Anthony Joshua is one of the most lucrative combat sports athletes and is a PPV star.

Anthony Joshua is fresh off his return to the boxing ring in Saudi Arabia. There, the former two-time heavyweight champion scored a hellacious knockout win over former UFC titleholder Francis Ngannou. With his win over the PFL star, Joshua is set to meet the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk later this year if the rematch clause isn’t activated.

That fight, as well as Joshua’s previous one against Ngannou, will reportedly generate massive revenue for the heavyweight. With that in mind, let’s look at these ten highest paydays. As one of the biggest names in the sport, Joshua is understandably one of the most well-compensated.

Note: All purse information comes from a variety of sources, including the athletic commission releases, The Sun, and SportingNews.

10 Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin: $10 Million Purse

Last December, Anthony Joshua traveled to Saudi Arabia for what was supposed to be the first event of a doubleheader. In the main event, he faced Otto Wallin, while Deontay Wilder faced Joseph Parker in the co-main, with the expectation that the two would fight in early 2023.

Instead, that fight was blown up after ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was dominated by Joseph Parker. For what it’s worth, Joshua took care of his business by scoring a knockout win over Wallin and earning 10 million dollars in the process.

9 Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev: $13 Million Purse

In December 2020, Anthony Joshua returned to the ring amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. With just a few thousand fans in attendance in Wembley Arena, ‘AJ’ returned to face then-IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.

The two were supposed to fight in 2017, in what would have likely been a more competitive fight. Instead, the older Pulev was brutalized, getting knocked down several times en route to a stoppage loss. For the win, Joshua walked away with $13 million.

8 Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko: $19.5 Million Purse

Joshua Earned Almost 20 Million Fighting A Legend

In April 2017, Anthony Joshua looked to make his second title defense against a boxing legend. Wladimir Klitschko was set to rematch Tyson Fury, but after that fell through, instead sought out a fight with ‘AJ’.

The fight was one for the ages, with both men getting rocked. However, it was the younger Joshua who proved himself as an elite talent, scoring a knockout win. Klitschko went on to retire, with both men earning almost $20 million for the event.

7 Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker: $19.8 Million Purse

‘AJ’ Dominated In This Forgotten Bout

This fight was one of the more disappointing of Anthony Joshua’s storied career. In March 2018, he faced then-WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, in a unification bout. Unfortunately, neither man was willing to take chances in this one.

Still, Joshua largely dominated the action that did take place, earning a unanimous decision win. All in all, it was a good night for the British boxer, as he earned almost $20 million for the bout.

6 Anthony Joshua vs. Alexander Povetkin: $20 Million Purse

Joshua Survived An Early Scare From The Russian

In September 2018, Anthony Joshua headed to the ring for yet another title defense. This time out, he met the aging Alexander Povetkin, who was his mandatory challenger. Despite the Russian’s age, he rocked Joshua badly early on.

However, Joshua was able to rally, and eventually score a seventh-round knockout win. For the victory, the British boxer walked away with a career-high payday of $20 million.

5 Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. 1: $20 Million Purse

This Upset Loss Wasn’t All Bad For The British Boxer

Anthony Joshua famously was on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. After Jarrell Miller tested positive for just about every drug imaginable ahead of the heated fight, and he was pulled. In stepped Andy Ruiz Jr., to fight Joshua on just a few weeks’ notice.

Despite an early knockdown, Ruiz Jr. turned in a stellar performance to win by stoppage and become Mexico’s first heavyweight champ. It wasn’t all bad for Joshua though, who left with a $20 million purse.

4 Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk 1: $20 Million Purse

‘AJ’ Again Earned Well Despite An Upset Loss

Anthony Joshua had the misfortune of having to welcome Oleksandr Usyk to the top of heavyweight boxing. ‘The Cat’ had only two previous fights in the weight class, but after Tyson Fury was ordered to fight Deontay Wilder again, Joshua reached a deal with the Ukrainian.

Usyk rose to the occasion, outboxing Joshua across 12 rounds of action. Despite the upset loss, again it wasn’t all bad for the Brit who earned $20 million.

3 Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: $50 Million Purse

‘Knockout Chaos’ Was Exactly That

The event tagline for Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou was ‘Knockout Chaos’, and the event was exactly that. In October, the MMA fighter nearly upset Tyson Fury, losing by a very controversial split decision after ten rounds of action.

However, styles make fights folks. Joshua walked forward unafraid of the power coming back at him and demolished Ngannou inside two rounds. To make things better, the Brit left Saudi Arabia with $50 million to his name.

2 Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. 2: $72 Million Purse

This Was Heavyweight Boxing’s First Real Foray Into Saudi Arabia

 

In December 2019, fans got to see the first real meaningful heavyweight bout in Saudi Arabia. In what was the first event of the country’s move into the sport, Andy Ruiz Jr. looked to make it two in a row against Anthony Joshua.

Instead, ‘AJ’ largely dominated the out-of-shape champion across 12 rounds to win by unanimous decision. The Brit also earned a then-career-high $72 million for the lopsided bout.

1 Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2: $75 Million Purse

Joshua Again Lost To Usyk But Saw A Career-High Payday

Three years after heading to Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua headed back for another rematch. Yet again, the British boxer earned a career-high payday. Joshua reportedly earned $75 million against Oleksandr Usyk but suffered a loss to the Ukrainian.

However, with his recent win over Francis Ngannou, Joshua could potentially meet Usyk later this year for a trilogy bout. But that all depends on May 18th, when the champion will meet Tyson Fury.