The lights will shine brightest in Miami, but the outcome feels almost preordained. Anthony Joshua steps into the ring with a weight of expectation, a two-time heavyweight champion facing a challenger who arrived from a very different world.
Jake Paul has undeniably shaken up the boxing landscape. He’s a disruptor, a draw, and a fighter who has steadily improved over five years, developing genuine knockout power. He’s proven he can sell a fight and land a punch.
However, a gulf separates Paul from a fighter of Joshua’s caliber. This isn’t simply a clash of boxing styles; it’s a collision of experience, dedication, and raw, honed power. Joshua, an Olympic gold medalist, is a devastating finisher when he senses an opening.
The stakes are particularly high for Joshua as he looks ahead to 2026. Anything short of a dominant victory would be viewed as a significant setback, a stumble before potentially larger challenges loom. He needs to make a statement.
The financial rewards are staggering. Initial estimates placed the total purse at around £140 million, but Paul himself suggested a figure closer to £206 million – a potential £100 million payday for each fighter.
For Paul, this fight represents his largest career earnings, eclipsing the reported £30 million he received for facing Mike Tyson. Yet, even that substantial sum pales in comparison to Joshua’s previous high-profile bouts.
Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in 2022 earned him a reported £56 million, and his knockout victory over Francis Ngannou brought in £38 million. This fight, while lucrative, may not even represent his biggest payday to date.
Despite the numbers and the hype, the core of this event remains a classic boxing narrative: a seasoned champion defending his territory against a determined, unconventional challenger. The anticipation isn’t about *if* Joshua will win, but *how* decisively.
Heavyweight boxing is unpredictable, capable of shocking twists. But in this instance, the odds feel overwhelmingly stacked in favor of the former champion. Expect a display of power and precision, a reminder of why Anthony Joshua remains a force in the division.
