Jake Paul

Bio

Right then, whatever you think of him, Jake Paul has changed the business of boxing. The American YouTuber turned professional has built a 12-2 record with seven knockouts, sold out arenas and pulled in audiences most world champions can only dream of. Love him or hate him, make no mistake, he takes it seriously.

Paul's early career was built on former MMA fighters and fellow celebrities, and his critics never let him forget it. The step up came in a big way when he fought Anthony Joshua, and that night showed the gap between a hard-working novice and a proper heavyweight. Joshua broke his jaw and stopped him, and for a while it looked like his career might be over.

He has come back, and his next assignment is French kickboxing star Cedric Doumbe over eight rounds at cruiserweight at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on Christmas Eve. Paul has said he will retire if he loses. Let's not beat around the bush, he should win it, because Doumbe has one boxing fight and Paul has spent years in boxing gyms.

If you know, you know: the right hand is real and the work rate has improved. Paul will never be a world champion against the elite, but against the right opponent he is a dangerous, well-drilled fighter who knows exactly how to sell a fight.