Jake Paul announces Cedric Doumbe fight in Dubai on 24 December

Jake Paul has announced a return to professional boxing against Cedric Doumbe in Dubai on 24 December, according to BBC Sport. The Christmas Eve contest will be his first appearance since losing to Anthony Joshua last December. It brings the American back to competition after a jaw injury had left the future of his boxing career uncertain.

The fight is scheduled for the Coca-Cola Arena and will be a professionally sanctioned cruiserweight contest over eight rounds. Both fighters will wear 10oz gloves. Doumbe, a former kickboxing world champion who now competes in mixed martial arts, has considerably less professional boxing experience than Paul: the Frenchman has previously had just one bout in the sport.

Paul, 29, required two titanium plates and the removal of some teeth after Joshua broke his jaw. In May, he said the injury had put his boxing career in doubt. The newly announced December date follows that uncertainty, with the Joshua defeat remaining his most recent contest rather than an intervening comeback fight.

Paul's professional boxing record stands at 12 wins from 14 fights, with his defeats coming against Tommy Fury and Joshua. His victory over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr earned him a place in the WBA cruiserweight rankings in July 2025. He subsequently lost that ranking in January following the defeat by Joshua, BBC Sport reported.

Doumbe, 34, was born in Cameroon and represents France. He won multiple world titles in kickboxing before moving into MMA and is signed to the Professional Fighters League. Since joining the PFL in 2023, he has won two of his three fights. His only professional boxing appearance came in 2015 and ended in a victory.

The matchup also has a promotional connection: Paul's Most Valuable Promotions merged with the PFL in July. For Paul, the cruiserweight booking follows a defeat at the hands of a two-time heavyweight world champion. Joshua knocked him down twice before stopping him in the sixth round of their December contest. The Doumbe announcement now sets the date for his next professional bout.