Anthony Joshua is reportedly on course to pocket a staggering £70 million from a highly anticipated showdown with internet star-turned-boxer Jake Paul, as advanced talks continue for a blockbuster fight expected to take place in Miami next month.
Sources close to the negotiations say a total prize purse of around £140 million is on the table, with both Joshua and Paul projected to take home equal shares if the fight is finalised.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, stressed on Thursday that discussions are still ongoing. The contest would mark the 36-year-old former heavyweight champion’s return to the ring for the first time since his heavy defeat to Daniel Dubois over a year ago, with an official announcement expected as early as next week.
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The bout is set to be sanctioned as a full professional fight under Queensbury rules, rather than an exhibition match.
Netflix is reported to be a major driving force behind the negotiations, keen to broadcast the event. The streaming platform, currently producing a documentary on Joshua, previously aired Paul’s November 2024 fight with Mike Tyson, which drew more than 60 million viewers.
Paul’s cancelled matchup with lightweight champion Gervonta Davis has further accelerated talks with Joshua’s camp, following over a year of speculation about a potential clash between the two fighters.
“It is not done yet,” Hearn told Daily Mail Sport.
“There has been a lot of gun jumping on this. I think Jake Paul would be mad to take the fight, but we are in talks. We were discussing a very low-key fight for AJ, but an opportunity has come up to make 50 times more money.”
Addressing criticism surrounding the spectacle, Hearn added, “Would it be great for Joshua’s legacy? No. But I’ll tell you what is – two-time heavyweight world champion and an Olympic gold medal. This is an opportunity and fair play to Paul if he wants to get in that ring because AJ won’t be messing about.”
Paul holds a 12-1 record compiled largely against obscure fighters and ageing legends, with his only defeat coming at the hands of Tommy Fury.
Tyson Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, also weighed in, telling Daily Mail Sport: “People are going to criticise it, but I don’t see it that way. As long as both fighters are fit, which they are, I don’t have a problem. It will draw a huge audience — AJ doesn’t create much buzz in the US, and Paul does. People are drawn to spectacle. It will do well.”
Beyond the potential payday, Joshua is eager to shake off ring rust after a prolonged layoff. He began light training earlier this year, underwent minor elbow surgery in May, and stepped up his conditioning again in October.
