MMA world champion Cedric Doumbe has been announced as Jake Paul’s opponent for the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s return on December 24.
It was confirmed last Thursday that Paul would get back in the ring for the first time since Anthony Joshua broke his jaw in a sixth-round stoppage at the end of 2025.
Paul, who has also lost to Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy, vowed he was “hungrier than ever” before the scheduled Dubai bout, but he will not share the canvas with another boxer and instead takes on Doumbe, a former two-time Glory welterweight world champion in kickboxing.
The 34-year-old Doumbe has boxed once before in 2015.
Guess who’s back……Devinez qui est de retour.#PaulDoumbe
Tickets go on sale Sunday November 15th. Link in bio to register.
Free and open to the public: Paul vs. Doumbé Kickoff Press Conferences take place Tuesday, November 10 at 6:00pm CET at Pavillon Cambon in Paris,… pic.twitter.com/qUxXoSt8lv
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) November 2, 2026
This fight will be a professionally sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout and will take place at the Coca-Cola Arena on Christmas Eve.
“Cédric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in 9 seconds. Well, Douchebag, now you get your chance,” Paul said.
“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 and have a Coca-Cola at the arena to celebrate.”
Doumbe said: “Jake Paul calls himself the Problem Child, but he’s never faced a problem like me.
“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.”
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