Jake Paul reveals Christmas Eve opponent and makes admission on broken jaw
· Yahoo Sports
Jake Paul’s opponent for his Christmas Eve fight has been confirmed, as the YouTuber-turned-boxer faces Cedric Doumbe.
It was revealed last week that Paul would return to the ring on 24 December, 12 months on from his stoppage loss to Anthony Joshua, but no opponent was announced.
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It has now been confirmed that the American will fight Doumbe, a former kickboxing world champion who has more recently competed in mixed martial arts.
Jake Paul at an MVP boxing event in the UK in August (Getty)Doumbe, 34, will box professionally for the second time when he faces Paul, having previously won in the sport in 2015.
Doumbe said via a press release on Monday: “Jake Paul calls himself the ‘Problem Child’, but he's never faced a problem like me. He has no idea what a Frenchman is capable of, and on Thursday 24 December in Dubai, I’m going to eat ‘El Poulet’ [the chicken] for dinner.
“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.
“Dubai is a special city to me, and on Christmas Eve, I’ll be waving le Tricolore over his unconscious body. France, this one’s for you.”
Doumbe’s statement referenced the broken jaw that Paul suffered against “AJ”, a former world heavyweight champion, with the injury requiring multiple surgeries.
Paul, 29, said his doctor advised him not to box again, but the influencer will defy those wishes when he fights Doumbe.
The American said via a press release: “Cedric Dou***bag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in 9 seconds. Well Dou***bag, now you get your chance.
Cedric Doumbe is a former kickboxing champion (Getty)“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.
“Just like [boxing champion Oleksandr] Usyk feasted on [kickboxing star] Rico Verhoeven, I am going to eat you for dinner in Dubai on Christmas Eve and have a Coca-Cola at the arena to celebrate.
“You like to talk a lot, so let’s see what you have to say in person at the press conferences next week in Paris and Dubai. To the proud people of France, excuse-moi for what I am about to do, but your son has been naughty and he’s going to get punished.”
Paul during his stoppage loss to Anthony Joshua in December (PA Media)Doumbe has predominantly fought at 170lb, while many of Paul’s fights have played out at cruiserweight (200lb).
Paul’s 12-2 record includes the aforementioned loss to Joshua and a points defeat by Tommy Fury – half-brother of heavyweight star Tyson Fury – but he holds wins over boxing icon Mike Tyson and former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, among others.
Paul’s biggest fight was his 2024 contest with Tyson, who was 58 at the time. Paul beat the heavyweight legend on points.