Jake Paul isn’t taking the easy path in his return to the boxing ring after a year on the shelf with a broken jaw.
The YouTube star-turned-fighter will have his hands full with Cédric Doumbé, a highly experienced combat sports icon, when the two step between the ropes in Dubai on Christmas Eve this year.
Doumbé is a multi-time kickboxing world champion who has fought in several different disciplines in his illustrious career. The Frenchman, who was born in Cameroon, boasts a record of 75-7-1 in kickboxing with 45 KOs, is 6-1 with six KOs in MMA and is 1-0 in boxing.
The 34-year-old Doumbé is known as a knockout artist and is a former two-time GLORY kickboxing world champion.
Paul, on the other hand, is 12-2 in his professional boxing career and is coming off a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua last December, during which he suffered a broken jaw which required surgery.
Prior to that fight, Paul set several viewing and gate records when he took on Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium in 2024, earning a lopsided win via decision against the boxing legend.
The Paul-Doumbé bout will be a professionally sanctioned eight-round match, contested at cruiserweight (200 lbs.) and using 10 oz gloves.
What did Jake Paul call his opponent?
The trash talk from Paul has already started, with the influencer giving his opponent a colourful nickname in the press release announcing the fight.
“Cédric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in 9 seconds. Well, Douchebag, now you get your chance,” Paul said in a statement.
“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.
“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.”
Doumbé responded, saying that he will eat up his opponent for dinner.
“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 … I’m going to eat ‘El Poulet’ for dinner,” Doumbé said in a statement. “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.”
Tickets for the fight will go on sale Nov. 15, while further details, including additional fights on the card, will be announced at a later date.