Anthony Joshua has admitted his surprise fight against Jake Paul will not eclipse his highest grossing bout.
The former two-time heavyweight champion steps into the ring to take on Youtuber-turned-boxer Paul on December 19, live on Netflix.
The controversial heavyweight bout has ceded warnings for Paul’s welfare, including from AJ’s former foe Oleksandr Usyk, who claimed his life could be in danger.
Joshua’s decision to fight Paul has raised questions over the legitimacy of the bout. It is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds, with the Brit limited to weighing 245-pounds.
Anthony Joshua talks money ahead of Jake Paul
While his credibility may be in jeopardy for accepting Paul’s proposal, AJ’s bank balance will receive another healthy boost.
Many British boxing fans would rather the 36-year-old make a genuine return to the ring after his defeat against Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
A matchup with Tyson Fury has always been the one on people’s lips, but for one reason or another, it never came to fruition.
With reports that Joshua could be earning up to $70million for taking on Paul, there’s little wonder he had to think twice about signing on the dotted line.
Particularly given how Joshua should theoretically win the fight within the opening round, given the gulf in ability.
Joshua was asked whether this bout would break his own record as his highest-grossing fight, in which he told TMZ: “Unfortunately not. I want it all, I want more.”
Joshua also set the record straight by reassuring fans that he will not take it easy on his American opponent.
Paul was highly criticised for fleecing fans who paid to watch his embarrassing ‘fight’ with Mike Tyson just over 12 months ago.
He added: “I understand their concerns, but this is the thing with Jake, they have got to start believing in him. They don’t believe it because they’re saying, ‘how is he beating these guys?’
“I think they [the fans] can’t get their heads around how he has beaten Anderson Silva, how did he beat Nate Diaz? How did he beat Mike Tyson?
“I am telling you, there is no stipulation in the contract where I have to take it easy on him.”
All for the love of the game.
13 days, only @netflix ⏳ pic.twitter.com/dSVBAbKYi5
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) December 6, 2025
Anthony Joshua’s biggest fight purses
Joshua’s biggest fight purse topped £61m when he fought Usyk in August 2022 in Saudi Arabia.
That’s a similar figure he reportedly took home when he took on Mexican Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch six years ago.
Other huge purses include £40m against former UFC superstar Francis Ngannou, £25m for the first Ruiz fight and £20m for the Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam fights.
What is clear is that the money on offer on December 19 will be significantly higher than the £15m he earned in his defeat to Dubois in his last bout.
