A year after suffering a severe jaw injury against Anthony Joshua, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is stepping back into the ring to face mixed martial arts star Cedric Doumbe. According to Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, the 29-year-old American will meet the Cameroon-born Frenchman in a professionally sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout on December 24 in Dubai, as announced by Paul's promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions.
According to the Associated Press, Paul is returning to competition following a sixth-round knockout loss to former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on December 19, 2025, in Miami, Florida, a bout during which Paul had his jaw broken in two places and subsequently required surgery.
Background
According to Al Jazeera, Paul slipped out of the World Boxing Association cruiserweight rankings following his defeat against Joshua in Miami. Since beginning his professional boxing career in 2020, Paul has fought primarily at the 200-pound cruiserweight class, winning 12 of his 14 fights, which includes a 2024 victory against 58-year-old Mike Tyson. His upcoming opponent, Cedric Doumbe, is a former kickboxing world champion who transitioned to mixed martial arts, as reported by the Associated Press.
Why it matters
For sports enthusiasts and followers of international combat sports, high-profile cross-discipline matchups continue to draw global attention and redefine traditional boundaries between boxing and mixed martial arts. While events staged in major international hubs like Dubai attract worldwide audiences, local fans in Pakistan and across the globe continue to monitor the evolving landscape of professional combat sports and promotional bouts.