Jake Paul to Fight Cedric Doumbe in Dubai
Paul's December 24 bout against Doumbe follows Oleksandr Usyk's knockout of Rico Verhoeven, which Paul cited as a comparison.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Boxing
Jake Paul is scheduled to fight Cedric Doumbe on December 24 in Dubai. Doumbe has not competed in a boxing ring since 2015, and his most recent fight came in a Bellator cage in 2024.
Why it matters
The bout pairs a boxing-focused fighter with a kickboxer who has not boxed in over a decade, a matchup Paul has framed by pointing to Usyk's win over Verhoeven. Doumbe's record of 75 kickboxing wins, 45 by knockout, gives the fight a clear competitive reference point.
Doumbe has 75 kickboxing wins, 45 by knockout, and his most recent fight was in a Bellator cage in 2024. Verhoeven, the longest-reigning GLORY heavyweight champion with over 60 wins, lost to Usyk by TKO in round eleven in May.
The players
Jake Paul
Jake Paul is an American YouTuber-turned-professional boxer known for high-profile bouts against former mixed martial arts and boxing figures.
Cedric Doumbe
Cedric Doumbe is a French kickboxer with 75 career wins who has made limited appearances in combat sports since 2015.
Oleksandr Usyk
Oleksandr Usyk is a Ukrainian boxer who has held multiple heavyweight world titles and is widely regarded as one of the sport's top fighters.
Rico Verhoeven
Rico Verhoeven is a Dutch kickboxer and former GLORY heavyweight champion who fought Usyk in his second professional boxing bout.
The details
Paul said he plans to win by TKO, mirroring Usyk's finish of Verhoeven, who was knocked down in round eleven before the referee stopped the fight in Egypt. Verhoeven had pressured Usyk for much of that bout, which was his second boxing fight and first since 2014.
Timeline
May 2026: Usyk defeats Verhoeven by TKO in round eleven for the WBC and Ring heavyweight titles.
December 24, 2026: Paul is scheduled to fight Doumbe in Dubai.
Market Landscape
Usyk's knockout of Verhoeven in May set the template Paul cited when planning his own TKO-focused bout against Doumbe. The December 24 Dubai card extends a trend of crossover bouts between kickboxers and boxers that has drawn attention from combat sports promoters.
Fans tracking Jake Paul's bout schedule can mark December 24 as the date of his next fight. The matchup also gives fantasy and betting observers a clear finish-method prop to watch, given Paul's stated plan to win by TKO.
The takeaway
Paul's planned bout against Doumbe is a reminder that a fighter's recent competitive record matters as much as their reputation. Readers following the card should watch how both fighters adapt to the boxing ruleset.
What happens next
Paul vs. Doumbe is scheduled for December 24, 2026, in Dubai.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see our Boxing coverage.
