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‘My boss will pay me to knock him out’ – Doumbe
Cedric Doumbe will fight Jake Paul in a professionally sanctioned boxing bout in Dubai on Christmas Eve, describing the chance to knock out his “boss” as “crazy”. The fight follows Paul’s defeat by Anthony Joshua last December and is notable because Doumbe is signed to the PFL, which merged with Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
The eight-round cruiserweight contest will use 10oz gloves. Paul, 29, has won 12 of his 14 professional fights, while 34-year-old Doumbe has only one professional boxing bout, a win in 2015, and has won two of three MMA fights since joining the PFL. Doumbe called Paul a “joke” and said he was not training seriously; Paul said he would retire if he lost.
In short
- Doumbe and Paul meet in Dubai on Christmas Eve.
- Their bout is an eight-round cruiserweight boxing match.
- Paul says he will retire if Doumbe beats him.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The bout can be defended as a legitimate, professionally sanctioned contest that gives both fighters a chance to test themselves and draws attention to combat sports. Doumbe’s limited boxing record makes the match-up uncertain, while Paul’s willingness to risk his reputation, including his stated promise to retire if defeated, gives the contest real stakes for him.
The case against
The fight may be seen as a spectacle whose profile rests more on celebrity and promotion than on comparable boxing experience: Paul has a substantial professional record, while Doumbe has boxed professionally only once. Their business connection through the PFL and Most Valuable Promotions may also raise questions about how the event is framed, and whether the taunts and retirement claim are mainly promotional devices.