Jake Paul to Fight Cédric Doumbé in Dubai on December 24

Jake Paul will face Cédric Doumbé in an eight-round boxing bout at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on Thursday, December 24, Most Valuable Promotions announced Monday. The opponent reveal replaces the promotion’s earlier Christmas Eve announcement, which left Paul’s challenger unnamed.

MVP said the contest will take place at the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds with 10-ounce gloves. Doumbé’s kickboxing and mixed martial arts records are separate from his boxing record: the promoter lists him at 75–7–1 in kickboxing, 6–1 in MMA and 1–0 in professional boxing. He has 45 kickboxing knockouts and six stoppage victories in mixed martial arts.

Paul enters with a 12–2 professional boxing record and seven knockout wins. The Dubai appearance is his first scheduled fight since Anthony Joshua stopped him in the sixth round on December 19, 2025. MVP’s original comeback announcement said Paul suffered a double broken jaw against the former heavyweight champion.

His other professional defeat came by split decision against Tommy Fury in February 2023. Paul subsequently beat Nate Diaz by unanimous decision, and his later opponents included Mike Tyson in November 2024 and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June 2025. He defeated Chavez by unanimous decision before facing Joshua.

General ticket sales are scheduled to open Sunday, November 15, at 3 a.m. EST. The promoter’s registration page lists presale access beginning Saturday, November 14, at the same Eastern time. Registration supplies access information; it is separate from purchasing an admission ticket.

MVP also announced kickoff press conferences in Paris on November 10 at noon EST and Dubai on November 12 at 9 a.m. EST. Those are promotional appearances ahead of the December fight, rather than the bout’s start time.

A broadcaster and confirmed ring-walk time remain unannounced. Paul’s previous Netflix appearances do not establish where this event will be shown.