Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua are just moments away from their highly anticipated bout, which means they’re that much closer to a hefty payday.
Paul, a YouTube influencer-turned-professional boxer, has made a name for himself in the boxing world despite facing criticism for the quality of opponents he faced, which includes mixed martial arts fighters, retired or out-of-their-prime boxers and former NBA slam dunk champion Nate Robinson.
‘They say I’m unproven,’ Paul says. ‘Untested. That I talk big and fight small. Well, surprise, b—-.’
Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, dismissed the perceived criticism from the fight with Paul, telling reporters during the final prefight news conference on Wednesday that he’s more focused on ‘people talking about the fight’.
‘I’m not worried about what people think about the integrity side,’ Joshua said. ‘I’m more worried about are they talking? As long as they are, then we’re doing a good job.’
For what it’s worth, as Paul looks to gain more credibility in boxing, Joshua said Paul is someone he would’ve fought early in his career.
Paul, 28, originally planned to fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who held the World Boxing Association lightweight title since 2023, but the fight fell through following legal issues Davis faced, causing Paul to search for another opponent, handpicking Joshua, who is eight years older than Paul.
Joshua, 36, stands at a massive 6-foot-6, about five inches taller than Paul’s 6-foot-1 frame, and weighs 245 pounds, compared to Paul, who is 216 pounds.
How much will Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua make from their fight?
Although an exact number has not yet been confirmed, the fighters are expected to earn a pretty penny for their match.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Daily Mail and former UFC champion Michael Bisping, the purse is worth $184 million, where Paul and Joshua will make $92 million apiece for the fight. But that sum could be undervalued as Paul took to X, formerly Twitter, in November to presumably contend that number.
‘Stop asking me,’ Paul wrote in a X post. ‘$267 million.’
However, that figure has not been confirmed.
How much did each make in their previous fights?
No matter the exact figure, one thing is certain: this fight will rake in exponentially more dollars than each respective fighter’s last bout.
Paul has a 12-1 professional boxing record after 13 fights, including seven knockouts. His last fight was in June against Julio César Chávez Jr. at Honda Center in Anaheim. Paul was dubbed the winner of that bout by unanimous decision. Many reports said, according to the California State Athletic Commission, Paul’s guaranteed purse was $300,000, not including pay-per-view shares or what his company, Most Valuable Promotions, paid him. Chavez Jr. received $750,000.
Joshua has 28 wins and four losses in his 32-fight boxing career, 25 wins came by way of knockout. However, in his last fight, Joshua was on the receiving end of a knockout, losing to Daniel DuBois in the fifth round, ultimately relinquishing the International Boxing Federation championship in 2024 at Wembley Stadium in London. Multiple reports stated Joshua made nearly $8 million from the fight, while DuBois netted approximately $4.6 million.