YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is scheduled to return to the ring in Dubai on December 24, nearly a year after Anthony Joshua knocked him out.
The 29-year-old American announced his return on Thursday, confirming he would headline a Christmas Eve boxing event, although his opponent remains unknown.
Paul last fought Joshua in Miami on December 19, 2025, when the former world heavyweight champion stopped him in the sixth round. The bout left Paul with a fractured jaw, requiring multiple surgeries.
Reacting to the defeat in a post on X, Paul maintained that his confidence and ambitions remained intact.
“All I want for Christmas Eve is boxing in Dubai. I’ve spent years proving people wrong, taking risks, and pushing myself against opponents nobody thought I’d face. 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,” he said.
Paul disclosed that several potential opponents were under consideration but withheld their identities.
“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,” he said.
His promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions, said further information, including the identity of his opponent, would be released in the coming weeks.
Paul boasts a professional record of 12 victories and two defeats, with his losses coming against Joshua and British boxer Tommy Fury.
