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Jake Paul is preparing to return to professional boxing on December 24, marking his first appearance in the ring since suffering a damaging defeat against British heavyweight Anthony Joshua in December 2025.
The American influencer and boxer is scheduled to headline a fight card in Dubai on Christmas Eve, although his opponent has yet to be officially confirmed. The announcement signals a return to competition after an injury that left his boxing future uncertain.
Paul, 29, suffered a broken jaw during his bout with Joshua, who knocked him down twice before stopping him in the sixth round in Miami. The injury required surgeons to fit two titanium plates, and Paul also had several teeth removed.
The setback prompted Paul to question whether he would continue boxing. In May, he acknowledged that his career was "most definitely" in doubt, raising uncertainty about when he might compete again.
However, his latest announcement suggests he is determined to resume his pursuit of success in the sport.
"I've spent years proving people wrong, taking risks, and pushing myself against opponents nobody thought I'd face," Paul said. He added that the defeat had not weakened his belief in himself and insisted he was hungrier than ever.
Paul also embraced the festive timing of the event, joking that "Santa Paul" was coming to town and promising that somebody would be knocked out.
He has won 12 of his 14 professional fights, with his only defeats coming against Tommy Fury and Joshua. His record includes a victory over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in July 2025, which earned him a place in the World Boxing Association's cruiserweight rankings. He subsequently lost that ranking after his defeat by Joshua.
Several potential opponents are reportedly under consideration for the Dubai event. Darren Till, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter from Liverpool, is among the names being discussed, according to Nakisa Bidarian, who co founded Most Valuable Promotions with Paul.
Till last competed in the UFC in 2022 before making his professional boxing debut in 2025, when he defeated Luke Rockhold. He has since participated in bare knuckle fighting and defeated Yoel Romero in September.
Bidarian said the promotion was working to finalise an opponent worthy of Paul's return and would share further details in the coming weeks.
The identity of that opponent could significantly influence public interest in the event. Paul has built his boxing career around high profile matchups that attract attention beyond traditional boxing audiences.
His return will test whether he can recover competitively from the most damaging defeat of his professional career. For now, the December 24 date is confirmed, but the matchup that will determine the next chapter remains a closely watched question.
