Boxing analyst Steve Bunce says Anthony Joshua agreed to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul because the financial package on the table was simply “an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
Joshua, 36, is set to earn £36.9 million ($50 million) for the eight-round bout scheduled for 19 December at the Kaseya Centre in Miami. The purse makes it one of the biggest paydays of his career, rivalled only by his Saudi Arabia fights.
Bunce noted that Jake Paul’s previous fight against Mike Tyson drew an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide, a number far beyond traditional boxing audiences. That scale of reach and the revenue it generates is the key driver behind the matchup.
Industry projections suggest the event could generate over $120 million through pay-per-view sales, sponsorship, streaming rights and merchandise, with Paul’s massive digital fanbase expected to deliver record engagement.
Despite the obvious physical mismatch, Joshua will enter the ring at under 245 lbs, still nearly 40–50 lbs heavier than Paul. Bunce said the commercial upside made the decision straightforward.
“Joshua has been handed a huge financial offer, and you can’t fault any professional fighter for taking that,” he said.
Paul’s camp insists the fight is safe and competitive, while promoters believe it could become the most-watched combat sports event of 2025, potentially giving Joshua the widest global reach of his career.
