Doumbe says he will 'face my boss and knock him out' ahead of Jake Paul fight in Dubai
Cedric Doumbe said he will get the chance to "face my boss and knock him out" when he meets Jake Paul in Dubai on 24 December, commenting at a news conference in Paris to promote the bout. The statement came as Doumbe confirmed the fight is taking place on Christmas Eve and involves the two fighters in a professionally sanctioned contest.
Doumbe, who switched to MMA from kickboxing in 2021, is signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL), the organisation that merged with Paul's Most Valuable Promotions in July. The match will be Paul's first bout since he was stopped by former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua last December. The event has been publicised in Paris and is set up under boxing rules rather than an MMA format.
At the Paris news conference Doumbe thanked MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian by name and called Bidarian "the boss" while addressing Paul directly. He said: "I want to thank Nakisa. He's the boss. And Jake, he's the boss, too. I want to thank Nakisa, because that's the first time I will face my boss and knock him out." He added: "My boss will pay me to knock him out. That's crazy. We never see that before."
Doumbe criticised Paul in further remarks, saying he was treating preparation lightly and mocking Paul's credentials in boxing. He said: "I do nothing. I just watch videos on Netflix. I just want this fight, this clown fight. I have everything to beat this guy." He also stated: "This guy is a joke. He's a very great YouTuber, but he's not a fighter. He's not even a good boxer. I just need to lose weight to face this guy, that's why I'm training now."
Paul's recent record and medical history were outlined alongside the promotional comments: the 29-year-old American has won 12 of his 14 professional fights, with two defeats coming against Tommy Fury and Anthony Joshua. After the loss to Joshua, Paul had two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed following a broken jaw, an injury the news conference referenced in relation to his return.
Doumbe, aged 34 and a former kickboxing world champion, has had limited professional boxing experience but a growing MMA record since joining the PFL. He has won two of his three fights for the PFL since signing in 2023, and his only earlier professional boxing contest was a win in 2015.
Paul said at the same news conference that he will retire if he loses to Doumbe, telling reporters: "I'm 100% retiring if I lose to this guy. For sure." He added: "He's never been in there with someone like me in boxing. It's a completely different sport, that's what he doesn't understand. I know he's going to bring a tough fight, but it's just not going to be enough, and that's it at the end of the day."
The contest is scheduled as a professionally sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight boxing bout with fighters using 10oz gloves and will take place in Dubai on 24 December.
