Jake Paul will make his comeback to professional boxing on Christmas Eve in Dubai, though his opponent remains unconfirmed at this stage. According to Sky Sports, the YouTuber-turned-boxer has set his sights on a return to the ring following his previous setback.
The comeback marks Paul's first outing since his encounter with former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, during which he sustained a broken jaw after being stopped in the sixth round. Medical professionals had advised him to retire from professional boxing following two surgical procedures to repair the damage, making his decision to return all the more significant.
Paul's professional record currently stands at 12-2, with seven knockouts to his name since turning professional. In 2024, he also competed against Mike Tyson, adding to his experience at the highest level of the sport.
The 27-year-old has indicated that multiple potential opponents are under consideration for the Dubai showdown. Names previously linked with a bout against Paul include former UFC fighters Darren Till and Francis Ngannou, British boxer Chris Eubank Jr, and WBC welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia.
According to Athlon Sports, Bidarian revealed that Paul's preferred opponent remains Anthony Joshua, though he would also be willing to face the winner of Joshua's scheduled December 11 bout with Tyson Fury in Cardiff. Beyond these names, Sherdog reported that Paul's potential-opponent list includes Canelo Alvarez, KSI, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Sean Strickland, Edgar Berlanga and Tom Aspinall, among others.
In a statement about his return, Paul expressed his determination to move forward:
I've spent years proving people wrong, taking risks, and pushing myself against opponents nobody thought I'd face. Nothing that's happened has changed my belief in myself or what I'm working toward. I'm hungrier than ever, and on Thursday, December 24, I'm returning to the ring in Dubai to start the next chapter of my journey.
He continued by explaining his choice of venue:
Dubai is a city that thinks big, breaks boundaries, and doesn't believe in limits. That's exactly the kind of place I want to make my comeback. We've got plenty of names on the list; let's see who signs the contract. Merry Christmas, Dubai. Santa Paul is coming to town, and somebody's getting knocked out.
Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder and CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, underscored Paul's commitment to the sport despite the severity of his previous injury:
Jake Paul has spent his career challenging what people think is possible. Twelve months ago he suffered a double broken jaw against a two-time heavyweight world champion and since then many have doubted his desire or need to return to boxing. Well he is back, and that tells you everything about the competitor Jake Paul is and how much he loves this sport. This is more than a fight.
Bidarian added:
We're finalising an opponent worthy of Jake's return and look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks.
Medical clearance and training preparations
Paul has now been medically cleared to resume competitive boxing following his recovery from the jaw injury sustained against Joshua. The clearance represents a significant milestone, given the severity of the damage he sustained and the medical advice he received during his rehabilitation period.
What happens next
The announcement of Paul's opponent is expected within the coming weeks, with the fighter already in active training while awaiting confirmation of his December 24 challenger. The timing of Paul's comeback could potentially align with developments in the heavyweight division, particularly if Joshua emerges victorious from his December 11 title fight against Fury in Cardiff, which would open the door to a rematch between the two fighters.
