Jake Paul has named kickboxing champion Cedric Doumbe as his opponent for his comeback to the professional boxing ring in Dubai on Christmas Eve. According to Sky Sports, the bout will take place on 24 December 2026.
The announcement marks Paul's return to the ring following his sixth-round knockout defeat to former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. That loss left Paul with a serious jaw injury that required extensive medical intervention. According to BBC Sport, Paul's jaw was fractured in two places, with two titanium plates fitted during multiple surgeries and some teeth removed.
The 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer carries a professional record of 12-2, with seven knockouts since turning professional. His only other defeat came against Tommy Fury in 2023. Earlier in 2024, Paul also competed against then-58-year-old Mike Tyson in what became a high-profile exhibition bout.
Doumbe brings significant combat sports credentials to the Dubai showdown. The 34-year-old Cameroon-born Frenchman is a former two-time welterweight world champion in kickboxing, boasting a 75-7-1 record that includes 45 knockouts. He has since transitioned to mixed martial arts, recording six knockout victories across his first seven professional MMA bouts.
The fighter's explosive nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo in September 2023 in Paris—witnessed by French football superstar Kylian Mbappe among others—helped establish his reputation as a devastating striker. Doumbe has one prior professional boxing appearance, having defeated Mohamed Fodil on points in a four-round contest back in 2015.
The Christmas Eve clash will be contested as a professionally-sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout at 200 pounds with 10-ounce gloves.
However, BBC Sport reported conflicting information, suggesting that as of early November 2026, no opponent had been officially confirmed. The same source noted that MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian indicated former UFC fighter Darren Till was among the names being considered for the Dubai event.
Paul expressed his confidence ahead of the bout, saying:
Cedric [Doumbe] was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude [Zebo] out in nine seconds. Well, now you get your chance. I'm rusty, my jaw is janky and I don't have kickboxing world titles like you do. But guess what, this isn't kickboxing mon ami. This is BOXING. Just like [Oleksandr] Usyk feasted on Rico Verhoeven, I am going to eat you for dinner in Dubai on Christmas Eve.
Doumbe fired back with his own verbal challenge, stating:
Jake Paul calls himself the Problem Child, but he's never faced a problem like me. Jake loves to talk, and so do I, but after what Joshua did to his jaw, I'm not sure how much talking he has left. I'm going to finish the job Joshua started.
The Dubai event is part of a cooperation agreement between Most Valuable Promotions, the Dubai Sports Council and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, according to Gulf Today.
What comes next
Paul is scheduled to headline the Dubai card on Thursday, 24 December 2026. As of early November, the venue, ticket details and broadcast arrangements had not been publicly announced, though the event is expected to be a major international boxing card.
