Cedric Doumbe to Face Jake Paul in Boxing Match in Dubai

Cédric Doumbé is set to return to competition to face American boxer Jake Paul in a professional cruiserweight bout scheduled for Thursday, December 24, 2026. The matchup will take place at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is organized by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in partnership with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

The fight will follow standard professional boxing rules, contested over eight rounds with a weight limit of 200 pounds, utilizing ten-ounce gloves. For Doumbé, the bout marks the end of an absence lasting more than two years. His last official appearance took place on May 17, 2024, in Paris, where he secured a technical knockout victory against Jaleel Willis during a Bellator Champions Series event.

At 34 years old, Doumbé boasts an extensive combat sports background. He is a former two-time GLORY welterweight world champion in kickboxing, holding a record of 75 wins, seven losses, and one draw, with 45 victories coming by knockout. Transitioning to mixed martial arts, he compiled six wins in seven professional fights. His boxing experience, however, remains limited to a single professional victory achieved in April 2015 against Mohamed Fodil.

Jake Paul, 29, enters the ring following a long layoff of his own. His most recent fight occurred in December 2025, when he suffered a sixth-round knockout defeat against Anthony Joshua, resulting in a double fracture of his jaw that required surgery. Paul holds a professional boxing record of 12 wins and two losses, with seven knockouts. This event marks his first professional fight outside the United States.

The upcoming bout stems from the partnership between MVP and the PFL, which was formalized in July 2026. Ahead of the December event, promotional tours will feature two press conferences: the first on November 10, 2026, in Paris, and the second on November 12, 2026, at the Dubai Opera. General ticket sales for the Coca-Cola Arena are scheduled to begin on November 15, 2026.

Both athletes have exchanged strong remarks ahead of the matchup. Doumbé stated, "Jake Paul calls himself the problem child, but he has never faced a problem like me. I am going to finish the work Joshua started. On Christmas night, I will wave the French flag above his unconscious body." In response, Paul acknowledged his own long layoff and fragile jaw but emphasized the nature of the sport, stating, "This is not kickboxing, my friend. This is boxing."