Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will step into the ring against YouTube star–turned–professional boxer Jake Paul in Miami next month, with both fighters set to share a staggering $184 million purse.
Matchroom Boxing confirmed on Monday that the clash will take place at the Kaseya Centre, pitting 36-year-old Joshua against the 28-year-old American entertainer in an eight-round, three-minute-per-round professional bout.
The fight, reportedly offering an even 50–50 split of the massive prize pot, marks one of the most financially lucrative non-title heavyweight matchups ever staged—and a striking pairing between a former unified world champion and a crossover star still early in his boxing evolution.
Background & Build-Up
The bout serves as a replacement for Paul, who had been due to face lightweight Gervonta Davis in an exhibition fight earlier this month before the event was cancelled.
Paul enters the ring on the back of his high-profile victory over heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in Texas in November 2024—a spectacle that reportedly drew more than 60 million viewers on Netflix, further cementing his status as a major commercial force in combat sports.
Joshua, meanwhile, has been inactive since his shock stoppage defeat to fellow Briton Daniel Dubois in their IBF title bout at Wembley in September 2024. The loss derailed his hopes of recapturing heavyweight supremacy and left questions lingering about his future in the division.
Reaction & Controversy
The announcement has fuelled widespread debate. Critics have questioned why a former two-time unified champion would face an opponent with Paul’s limited boxing credentials, arguing that the fight undermines the competitive integrity of the heavyweight ladder.
However, the enormous financial incentive has been highlighted as a key factor for Joshua, who remains one of the sport’s biggest global draws. With both fighters expected to earn over $90 million each, the matchup stands as a testament to the new economics of celebrity-driven combat sports.
