What initially appeared as a surprising detour has now proven to be a financially astute decision for British heavyweight boxing icon Anthony Joshua. His choice to step into the ring against YouTube sensation turned boxer Jake Paul, following the collapse of Paul's planned exhibition with Gervonta Davis, has yielded significant rewards. The deal promised Joshua a likely victory, immense global visibility, and a colossal payday, all while offering a safe and high-profile route back to the sport after a lengthy, injury-enforced hiatus.
The Speculation Around a Record-Breaking Purse
Ahead of their high-stakes bout at Miami's Kaseya Center on December 19, reports swirled about a combined fight purse of a staggering $184 million. This figure implied an equal split, suggesting both Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul would pocket $92 million each. While these numbers dominated headlines, they were never officially verified. Noted MMA journalist Ariel Helwani had personally estimated the payouts to be in the range of $40-50 million per fighter.
Now, Joshua's long-time promoter, Eddie Hearn, has directly addressed the rampant speculation. He made it clear that although the financial reward was enormous, the actual figures might not align with the widely circulated reports.
Hearn's Candid Response to the $92 Million Question
The topic became a point of discomfort during a conversation when Ariel Helwani put the question squarely to Eddie Hearn. "This 92 million number has been thrown around. Is there any validity to that?" Helwani inquired, a question that seemed to momentarily catch the promoter off guard.
After Helwani clarified he was referring to the reported individual purses, Hearn adopted a cautious stance. "I'm not going to talk about the purses," he stated. However, he did confirm that both fighters were handsomely compensated. "It wasn't a career-high payday for AJ (Anthony Joshua), but it was one of his substantial paydays," Hearn explained.
This Netflix-streamed bout marked Joshua's first competitive action in 15 months, following a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and a subsequent delay caused by an elbow injury. For the 36-year-old former champion, the path back to world titles is narrowing. A blockbuster showdown against Tyson Fury now looms as his primary objective, but to get there, he needed momentum and a risk-free return. The fight against Jake Paul provided precisely that platform.
The Financial Reality and What's Next for Joshua
To put the earnings in context, Anthony Joshua reportedly earned approximately $50 million for his fight against Francis Ngannou in March of last year, with a lower purse against Dubois. Facing Jake Paul on a global streaming platform virtually guaranteed a major fee. However, a significant portion is claimed by taxes; reports indicate he could lose up to 37% in US taxes, with additional liabilities awaiting in the UK.
If the $92 million speculation was even close to reality, Joshua's actual take-home pay could realistically settle between $47 million and $50 million. Regardless of the exact accounting, the night was undeniably profitable. With a successful and lucrative comeback now in the books, Anthony Joshua can fully shift his focus to the future and the bigger fights that lie ahead in the heavyweight division.
