhelmed Paul throughout the contest, eventually flooring the YouTuber-turned-boxer multiple times before sealing a decisive stoppage with a crushing right hand.
However, the final financial outcome will be shaped less by what happened in the ring and more by taxation. Because the fight took place in the United States, Joshua is expected to face heavy tax deductions. Reports indicate he will pay US federal income tax at 37 per cent, amounting to roughly $52 million.
In addition, the former world champion is expected to face further tax obligations upon returning to the United Kingdom. These include about $11.3 million in income tax to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and an estimated $2.8 million in National Insurance contributions.
Taken together, Joshua is expected to part with approximately $66 million in taxes, leaving him with around $74 million from the total earnings attributed to the bout. Although Florida does not impose a state income tax, federal taxes still apply to foreign athletes competing in the US.
Jake Paul, by contrast, is expected to be taxed only in the United States. With no additional tax liabilities elsewhere, the American is likely to retain a larger share of his earnings than Joshua, despite both fighters receiving identical purses.
Inside the ring, Joshua’s dominance was unquestionable. He sent Paul to the canvas in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds before ending the fight in the sixth, reportedly breaking Paul’s jaw in two places and handing him his first professional defeat.
The victory took Joshua’s record to 29 wins from 33 professional bouts and marked an emphatic comeback following his loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.
After the fight, Paul suggested he deserved a fast-tracked showdown with Canelo Álvarez, while Joshua shifted focus to a potential all-British mega-fight. The former champion called out Tyson Fury, expressing his desire to face the Gypsy King in 2026.
Both fighters are now serving mandatory medical suspensions. Under Florida State Athletic Commission regulations, Paul has received a minimum 45-day suspension following the knockout, with the possibility of an extended lay-off depending on medical evaluations. Joshua, despite emerging victorious, is also required to observe a seven-day stand-down period.