Jake Paul to face former kickboxing champion in return fight - ESPN

Jake Paul will face former kickboxing world champion Cédric Doumbé for his return fight Dec. 24 in Dubai, Most Valuable Promotions announced Monday.

The eight-round cruiserweight matchup will mark Paul's first appearance in the ring since he suffered a broken jaw in a heavyweight loss to Anthony Joshua in December.

«Cedric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in nine seconds,» Paul, 29, said in a statement. «Well Douchebag, now you get your chance. 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.»

Paul and Doumbé are scheduled to appear at public news conferences Nov. 10 in Paris and Nov. 12 in Dubai.

Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) has made a career out of crossover fights, including matchups against UFC legends Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz and Tyron Woodley. He defeated heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson in November 2024 and former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2025.

Doumbé, 34, is one of the most recognized fighters in French combat sports history. A former two-time Glory world champion, he boasts a professional kickboxing record of 75-7-1 with 45 career knockouts. He is 6-1 in mixed martial arts, including the 9-second knockout of Jordan Zébo under the PFL banner in September 2023 that Paul referenced.

He recorded a win in April 2015 in his only professional boxing appearance.

«Jake Paul calls himself the Problem Child, but he's never faced a problem like me,» Doumbe said. «He has no idea what a Frenchman is capable of. Jake loves to talk and so do I, but 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.»

Paul's