Jake Paul ridiculed for choice of opponent

Jake Paul's next opponent is welterweight Cédric Doumbé

MVP announced that global superstar Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) will face French combat sports icon and multi-time kickboxing world champion Cédric Doumbé (75-7-1, 45 KOs kickboxing; 6-1, 6 KOs MMA; 1-0 boxing) in a blockbuster boxing showdown on Thursday, December 24, at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Paul vs Doumbé

Paul vs. Doumbé will be a professionally sanctioned 8-round cruiserweight bout contested at 200 lbs with 10-oz gloves, bringing together two of combat sports' most recognizable personalities for a major international sports and entertainment event.

The Christmas Eve matchup marks Paul's first professional fight in Dubai and pits one of boxing's biggest commercial attractions against one of Europe's most accomplished and recognizable combat sports stars.

A former two-time GLORY kickboxing world champion and explosive PFL MMA contender, Doumbé brings elite striking credentials, championship experience and devastating knockout power into the boxing ring. The matchup unites two athletes who have built their careers on high-profile performances, outspoken personalities and an ability to command attention well beyond their respective sports.

Jake Paul

Since making his professional boxing debut in 2020, Paul has become one of the sport's biggest commercial attractions, headlining record-breaking events and drawing massive global audiences.

His November 2024 showdown with Mike Tyson drew 125 million Live+1 viewers globally on Netflix, while his December 2025 event against former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua drew 33 million Live+1 viewers worldwide.

Throughout his career, Paul has faced high-profile opponents from across boxing and combat sports, earning victories over former MMA superstars Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz before defeating former boxing world champion Julio César Chávez Jr. in June 2025.

His matchup with Doumbé adds another accomplished international combat sports star to that list.

Cédric Doumbé

Born in Cameroon and raised in France, Cédric Doumbé is one of Europe's most recognizable combat sports stars. A former two-time GLORY welterweight world champion with a 75-7-1 kickboxing record and 45 knockouts, Doumbé transitioned to MMA, recording six knockout victories in his first seven professional bouts. His explosive nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo in his September 2023 PFL Europe debut in Paris, witnessed by French football superstar Kylian Mbappé and several of his Paris Saint-Germain teammates, cemented his reputation as a devastating knockout artist and major sporting attraction in France. Known for his outspoken personality, showmanship and passionate following, Doumbé now returns to professional boxing to face Paul in a high-profile international showdown uniting two of combat sports' biggest personalities.

The Miss List

Jake Paul is known for being outspoken and deluded, audaciously claiming he can win world titles and beat world champions without ever defeating an active pro boxer.

The first time he came up against a professional boxer, he was defeated by Tommy Fury in 2023. Even Anthony Joshua didn't qualify as an active pro boxer, as he had been out of the ring for 15 months when they fought in 2025.

The YouTuber put together a 'Hit-List' of 14 potential opponents, yet choose a name that wasn't even on this list, instead picking an opponent who is a non-boxer that operates five weight classes below him.

Among the names of his 'Miss-List' are seven world champions, a world title contender and a world title:

Canelo Alvarez

Gervonta Davis

Deontay Wilder

Conor McGregor (MMA & Boxing)

Ryan Garcia

Darren Till

Joshua-Fury winner

KSI

Sean Strickland (Boxing)

Tom Aspinall (Boxing)

Nate Diaz (MMA)

Edgar Berlanga

Chris Eubank Jr.

World title

Reactions

Darren Till: "As I said before, Jake Paul is a clear, clear juicehead, there's a fact for you. What's everyone's reaction is they say that Doumbe is 170lbs, I'm not taking anything away from the guy, he's a fantastic MMA fighter and kickboxing career, but he's not a f***ing boxer, I've honed my skills for the past three years."

Ben Davis: "Jake Paul is fighting a guy who hasn’t boxed in over a decade, hasn’t FOUGHT in two years, and there’s a 30 pound weight differential between their last respective bouts Darren Till was right there, could’ve done a Tommy Fury rematch, could’ve picked another Chavez Jr. type or an actual boxer…… Idk. I get it’s a tune up, but don’t love it, and on Christmas Eve I feel many will find better things to do."

Reactions from X

@jsteed2381: Why is Jake ducking ranked cruiserweight boxers?

@sergiopedemonte: Bro will fight anyone but a boxer.

@GSW2022Champs: Right back to fighting smaller mma fighters

@Zecoshi: Someone who hasnt boxed in 10yrs man you really are poor at this

@connFUT: Back to fighting MMA guys after AJ gave him a reality check

@byjoshcarter1: Announced a whole ‘Hit List’ just to pick someone who isn’t on there

Quotes

Jake Paul said: “Cédric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in 9 seconds. 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. Just like Usyk feasted on 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. To all the fans in Dubai and all of MENA...we are doing this and we are doing it big, like Dubai always does. I’m baaaaaccccccccck.”

Cédric Doumbé said: “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, December 24 in Dubai, I’m going to eat ‘El Poulet’ 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.”