iDeemlawfulAnthony Joshua is reportedly facing a tax bill of around $66 million from his lucrative fight with Jake Paul in the United States, despite earning an estimated $92 million from the bout.
Joshua and Paul reportedly split a $184 million purse following their heavyweight exhibition clash on Friday night in Miami, with $92 million apiece marking the largest single payday of Joshua’s career.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer endured sustained punishment during the contest before Joshua landed a decisive right hand that brought the largely one-sided fight to an end in the sixth round.
However, with the bout staged in the United States, Joshua is expected to be subject to multiple layers of taxation, significantly reducing his net earnings, Yahoo News reported on Sunday.
Joshua is set to pay US federal income tax at a rate of 37 per cent, amounting to approximately $52 million.
US, UK taxes
Beyond US federal taxes, Joshua is also expected to pay about $11.3 million to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in the United Kingdom, in addition to roughly $2.8 million in National Insurance contributions.
“All up, Joshua will part ways with about $66m, leaving him with $74m in his pocket out of the total purse of $140m,” according to a breakdown of the reported figures. It noted that while Florida does not levy state income tax, federal tax obligations still apply.
In contrast, Paul is expected to be taxed only by the US government, allowing him to retain a larger portion of his earnings than Joshua, despite both fighters receiving identical purses.
“British star Joshua is set to be taxed by the US government for the earnings, as well as when he gets home to the UK. He will also have to give up some of the money in National Insurance contributions back home.
“There’s no state tax in Florida, but the US government is likely to charge an income tax of 37 per cent (about AU$52 million of the purse). Another $11.3 million will have to be paid to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (British tax), and $2.8m in National Insurance contributions.
“All up, Joshua will part ways with about $66m, leaving him with $74m in his pocket out of the total purse of $140m. Paul will only be taxed on the $52 million by the US government, meaning he’ll actually get to keep more than Joshua,” Yahoo News wrote.
The contest concluded in the sixth round when Joshua connected with a right hand that fractured Paul’s jaw in two places, sending him to the canvas at the Kaseya Center. Joshua had already dropped Paul in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds before sealing the knockout at 1:31 of round six, ending Paul’s unbeaten run.
The Paul–Joshua bout topped Friday night’s fight card in Miami, Florida, with the event streamed live on Netflix.
Joshua’s professional record now stands at 29 victories from 33 fights, marking a successful return to the ring after his loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last September.
While Paul claimed he deserved a showdown with Canelo Álvarez within 10 days, Joshua turned his attention to fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury, declaring his intention to face the ‘Gypsy King’ in 2026.
Mandatory suspension
Jake Paul has been handed a medical suspension of at least 45 days following his sixth-round knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua on Friday night.
According to Yahoo News Australia on Saturday, Joshua will also be subject to a mandatory seven-day suspension.
Under rules set by the Florida State Athletic Commission, any fighter who suffers a knockout must observe a minimum 45-day layoff before returning to competition.
Paul is therefore required to step away from boxing for at least that period, with the possibility of a longer suspension depending on medical evaluations.
“Considering his injuries, the suspension can be extended to 60 or 90 days as well. Paul was given a 60-day suspension last year after beating Mike Perry, which came after being assessed by a physician. Considering he was not knocked out on that occasion, he is likely facing a longer lay-off this time around.
“Paul and Joshua will both be assessed by medical professionals after their bout, and even Joshua is required to stand down for seven days under boxing’s rules.
“A close friend of Paul’s revealed after the bout that initial assessments are that his jaw will need four to six weeks to fully heal,” it wrote.
The British heavyweight is also reported to be losing close to half of his $140 million prize purse overall.