Jake Paul has pledged to retire from professional boxing if he is defeated by former kickboxing world champion Cedric Doumbe when the pair meet in Dubai on Christmas Eve.

The eight-round cruiserweight contest will mark Paul’s first appearance in the ring since his sixth-round stoppage defeat to Anthony Joshua last December, a fight in which he suffered a broken jaw that required surgery and the insertion of two titanium plates. The 29-year-old subsequently admitted that his future in boxing was in doubt but has now confirmed his return against the former kickboxing champion.

“This is a dangerous fight,” Paul said in a video posted to social media. “Cedric has been in there with killers his whole career. He’s a two-time world champion and he’s not scared of anybody, including me ‘The Vanilla Gorilla’.”

However, Paul was quick to remind his opponent that the contest would take place under boxing rules. “But this is my sport. No kicks, no takedowns, and no glass on the floor, we checked,” he said, before raising the stakes with a retirement pledge. “If he wins, I will hang up the gloves and call it a day, but if he loses, the man who calls himself ‘The Best’ just got beat up by a YouTuber with a titanium jaw.”

Paul, who holds a professional boxing record of 12 wins and two defeats, also promised a knockout finish. “So Cedric Doumbe, I, Jake Joseph Paul, will knock you out, embarrass you and defeat you on Christmas Eve. This fight is not going the distance and someone is getting put to sleep in the Middle East and it’s not Santa.”

Doumbe, 34, is a decorated kickboxer who has since transitioned to mixed martial arts, winning two of his three appearances in the Professional Fighters League. Despite his extensive combat sports experience, the Frenchman has competed in just one professional boxing contest, a victory in 2015. The December meeting will see Paul attempt to rebound from his defeat to Joshua, while Doumbe looks to hand the American a third professional loss.