Jake Paul is set to return to the boxing ring on Christmas Eve, almost a year after suffering a broken jaw in his defeat to former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua.
The 29-year-old American will headline an event in Dubai on December 24, although an opponent has yet to be confirmed. Paul required surgery following his sixth-round stoppage defeat to Joshua in Miami last December, undergoing a procedure to have two titanium plates fitted to his jaw and several teeth removed.
“I’ve spent years proving people wrong, taking risks, and pushing myself against opponents nobody thought I’d face,” Paul said.
“Nothing that’s happened has changed my belief in myself or what I’m working toward. I’m hungrier than ever.
“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.”
Former UFC welterweight Darren Till is among the names reportedly under consideration to face Paul. The Liverpool native, who last competed in the UFC in 2022, made his professional boxing debut with a victory over Luke Rockhold in 2025 and has since competed in bare-knuckle boxing, defeating Yoel Romero in September.
“We’re finalising an opponent worthy of Jake’s return and look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions.
Paul holds a professional boxing record of 12 wins and two defeats, with his only losses coming against Tommy Fury and Joshua. He previously entered the WBA cruiserweight rankings following his victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in July 2025, but lost his ranking following the Joshua defeat.
