Dubai chosen as Jake Paul’s next boxing stage on 24 December

Jake Paul will return to the boxing ring in Dubai on 24 December, making his first professional appearance in the city since his fight with former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

The event, being held on Christmas Eve, is being organised by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in partnership with Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

Paul’s opponent and further details of the contest are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The 12-2 boxer, who has recorded seven victories by knockout, is returning to competition nearly a year after facing Joshua in December 2025. Paul suffered a broken jaw in that bout.

It will be Paul’s first professional fight in Dubai, with organisers presenting the event as part of the city’s growing programme of major sports and entertainment occasions.

Paul said he was looking forward to restarting his career in Dubai, describing the emirate as the ideal setting for a new stage in his sporting journey. He pointed to the city’s ambition and global outlook, adding that the return represented his determination to continue challenging himself and pursuing his boxing ambitions.

He also said he was excited to compete in front of a Dubai audience.

Dubai event adds to international sports calendar

Khalfan Juma Belhoul, vice-chairman of Dubai Sports Council, said Dubai was continuing to strengthen its position as a preferred international destination for major sporting events by attracting leading athletes, organisers and supporters from around the world.

He said the continued expansion of Dubai’s international sports calendar reflected global confidence in the emirate’s ability to stage high-profile events. Hosting Paul’s return to boxing, he added, would provide a significant addition to that programme.

Belhoul also said the partnership between Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and MVP would help deliver an event with worldwide appeal and support Dubai’s ambition to contribute to the future development of international sport.

Nakisa Bidarian, MVP’s co-founder and chief executive, said Paul’s comeback after his injury demonstrated his passion for boxing and his determination to continue his professional career.

Bidarian said the occasion would be more than a boxing match, combining sport and entertainment in one of the world’s leading destinations. MVP is working to identify an opponent suited to the importance of Paul’s return, with the name to be confirmed in the coming period.

He added that staging the event in Dubai underlined the importance of the company’s partnership with Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism in bringing major sporting events to the United Arab Emirates.

Paul remains one of the most recognisable figures in professional boxing. His fight against Mike Tyson in November 2024 attracted about 125 million viewers worldwide, while the contest with Joshua in December 2025 recorded about 33 million viewers, according to figures released by the organiser.

The event also forms part of MVP’s international expansion in boxing and mixed martial arts following its merger with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).