JAKE PAUL VOWS TO RETIRE IF HE LOSES TO CEDRIC DOUMBE

Jake Paul has signed to fight Cedric Doumbe in an eight-round bout at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on 24 December, Most Valuable Promotions has confirmed. In a video posted to announce the bout, Paul said he would retire from boxing if he loses. "If he wins, I will hang up the gloves and call it a day," Paul said, adding that the fight "is not going the distance, and someone is getting put to sleep in the Middle East, and it's not Santa." Tickets go on sale on 15 November.

Paul's last fight ended in defeat to Anthony Joshua last December, leaving him with a broken jaw and two titanium plates; he said he could not eat for weeks afterwards. He was medically cleared to fight again in September and holds a professional record of 12 wins and two losses. Doumbe is a two-time Glory Kickboxing champion who also competes in mixed martial arts with the PFL, which merged with Most Valuable Promotions in July. Paul said of his opponent: "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 MMA journalist Ariel Helwani said the matchup carries "red flags," noting Doumbe normally fights as a welterweight while Paul is much larger. Paul has opened as a significant betting favourite because of his size and boxing experience. Some observers believe Doumbe's striking could still trouble Paul inside the ring. Paul's health adviser, Bryan Johnson, pressed him to set an endpoint for his career; Paul said he would stop fighting only "when I become world champion."