Jake Paul has confirmed he will return to the boxing ring on Christmas Eve in Dubai, almost a year after suffering a double broken jaw in his defeat by Anthony Joshua.
The YouTuber turned boxer will headline a Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) event on December 24, marking his first professional fight in Dubai.
Paul’s opponent is expected to be announced in the coming days, with the American already understood to have held talks with former UFC star Darren Till.
He has also been in discussions with former UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem, although Paul is understood to want the Dutchman to lose a significant amount of weight before they could agree to fight.
MVP have yet to confirm who Paul will face as he prepares to return to action following the most damaging defeat of his professional career.
The 29-year-old was stopped by Joshua in the sixth round of their heavyweight showdown in Miami on December 19, 2025, after struggling to cope with the Briton’s size, power and experience.
Jake Paul has confirmed he will return to the boxing ring on Christmas Eve in Dubai, almost a year after suffering a double broken jaw in his defeat by Anthony Joshua
Paul pictured fighting AJ at the Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida on December 19, 2025
Paul spent much of the early stages attempting to keep his distance from the former two-time unified heavyweight world champion, using his movement to evade Joshua’s attacks.
But the contest began to turn decisively in the fifth round as Joshua increased the pressure, flooring Paul twice and leaving him struggling to cope with the relentless assault.
The American survived the round but was dropped again in the sixth before Joshua delivered the decisive blow, landing a powerful right hand that sent Paul to the canvas for a fourth time.
Paul failed to beat the referee’s count, with the contest officially stopped at one minute and 31 seconds of the sixth round.
It marked the first knockout defeat of Paul’s professional boxing career and his second loss overall, following his split-decision defeat by Tommy Fury in February 2023.
The damage extended well beyond the result. Paul confirmed immediately after the fight that he had suffered a double broken jaw, later sharing an X-ray on social media showing fractures in two places.
He subsequently had surgery to repair the injuries, with two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed. Recovery did not go according to plan, with Paul having to go back under the knife for a second time.
The severity of the injury raised questions over how long Paul would be sidelined and whether he would return to the ring.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer pictured alongside his fiancee Jutta Leerdam (Olympic champion)
Paul’s opponent is expected to be announced in the coming days, with the American already understood to have held talks with former UFC star Darren Till
But the American has now confirmed his comeback, with Dubai set to host another major event as he looks to rebuild his boxing career.
‘I’ve spent years proving people wrong, taking risks, and pushing myself against opponents nobody thought I’d face,’ Paul said.
‘Nothing that’s happened has changed my belief in myself or what I’m working toward.
‘I’m hungrier than ever, and on Thursday, December 24, I’m returning to the ring in Dubai to start the next chapter of my journey.
‘Dubai is a city that thinks big, breaks boundaries, and doesn’t believe in limits. That’s exactly the kind of place I want to make my comeback.
‘We’ve got plenty of names on the list; let’s see who signs the contract. Merry Christmas, Dubai. Santa Paul is coming to town, and somebody’s getting knocked out.’
Paul, who boasts a professional record of 12 wins and two defeats, has become one of boxing’s biggest commercial attractions since making his debut in 2020.
His November 2024 bout against Mike Tyson attracted a reported 125million global viewers, while his showdown with Joshua a year later drew 33m.
He has also been in discussions with former UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem (above)
The announcement comes as MVP continues to expand its international presence, with the Dubai event being organised in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
MVP co-founder and chief executive Nakisa Bidarian said Paul’s return demonstrated his determination to continue competing after his injury against Joshua.
‘Well he is back, and that tells you everything about the competitor Jake Paul is and how much he loves this sport,’ Bidarian said.
‘This is more than a fight. It’s a global event in one of the world’s great destination cities, on one of the most special nights of the year, when families everywhere are together and watching.
‘We’re finalising an opponent worthy of Jake’s return and look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks.’
Till, who previously challenged for the UFC welterweight title, has increasingly explored opportunities outside mixed martial arts since leaving the UFC.
Overeem, meanwhile, enjoyed a lengthy career at the highest level of MMA and kickboxing, competing in promotions including the UFC, Strikeforce and K-1.
The 45-year-old Dutchman has not competed in professional MMA since 2021, when he was released by the UFC following his defeat by Alexander Volkov but has stated he’s interested in pursing a boxing career.
