Jake Paul handpicks smaller kickboxer who hasn’t fought in over two years for ‘blockbuster’ return on Christmas Eve
· Yahoo Sports
Jake Paul finally has an opponent for his Dec. 24 boxing return — and it’s not Darren Till.
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“El Gallo de Dorado” will instead box former kickboxing champion Cédric Doumbé in an eight-round, cruiserweight (200 lbs.) showdown at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Paul most recently weighed in at 216.6 pounds, while Doumbé last tipped the scale at 175.5.
Looks like the “disruptor” who hasn’t disrupted anything is back to fighting much smaller opponents.
“Cédric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in nine seconds,” Paul said. “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. 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.”
Usyk-Verhoeven is probably not the best example, all things considered.
A pair of press conferences are scheduled for Tues., Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. ET at Pavillon Cambon in Paris, France and Thurs., Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. ET in Dubai.
“Jake Paul calls himself the Problem Child, but he’s never faced a problem like me,” Doumbé said. “He has no idea what a Frenchman is capable of, and on Thursday, December 24 in Dubai, I’m going to eat ‘El Poulet’ for dinner. 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. Dubai is a special city to me, and on Christmas Eve, I’ll be waving le Tricolore over his unconscious body. France, this one’s for you.”
Tickets go on sale Nov. 15.
This marks the first fight for Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) since having his jaw smashed to pieces by Anthony Joshua last year in Miami. Doumbé (1-0, 1 KO), last seen fighting under the Bellator MMA banner in May 2024, has just one appearance in the “sweet science” but racked up more than 70 fights in kickboxing and has a 6-1 record in mixed martial arts (MMA).
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