Jake Paul Returns to Boxing Against Kickboxer Cédric Doumbé After Jaw Injury
After suffering a broken jaw at the hands of Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul is stepping back into the ring, but this time against a different kind of opponent. His upcoming fight on December 24 in Dubai will see him face Cédric Doumbé, a former kickboxing champion making a return after a two-and-a-half-year break from MMA.
From Viral Fights to the Heavyweight Stage
Paul's journey through combat sports has been marked by bold challenges and escalating risks. Starting in 2020, he boxed former NBA player Nate Robinson simply for entertainment, then took on MMA fighter Ben Askren, who was recovering from hip surgery at the time. Paul went on to defeat Tyron Woodley twice, a former UFC champion, and even faced Anderson Silva, a legendary figure in MMA known for his precise striking.
Despite gaining attention, many wanted to see Paul tested by a true boxer, which led to his bout with Tommy Fury, brother of Tyson Fury. That match ended in Paul's first professional loss, pushing him back to fighting MMA contenders like Nate Diaz and other less-known fighters such as Andre August and Ryan Bourland to rebuild his record.
High-Profile Matches and Escalations
Paul’s fight against Mike Perry, a notable bare-knuckle boxer, brought some excitement, but his bout with the 57-year-old legend Mike Tyson reached an audience of 65 million concurrent streams despite not being particularly competitive. Following that, Paul earned a unanimous decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., son of a boxing great, which further added to his resume.
He then planned a fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, a smaller but very skilled boxer, which stirred public interest. However, legal troubles and delays led Paul to accept the challenge of fighting heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. This proved to be a step too far; Paul lasted six rounds before a devastating right hand shattered his jaw, ending the fight and his streak of victories.
The New Challenge: Cédric Doumbé
Now, Paul returns against Doumbé, who is neither a traditional boxer nor an MMA star like Sean Strickland or Francis Ngannou. The French fighter made his mark in Paris' combat scene and competed in the PFL between 2023 and 2024, though he lost to Baissangour Chamsoudinov during that period. Doumbé is a seasoned kickboxer with over 80 professional fights and holds strong support in France.
The fight will be contested at cruiserweight (200 pounds), while Doumbé usually competes at welterweight (170 pounds), making him significantly smaller. This matchup resembles earlier contests in Paul's career where he enjoyed size advantages over his opponents, returning the odds to his favor.
What's Next for Jake Paul?
Despite the anticlimactic nature of this return, the fact that Paul is back after a serious jaw injury is notable. Recovering from such damage is no small feat, especially for someone who has built a career mixing promotion with fighting, including efforts to boost women’s boxing and owning the MVP promotion.
Many expected Paul might shift fully into MMA competition or pursue even more dramatic opponents, but instead, he seems to be focusing on strategic moves, possibly building up Doumbé’s profile ahead of greater plans for MVP’s involvement in MMA. Whether Paul aims to reclaim the spotlight or just maintain momentum, his second chapter in combat sports promises some uncertainty.
"Maybe the shine isn’t meant for him this time, so much as for what he’s building around him. Or maybe he just wants to beat up one of his better commodities, to kick off another run in the sport he forced his way into."
Jake Paul's journey has had wild ups and downs, and this next fight could define whether his boxing story continues or fades away.
