Anthony Joshua Faces Major Tax Bill After $140 Million Payday

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua is set to forfeit a substantial portion of his record-breaking fight earnings to tax authorities in both the United States and the United Kingdom, following his knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami.

Despite earning an estimated $140 million from the highly publicised bout, reports indicate that Joshua could lose around $66 million to taxes, significantly reducing his take-home pay and potentially leaving him with less net income than his defeated opponent.

Record Purse, Heavy Deductions

Joshua stopped Paul in the sixth round of their heavyweight clash at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, in what has been described as one of the most lucrative crossover boxing events in recent history.

The total prize pot for the fight was reportedly valued at approximately £137 million, with Joshua and Paul each earning about £68.5 million. The bout ended at 1 minute and 31 seconds of the sixth round, meaning both fighters spent a combined total of 989 seconds in the ring. Based on these figures, Joshua earned roughly £69,000 per second, or about £4.1 million per minute, during the contest.

US and UK Tax Obligations

Despite the headline figures, Joshua is unlikely to receive the full amount. As a UK resident competing in the United States, he is subject to taxation in both countries.

According to estimates from AceOdds, around 37 per cent of his earnings—approximately £25.6 million—will be paid to the US Internal Revenue Service. Although Florida does not levy state income tax, federal tax applies because the fight took place on US soil.

In addition, Joshua is required to pay the difference between his total UK tax liability and the amount already settled in the US. This is estimated at about £5.5 million to HM Revenue and Customs, along with roughly £1.4 million in National Insurance contributions.

Altogether, his combined tax bill is expected to reach approximately £32 million.

Joshua Reflects on the Fight

While pleased with the victory, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion admitted he was not entirely satisfied with his performance against the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Joshua responded to criticism over the fight lasting six rounds, saying: “I deserve it.” He added that, from a coaching perspective, allowing Paul to remain competitive for that long would warrant immediate improvements in training.

Despite this, Joshua credited Paul for his resilience, noting that the outcome ultimately unfolded as he had predicted.

‘It Wasn’t About the Money’

Joshua also played down the financial aspect of the fight, insisting that the bout was not motivated primarily by money.

“It’s not even my biggest payday; it’s not about money,” he said. “For me, it was more about the opportunity. I had to showcase my skills to the world.”

Even after significant tax deductions, the fight remains one of the most profitable of Joshua’s career, highlighting the immense commercial appeal of crossover boxing events involving mainstream sporting figures and internet celebrities alike.