From a broken jaw to a Christmas comeback: Jake Paul refuses to back down following his defeat to Joshua
Paul refuses to walk away from boxing after Joshua defeat, with a Dubai comeback now officially scheduled
Jake Paul isn't allowing his devastating defeat to Anthony Joshua to bring his boxing career to an end.
Despite suffering a double jaw fracture in their heavyweight showdown, the American influencer-turned-boxer is preparing to make his highly anticipated return on Christmas Eve in Dubai.
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) confirmed on Thursday that Paul will headline an event on Thursday, December 24, marking his first appearance in the United Arab Emirates. The announcement comes almost a year after Joshua stopped him in the sixth round of their December 2025 contest in Miami.
The injury was particularly serious, with Paul requiring surgery and titanium plates to repair the damage. His recovery raised questions about whether he'd ever compete professionally again.
Rather than allowing the setback to derail his ambitions, the 29-year-old appears determined to prove that his boxing journey is far from over.
Paul addressed his return on social media, insisting that his confidence hasn't been affected by the experience.
“All I want for Christmas Eve is boxing in Dubai,” he wrote. “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. Dubai is a city that thinks big, breaks boundaries, and doesn’t believe in limits.”
His comeback announcement has already generated considerable interest, although several important details surrounding the event remain unresolved.
Opponent mystery and broadcasting uncertainty surround Paul's return
While the date and location have been confirmed, Paul's next opponent remains unknown. Several potential matchups have emerged, with former UFC fighter Darren Till reportedly among the leading candidates.
MVP has also reportedly explored possibilities involving Chris Eubank Jr, Edgar Berlanga and KSI . Paul previously mentioned several high-profile names, including Canelo Alvarez, Francis Ngannou, Conor McGregor and Ryan Garcia , suggesting that he's interested in another major crossover attraction.
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has also attracted Paul's attention. Strickland has expressed interest in exploring boxing opportunities, potentially creating another intriguing matchup.
Paul even challenged him publicly, asking whether he was free from his existing promotional commitments and encouraging him to have his representatives contact MVP.
Nevertheless, no opponent has officially been announced, leaving fans guessing about the level of competition Paul will face.
The event's broadcasting arrangements are another unanswered question. According to a report by the New York Post's Erich Richter, Netflix won't stream the December contest. Instead, DAZN pay-per-view is reportedly the most likely destination, although an official agreement hasn't been confirmed.
Netflix previously broadcast Paul's fights against Mike Tyson and Joshua , reportedly attracting 108 million and 33 million viewers respectively.
Those figures show the considerable attention his crossover boxing events can generate, even though the numbers aren't directly comparable with traditional television sports ratings.
A move to DAZN pay-per-view could represent a significant change in accessibility, potentially limiting the audience compared with Netflix's subscription-based platform.
