Jake Paul and Cedric Doumbe Face Off in Paris Ahead of Christmas Eve Fight
Jake Paul and former GLORY kickboxing champion Cedric Doumbe held their first press conference in Paris before their Dec. 24 clash in Dubai.
Jake Paul and Cedric Doumbe came face to face in Paris on Tuesday for the kickoff press conference ahead of their Christmas Eve boxing match at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
The eight-round cruiserweight bout, contested at 200 pounds with 10-oz gloves, is promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and backed by Dubai Sports Council. It marks Paul's first professional fight in the UAE.
Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) made it clear he sees danger in the matchup. He called the former two-time GLORY welterweight world champion a "two-time world champion" who has "been in there with killers his whole career." Then he raised the stakes: if Doumbe wins, Paul said he will hang up the gloves for good.
"This is a dangerous fight," Paul said. "No kicks, no takedowns, and no glass on the floor, we checked."
Doumbe (75-7-1 kickboxing, 6-1 MMA, 1-0 boxing) is a former PFL MMA contender who once knocked out Jordan Zebo in nine seconds at PFL Europe in Paris. Born in Cameroon and raised in France, the 32-year-old brings legitimate combat sports credentials even though this is technically just his second professional boxing appearance.
Paul also guaranteed the fight will not go the distance. A second press conference is scheduled for Thursday in Dubai, and tickets go on sale November 15. No broadcast partner has been announced yet.
I will give Jake Paul this much: he picks opponents who make sense as entertainment. Doumbe is a real fighter with real power and a legit combat sports resume. He is not some washed-up gatekeeper collecting a check. The GLORY titles, the MMA knockouts, the nine-second finish in front of a Paris crowd. This guy can hit.
But boxing is its own animal. Doumbe has exactly one pro boxing fight. Paul has 14. The skill gap on the inside, the ring generalship, the ability to pace eight rounds, all of that favors Paul by a wide margin. Saying he will retire if he loses is a nice headline but it is also a bet Paul knows he is going to win.
Dubai on Christmas Eve is a spectacle play, not a sporting event. Expect a fun atmosphere, a competitive few rounds, and Paul doing what Paul does: controlling the pace and getting the stoppage. I would be shocked if Doumbe makes it past the fifth.
