Jake Paul's brutal sixth-round KO and double-jaw injury make him a risky short-term bet; punters may back Anthony Joshua in any immediate rematch or heavyweight futures while Paul recovers. Paul's plan to drop to cruiserweight and his larger net payout reduce urgency to rush back, likely lengthening his odds until medical clearance and weight-class plans are clear.
Paul KO'd by Joshua in Miami but walks away with bigger net payday
Jake Paul, 28, suffered a devastating sixth-round knockout against two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, 36, in Miami last Friday. Paul was floored four times before the stoppage and left the ring with a double jaw fracture. Despite the one-sided finish, both fighters earned eight-figure paydays — and Paul emerged with the larger take-home due to tax differences.
Huge purse split — and a surprising tax outcome
The reported prize purse for the bout was roughly $184 million, split evenly between the two fighters. That means each man grossed about $92 million. Because of residency and tax rules, Jake Paul’s tax bill is reported at about $34 million (the top U.S. federal rate of 37% and no state income tax in Florida, with Puerto Rico residency affecting his obligations). Anthony Joshua faces a far larger combined tax liability — estimated near $43.8 million — after U.S. withholding and additional U.K. tax and National Insurance top-ups. The result: Paul walks away with a higher net payout despite the knockout loss.
Injury, recovery and Paul’s stated plans
Paul confirmed the severity of his jaw injury and said he will take time off. "I'm going to come back and fight people my weight and go for the cruiserweight world championship at some point," he said. "I'm going to take a little break. I've been going hard for six years, so I'm going to take some time off."
Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn praised Paul’s toughness, saying a broken jaw is one of the toughest injuries to come back from and giving Paul credit for his performance. Joshua also suggested Paul could return and face high-profile opponents in future, naming possible matchups such as Gervonta Davis or Ryan Garcia.
Betting implications and market outlook
Punters should expect immediate market shifts: Anthony Joshua will likely be favored in any swift rematch given the stoppage and Paul’s injury. Futures and winner markets may shorten for Joshua while Paul’s odds lengthen until his medical status and weight-class plans are clear. Paul’s announced move toward cruiserweight changes the matchup landscape — bettors should treat his next fights separately from heavyweight lines and monitor ring return timelines, injury reports, and official weight declarations before committing stakes.
What this means for the sport
The bout reinforced the commercial pull of crossover stars and big-money matchups, but also highlighted how tax regimes can influence fighters’ net earnings. Paul’s higher net take despite defeat will fuel discussions about residency planning and financial strategy for elite fighters, while the likely long layoff and weight-class shuffle could reshape future matchmaking and title contention scenarios.
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