Jake Paul will return to the ring on December 24, 2026, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, headlining an event streamed on Netflix, according to an announcement from MVP Promotions on Thursday. The 29-year-old's opponent for the Christmas Eve bout has not yet been revealed.
"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," Paul said in a press release.
Paul has not fought since December 2025, when he suffered a sixth-round knockout loss to heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua, a defeat that also left him with a broken jaw.
Potential Opponents
With the opponent still unannounced, speculation centers on five possible candidates. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira, 47, has remained active in combat sports, including a boxing victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in August. Paul has a history of facing aging UFC stars.
Former UFC fighter Darren Till, 33, has transitioned to boxing with a 5-0 record (including two exhibitions) competing for Misfits and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, 47, nearly won a world title last year and remains in excellent shape; a matchup would generate massive global interest.
Former super middleweight champion Edgar Berlanga has publicly called for a fight with Paul in the past.
Lightweight star Gervonta Davis was originally scheduled to fight Paul last year but withdrew; with Davis currently without a fight, a rescheduled bout remains a possibility.
