Boxing: Cédric Doumbé to face Jake Paul on December 24 in Dubai

Cédric Doumbé will be Jake Paul's opponent for his return to the ring. Most Valuable Promotions, Paul's company, made the fight official on Monday, November 2: eight rounds of boxing at cruiserweight, with a 200-pound limit and 10-ounce gloves, on Thursday, December 24 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

A kickboxer on boxing's turf

At 34, Doumbé is one of the best-known French combat athletes. In kickboxing he is 75-7-1 with 45 stoppages and held the Glory welterweight world title twice. In MMA he is 6-1, with every win inside the distance. His nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo at PFL Paris in September 2023 remains his most-watched fight. He has not competed since May 2024, when he stopped Jaleel Willis in the first round.

His boxing experience amounts to one professional bout, a win in April 2015. He also has to move up: he fought at welterweight in both kickboxing and MMA, and the cruiserweight limit sits about 30 pounds above his usual competition weight.

Paul's comeback after the Joshua loss

Jake Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) has not fought since his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December 2025, which broke his jaw. The YouTuber turned boxer announced in late October that he would return in Dubai on Christmas Eve, without naming an opponent. In the release he warns that this will not be kickboxing; Doumbé replies that he plans to finish the job Joshua started.

Picking a striking specialist with almost no boxing record fits the approach Paul has followed since the start of his career: opponents from other combat sports with a wide public profile. He has already beaten former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley.

Schedule: Paris on November 10, tickets on the 15th

Two press conferences open to the public are planned: in Paris on Tuesday, November 10 at 6 p.m. CET, at the Pavillon Cambon, then in Dubai on Thursday, November 12. General ticket sales open on Sunday, November 15 at 9 a.m. CET, after a presale on the 14th and an exclusive presale for PFL Dubai ticket buyers from November 6.

No broadcaster has been named yet in any country: Most Valuable Promotions says global distribution and the rest of the card will be announced in the coming weeks.