Jake Paul Promises Retirement With Loss to Cedric Doumbe in Dubai

Jake Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) will retire from boxing if he loses to former kickboxing champion Cedric Doumbe in their Dec. 24 cruiserweight bout.

Jake Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) announced he will "hang up the gloves" if he suffers a defeat against Cedric Doumbe in a sanctioned 10-round cruiserweight bout scheduled for Dec. 24 in Dubai. According to ESPN, this Christmas Eve matchup marks Paul's return to the ring following a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua last December, an event that left the 29-year-old with a broken jaw requiring two titanium plates and surgeries in December and February.

Doumbe, a 34-year-old former world kickboxing champion from France, enters the contest with a professional MMA record of 6-1. While he holds a single professional boxing victory from 2015, he has not competed in any combat sport since May 2024. Paul predicted the fight in the Middle East will not go the distance, stating on his YouTube channel that he intends to knock out his opponent.

Following the injury sustained against Joshua, Paul admitted to contemplating retirement during his recovery period. The upcoming bout serves as his first appearance since the jaw injury left him unable to eat for weeks. Paul currently holds a professional record featuring seven knockouts across 14 career fights.