Jake Paul sets December 24 Dubai date against Cedric Doumbe
The YouTuber boxer returns to the ring after jaw surgeries, targeting the kickboxing champion in a holiday fight.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
Jake Paul will face Cedric Doumbe in Dubai on December 24. The bout marks Paul's first professional fight since losing to Anthony Joshua in Miami last year.
Paul suffered a fractured jaw in two places during a sixth-round stoppage defeat in December 2025. He underwent multiple surgeries before confirming his return to competition in October.
In a statement, Paul addressed Doumbe directly. He noted that the Cameroonian-born Frenchman had called him out two years ago after a nine-second knockout victory.
"I'm rusty, my jaw isn't quite right and I don't have kickboxing world titles like you do. But this isn't kickboxing, mon ami. This is boxing," Paul said.
Paul compared his upcoming strategy to Oleksandr Usyk's performance against Rico Verhoeven. He stated that he plans to "eat you for dinner" during the Christmas Eve event.
Paul holds a 12-2 professional record, with losses only to Tommy Fury and Joshua. Doumbe is a two-time kickboxing world champion with a 75-7-1 record and 45 knockouts. Since switching to mixed martial arts, Doumbe has won six of his last seven fights, including the September 2023 stoppage of Jordan Zebo.
The two fighters are scheduled to appear at media events in Paris on November 10 and in Dubai on November 12.
