Till Blasts Paul After Doumbé Fight Announcement

Darren Till has fired shots at Jake Paul after the celebrity boxer announced his next opponent for a December fight in Dubai.

Paul will face former kickboxing champion Cédric Doumbé in an eight-round cruiserweight bout on Dec. 24 at Coca-Cola Arena in the United Arab Emirates, MMA Mania reports. The matchup drew immediate criticism from fans and fighters alike, with Till suggesting Paul selected an opponent who posed minimal risk.

Till Questions Paul's Opponent Selection

The former UFC middleweight pointed out the size disparity between the two fighters. Paul typically competes above 200 pounds, while Doumbé fought at welterweight during his recent Bellator and PFL stints. Till also noted that Doumbé has been inactive for more than two years leading into the Christmas Eve showdown.

The booking mirrors Paul's 2024 summer fight that gave him considerable physical advantages over his opponent. Till acknowledged that anyone willing to box Anthony Joshua after watching the heavyweight champion stop Francis Ngannou cannot be labeled as scared, but he maintained that Doumbé represented a calculated choice for Paul following the damage absorbed in his previous outing.

Paul announced the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds for the bout, which ends months of speculation about his next fight. The Dubai card marks Paul's return to combat sports after an extended break from the ring.

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• MMA Mania — Darren Till reacts to losing Jake Paul fight to smaller, inactive kickboxer — ‘Absolutely terrified’