Anthony Joshua, the British heavyweight boxing star, could lose a massive portion of his record-breaking fight purse to tax authorities in both the United States and the United Kingdom, despite securing a knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami, Florida.
According to multiple reports, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion may forfeit around $66 million in taxes from his estimated $140 million earnings, significantly reducing the amount he takes home from one of the most lucrative crossover boxing bouts in recent history.
Record Purse, Costly Taxes
Joshua defeated Paul in the sixth round of their high-profile heavyweight bout, which took place at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Friday night. The fight drew enormous attention and generated unprecedented revenue, highlighting the commercial appeal of crossover boxing events that pit professional fighters against celebrity YouTubers.
Reports indicate that the total prize pot for the fight was valued at approximately £137 million, with each fighter slated to receive around £68.5 million. The bout concluded at 1:31 of the sixth round, meaning both fighters spent a total of 989 seconds actively competing in the ring.
Breaking it down further, Joshua earned roughly £69,000 per second, or about £4.1 million per minute, highlighting the immense financial stakes involved in high-profile boxing events of this nature.
US and UK Tax Obligations
Despite the headline earnings, Joshua is unlikely to retain the full amount. As a UK resident who fought in the United States, he is subject to taxation in both jurisdictions, which considerably reduces his net income from the fight.
According to estimates from AceOdds, approximately 37 per cent of his purse, equivalent to about £25.6 million, will be paid to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). While Florida does not impose state income tax, federal income tax applies because the fight took place on American soil, making the IRS a major claimant on the fighter’s earnings.
Additionally, Joshua is responsible for paying the difference between his overall UK tax liability and the amount already remitted to the US. This amounts to roughly £5.5 million to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), along with an estimated £1.4 million in National Insurance contributions. Combined, these deductions bring his total tax bill to around £32 million, significantly cutting into what was already an enormous payday.
Joshua Reflects on Performance
While clearly pleased with the knockout victory, Joshua admitted in interviews that he was not entirely satisfied with his performance against Jake Paul. Speaking to talkSPORT, he responded candidly when asked about criticism for allowing Paul to last six rounds, stating, “I deserve it.”
He added: “Because we are elite fighters, if I put myself in the shoes of a coach, if my fighter did six rounds with Jake Paul, I would get him back in the gym tomorrow, give him a bit of a beating and get straight back to work. I’d be like, ‘How are you letting this kid take you six rounds? Are you crazy?’”
Joshua continued, “But I can’t go back in time, but credit to him, he done well. I told him what would happen, but it just took six rounds to do it.” His remarks highlighted both his respect for Paul’s unexpected resilience and his own high standards as a professional athlete.
‘It Wasn’t About the Money’
Despite the enormous financial reward, Joshua insisted that monetary gain was not his primary motivation for taking the bout. “It’s not even my biggest payday; it’s not about money,” he said, emphasizing the importance of career opportunities and global exposure over financial compensation.
“For me, it was more about the opportunity. I had to showcase my skills to the world,” he added, reflecting on the significance of the fight in terms of his brand, legacy, and the entertainment value of crossover boxing events.
Even after the heavy deductions for US and UK taxes, the fight remains one of the most profitable outings in Joshua’s career. It underscores the immense earning potential in modern boxing, particularly for crossover bouts that attract mainstream attention beyond traditional boxing audiences.
The Joshua vs. Paul fight continues to serve as a benchmark for financial and promotional success, demonstrating how high-profile boxing matches can generate extraordinary revenues while simultaneously exposing fighters to complex tax obligations in multiple jurisdictions.