Jake Paul books ex-kickboxing champion for return fight

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  Brett OkamotoNov 2, 2026, 07:28 AM ET

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  Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.

Jake Paul will face former kickboxing world champion Cedric Doumbe for his return fight Dec. 24 in Dubai, Most Valuable Promotions announced Monday.

The eight-round cruiserweight matchup will mark Paul's first appearance in the ring since he suffered a broken jaw in a heavyweight loss to Anthony Joshua in December.

"Cedric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in nine seconds," Paul said in a statement. "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."

Paul and Doumbe are scheduled to appear at public news conferences Nov. 10 in Paris and Nov. 12 in Dubai.

Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) has made a career out of crossover fights, including matchups against UFC legends Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz and Tyron Woodley. The 29-year-old defeated heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson in November 2024 and former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2025.

Doumbe, 34, is one of the most recognized fighters in French combat sports history. A former two-time GLORY world champion, he boasts a professional kickboxing record of 75-7-1 with 45 career knockouts. He is 6-1 in mixed martial arts, including the 9-second knockout of Jordan Zebo under the PFL banner in September 2023 that Paul referenced.

He recorded a win in his only professional boxing appearance in April 2015.