Cedric Doubme claims he 'only needs one punch' to inflict KO loss on Jake Paul ahead of Christmas Eve showdown in Dubai

Wednesday, 11 November 2026 at 16:24

Cedric Doumbe has claimed he will "only need one punch" to defeat Jake Paul when the pair meet in the ring on Christmas Eve in Dubai.

The 29-year-old Paul is set to face French MMA star Doumbe on December 24 in Dubai, with his promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), billing the contest as a "professionally sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout".

Doumbe, a former two-time Glory welterweight kickboxing champion, boasts an impressive 75-7-1 record in kickboxing, including 45 knockouts. He is also 6-1 in mixed martial arts and 1-0 as a professional boxer, having beaten Mohamed Fodil on points in his sole boxing appearance back in 2015.

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"I just need one punch," Doumbe told a press conference. "I did it 45 times before. One punch. Only one punch.

"You have eight rounds. I only need one punch. And he thinks he will avoid every punch? That's impossible.

"[Paul's] boxing [is his weakness]. He got only three punches. Jab. Right hook. And body jab. That's it. No power. Nothing.

"He's fat. No abs. Nothing. Only good tattoos. But tattoos don't help you in the ring."

Paul dropped out of the WBA cruiserweight rankings following his sixth-round knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua in Miami last December. The loss also cast doubt over his boxing future, with the American requiring surgery to repair his jaw.

Asked about his recovery, Paul insisted he was ready to return, revealing that his jaw had been reinforced with titanium.

"Titanium. Stronger than ever. We're ready for this guy. Kickboxing world champion, Glory champion, one of the best in MMA, this guy is great, he is great. But he's getting knocked out on Christmas Eve," Paul said.

"Kickboxing will not help him, people."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Cedric Doubme claims he 'only needs one punch' to inflict KO loss on Jake Paul ahead of Christmas Eve showdown in Dubai