Jake Paul is scheduled to return to the boxing ring on Christmas Eve, with Dubai being the chosen location for his next bout, sources have indicated. This fight will be Paul's first since suffering a broken jaw approximately a year ago in his match against Anthony Joshua.
The opponent for Paul's Christmas Eve fight has not yet been finalized. While speculation has linked him with former UFC fighter Darren Till, that potential matchup is not yet confirmed. Most Valuable Promotions, Paul's promotional company, has also reportedly been in discussions with Chris Eubank, Edgar Berlanda, and YouTuber KSI regarding potential opponents.
As of now, no broadcast deal has been secured for Paul's return fight. It has been confirmed that the event will not be streamed on Netflix, a platform that has carried two of Paul's last three fights, including his bout with Mike Tyson which drew 108 million viewers and his fight against Joshua, which garnered 33 million viewers.
The potential shift away from Netflix for live sporting events might signal a broader change in the streaming giant's strategy. The recent departure of Bela Bajaria as Chief Content Officer has fueled speculation about Netflix's future involvement in live sports.
A likely scenario for Paul's upcoming fight is a pay-per-view broadcast on DAZN, a platform that has hosted three of his last five non-Netflix fights. Paul is returning from a broken jaw sustained during his loss to Joshua, a former Olympic gold medalist.
Paul's return is anticipated to be at the cruiserweight division, which is typically around 200 pounds. However, this does not guarantee that his opponent will weigh the same.
There were previous plans for Paul to fight Gervonta Davis, who competes at 135 pounds, but that bout was canceled following Davis's arrest. Darren Till most recently fought at 190 pounds. Edgar Berlanga's potential participation in the Christmas Eve fight is uncertain due to recent legal issues.
While a specific venue has not been announced, the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai is considered a potential location, having previously hosted a PFL event. Paul has also expressed intentions to make his MMA debut with MVP MMA, which is set to merge with PFL in January.