Jake Paul is set to return to the ring next month - his first outing since being brutally knocked out by Anthony Joshua last Christmas

Jake Paul says he will RETIRE from boxing if he loses to former kickboxing world champion Cedric Doumbe this Christmas.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer will make his highly-anticipated return to the squared-circle on December 24 - a year after he was brutally knocked out by Anthony Joshua. Paul, 29, has since but recovering from a broken jaw he sustained in the clash with the former two-time heavyweight world champion.

Paul's meeting with Doumbe will be contested at cruiserweight over eight three-minute rounds. ahead of his meeting with the Cameroonian-born French scrapper, the American admitted that next month's bout could be his last. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "This is a dangerous fight. Cedric has been in there with killers his whole career. He's a two-time world champion and he's not scared of anybody, including me 'The Vanilla Gorilla'.

Make sure you don't miss sport's biggest stories and breaking news by making the Daily Mirror one of your Google preferred sources

"But this is my sport. No kicks, no takedowns, and no glass on the floor, we checked. If he wins, I will hang up the gloves and call it a day, but if he loses, the man who calls himself 'The Best' just got beat up by a YouTuber with a titanium jaw.

"So Cedric Doumbe, I, Jake Joseph Paul, will knock you out, embarrass you and defeat you on Christmas Eve. This fight is not going the distance and someone is getting put to sleep in the Middle East and it's not Santa."

The 'Problem Child's' last win in the ring came back in June 2025 against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. - just months on from his victory over Mike Tyson. Following the announcement, fans were quick to have their say on the bout, with many expressing their frustration. "Just another no name that has some fighting accolades so Jake can get SOME credit when he flatlines the guy." One commented. Another questioned: "Back to MMA guys, really?" Another enraged fan commented: "Nobody watching this bs." One fan did not hold back, writing: "So you’re boxing another MMA guy that hasn’t fought in a few years. Sticking to the original playbook."

After conquering the world of kickboxing, 34-year-old Doumbe made the switch to MMA back in 2021. But Doumbe has not fought since knocking out Jaleel Willis over two years ago. He does have some minor boxing experience. His only fight in boxing came in a points win over Mohamed Fodil back in 2015.