Anthony Joshua Faces Massive US–UK Tax Hit, Set to Lose Nearly Half of $140m

• Anthony Joshua may lose nearly half of his reported $140 million purse from his knockout win over Jake Paul to US and UK taxes.
• Despite the heavy tax bill, the bout remains one of the most lucrative of his career, with Joshua insisting the fight was about opportunity and exposure rather than money.

Despite a dominant sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami, British heavyweight Anthony Joshua is set to lose nearly half of his record-breaking purse to international tax authorities. Reports indicate that out of an estimated $140 million (£110 million) total earning, Joshua could forfeit approximately $66 million (£52 million) in taxes.

The bout, held on Friday night at the Kaseya Center, saw Joshua earn roughly £69,000 per second during the 989 seconds he spent in the ring. However, due to his status as a UK resident fighting on American soil, his “take-home” pay may actually end up lower than his defeated opponent’s.

Joshua faces a complex dual-taxation scenario:

• United States (IRS): Approximately 37% of his purse (roughly £25.6 million) is owed to the US Internal Revenue Service. While Florida has no state income tax, federal laws apply to all earnings made on US soil.

• United Kingdom (HMRC): Joshua must pay the difference between his UK tax liability and his US payments. This is estimated at £5.5 million, plus an additional £1.4 million in National Insurance.

Despite the staggering financial figures, the former two-time unified champion insists the paycheck was secondary to the challenge. “It’s not even my biggest payday; it’s not about money,” Joshua told talkSPORT. “For me, it was more about the opportunity. I had to showcase my skills to the world.”

Regarding the fight lasting six rounds against a YouTuber-turned-boxer, Joshua accepted the criticism from the boxing community.

“I deserve it… I’d be like, ‘How are you letting this kid take you six rounds? Are you crazy?’… But I can’t go back in time, but credit to him, he done well. I told him what would happen but it just took six rounds to do it.”

While the tax bill is heavy, the event remains one of the most profitable nights in Joshua’s career, further cementing the massive commercial appeal of crossover boxing.