In their controversial, yet highly anticipated heavyweight clash, Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will face each other at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Friday, with both fighters set to take home an eye-watering sum of prize money from the Netflix-streamed event.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul was originally set to face lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition match last month, but the bout was cancelled after a domestic abuse lawsuit was filed against Davis in October. After a quick search for a replacement, Paul's team landed on two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua.
Unsurprisingly, AJ enters the ring on Friday as the overwhelming favourite, with some even criticising the bout as a dangerous mismatch. The Brit has been out of action for 15 months following a fifth-round KO defeat against Daniel Dubois at Wembley, but is still an Olympic gold medallist with a professional record of 28 wins (25 by KO) against the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Dillian Whyte, and only four losses.
The 36-year-old will expect a straightforward win ahead of what is promised to be a big 2026, which is set to include a February fight in Riyadh before a high-profile bout in September, potentially in the shape of his much-anticipated clash with Tyson Fury either in London or Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Paul comes into this professional fight, with standard 10oz gloves and knockouts allowed, having only ever fought at heavyweight once — a unanimous decision win against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. The American holds a professional record of 12 wins and one loss, coming against Tommy Fury in February 2023, and most recently fought against former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, beating the Mexican on points in June.
For the highly controversial fight against Tyson, Paul reportedly took home $40 million, while his opponent got $20 million, but the upcoming clash with Joshua looks set to exceed those numbers, and by some distance too.
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua Fight Purse & Prize Money
It was initially reported by the Daily Mail that Paul and Joshua would evenly split a £140 million purse and each take home around £70 million, but Paul revealed a different figure on social media just days later. Taking to X, Paul tweeted: "Stop asking me. $267 million."
Such a figure would see both fighters take home roughly £100 million each, dwarfing the payday Paul enjoyed thanks to his fight with Tyson, and even the prize money Joshua received for his rematches with Oleksandr Usyk ($75 million) and Andy Ruiz Jr ($72 million).
Putting the new figure into perspective, sports and entertainment accountant, Oriana Morrision, told The Independent: "Even if the lower figure – the rumoured $184m purse – is true, AJ could bring home $92 million [£70 million]. We haven’t seen a boxing match with a purse at this level since Mayweather vs Pacquiao in 2015 or even Mayweather vs McGregor in 2017. It’s higher than any Saudi purse to date."
And while many boxing purists have been critical of AJ's decision to take the fight with Paul, Morrison believes it is a perfect opportunity for the Brit, created by Paul's promotion company Most Valuable Promotions.
"The US never really got the chance to savour Anthony Joshua’s talent and charisma. This is the perfect setting for this fight and definitely a turning point for boxing in the US. MVP and Jake Paul are dragging new audiences into boxing. They’re forcing boxing to modernise its promotion and pay fighters better than established promoters."
- Henry Eccles
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