# Jake Paul Faces Cedric Doumbe in Dubai Christmas Eve Boxing Showcase Professional fighters and former UFC stars headline a high-stakes combat event in Dubai. - **Source:** [BBC Sport – Boxing](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/5b997258-310e-4b92-819b-b23b981b3bf5 ## Dubai Christmas Eve Showdown Jake Paul returns to the ring on December 24 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai to face Cedric Doumbe. This professionally sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout features 10oz gloves. The event marks Paul's first appearance since his loss to Anthony Joshua, while Doumbe represents the Professional Fighters League organization. ## Corporate Conflict Dynamics Cedric Doumbe is signed to the Professional Fighters League, which merged with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions in July. Doumbe expressed irony in fighting his own boss, Nakisa Bidarian, who facilitated the matchup. The 34-year-old Frenchman views this as a unique opportunity to be paid for knocking out his employer. ## High Stakes Retirement Ultimatum Jake Paul has publicly committed to retiring from professional boxing if he suffers a defeat against Cedric Doumbe. The 29-year-old American holds a 12-2 professional record, with his only losses coming against Tommy Fury and Anthony Joshua. Paul maintains that Doumbe underestimates the technical differences between MMA and professional boxing. ## Doumbe's Dismissive Training Approach Cedric Doumbe has adopted an unconventional preparation strategy, claiming he spends his time watching Netflix rather than traditional training. The former kickboxing world champion dismisses Paul as a YouTuber rather than a legitimate fighter. Doumbe asserts he only needs to focus on weight management to defeat his opponent in December. ## Overeem and Manuwa Undercard The event features a heavyweight boxing match between former UFC stars Alistair Overeem and Jimi Manuwa. The 46-year-old Overeem makes his professional boxing debut following a decorated career in MMA and kickboxing. His opponent, Jimi Manuwa, previously secured a second-round knockout victory in his own professional boxing debut held in Florida. ## Veteran Combatant Career Paths Alistair Overeem holds a 47-19 MMA record and previously won Strikeforce and DREAM heavyweight titles. Jimi Manuwa retired from MMA in 2019 with a 17-6 record after seven years in the UFC. Both fighters are now transitioning into boxing, with Overeem targeting future bouts against Rico Verhoeven after this specific contest. ## Event Logistics and Broadcasting The Dubai event is organized by Most Valuable Promotions, which confirmed the full fight card during a press conference in Paris. Despite the high-profile nature of the matchups, the event currently lacks a confirmed television broadcasting partner. Fans await further details regarding how to view the Christmas Eve boxing showcase. ## Strategic Implications for Fighters This event highlights the ongoing trend of crossover fights between MMA veterans and social media influencers. For Paul, the bout serves as a critical test of his career longevity following severe jaw injuries. For the veteran fighters on the undercard, the event represents a new chapter in their combat sports legacy. ## Sources covering this story - [BBC Sport – Boxing — Cedric Doumbe to Face Boss Jake Paul in Dubai Boxing Match](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/articles/cm752n322gn9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) - [Yahoo Sports — Alistair Overeem to Face Jimi Manuwa in Boxing Debut](https://sports.yahoo.com/boxing/article/jake-paul-vs-cedric-doumbe-fight-card-alistair-overeem-to-make-boxing-debut-against-jimi-manuwa-171539353.html) - [RTL Nieuws — Alistair Overeem Announces Professional Boxing Debut](https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/sport/artikel/5664813/voormalig-kickbokskampioen-overeem-maakt-rentree-als-bokser) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._