Jake
Paul and Cedric
Doumbe exchanged insults and knockout predictions Tuesday
during a heated press conference promoting their Dec. 24 boxing
match at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The eight-round cruiserweight bout, contested at 200 pounds with
10-ounce gloves, will mark Paul’s first professional fight in
Dubai. The matchup pits the social media star-turned-boxer against
a former two-time Glory kickboxing world champion and
Professional Fighters League MMA contender.
Jake Paul and Cedric Doumbe trade knockout predictions ahead of
their Dec. 24 boxing match in Dubai
Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) and Doumbe (1-0 boxing) came face-to-face at
Pavilion Cambon in Paris, where both fighters promised to deliver a
knockout on Christmas Eve.
Paul dismissed Doumbe’s extensive combat sports experience, arguing
that his opponent’s kickboxing and MMA accomplishments would not
translate into success inside the boxing ring.
“Kickboxing will not help him, people. On Dec. 24, the legs will
just be used for transportation. This is boxing. He’s gonna learn a
very, very hard lesson. And at the end of the day, he’s still a
tune-up fight for me.”
Doumbe, who owns a 75-7-1 kickboxing record with 45 knockouts and a
6-1 MMA record with six knockouts, responded by questioning Paul’s
legitimacy as a boxer.
“This guy is a joke. He’s a very great YouTuber, but he’s not a
fighter. He’s not even a good boxer.”
The French fighter said he was more concerned about making the
cruiserweight limit than preparing for Paul’s abilities.
“I’m not training to beat him. I’m training to lose weight. That is
why I’m training.”
Despite the verbal exchanges, Paul acknowledged Doumbe’s striking
credentials and said he was taking the matchup seriously.
“He’s a KO artist. He’s a two-time world champion. He’s the highest
of his pedigree.”
A
heavyweight title fight headlines PFL Dubai: Tune in on Saturday,
Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. ET on the ESPN app.
Paul predicted he would finish Doumbe in the third or fourth round,
citing what he described as defensive weaknesses and predictable
punches.
Doumbe offered a different outlook, suggesting he could end the
fight early or extend it into the later rounds.
“Oh, I knock him out in the second round, or I knock him out in the
seventh or eighth round.”
The stakes became personal when Paul was asked whether he would
retire from professional boxing if Doumbe defeated him.
“100% retiring if I lose to this guy. Sure, like 100%. For sure.
For sure, for sure.”
Paul also reiterated his ambition to become a boxing world champion
within the next two to three years, describing the upcoming fight
as another step toward that goal.