Darren Till Mocks Jake Paul After Cedric Doumbe Is Named for December 24 Fight

Darren Till’s reaction to Jake Paul’s December 24 return says plenty about the bout he expected to get. After Paul was paired with Cedric Doumbe, Till took to social media to accuse the American of being “Absolutely terrified” of facing him. It’s a taunt, not evidence of why the matchup fell through, but it captures the frustration surrounding talks that had briefly placed Till among Paul’s possible opponents.

Till had been named as a potential opponent only the previous week. The possibility drew attention because the former UFC title challenger had publicly pressed for a deal, saying earlier in October that he was waiting for a contract. Yet Till’s social media posts later suggested discussions between the teams had gone quiet. With Paul now set to box Doumbe at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena on December 24, Till’s chance to face him has not materialized for this date.

Till’s jab reflects stalled talks

“Absolutely terrified,” Till wrote on X, adding laughing, thumbs-up and rat emojis. He tagged Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder and CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. The post was a direct response to the pairing, and a pointed reminder that Till had been discussed as a candidate for the same return.

Bidarian told The Sun Sport the previous week that Till was “definitely” among the names discussed for a December bout or a fight early next year. That confirms Till was part of the conversation, but it doesn’t establish how far negotiations went or why Paul’s team chose Doumbe. Till appeared skeptical that the bout with Paul would come together even while he was calling for the deal to be completed. The gap between public talk and a signed matchup seems to be what has sharpened his response.

Till had previously said he was waiting for a contract, urging Paul to move the process along. Now the scheduled opponent is someone with a very different résumé in boxing. That distinction is likely to keep the debate focused on what each man brings to the ring, rather than on the bout Till had hoped to secure.

Doumbe brings striking pedigree, but little boxing experience

Doumbe’s reputation was built in kickboxing. He became a two-time GLORY welterweight champion before beginning his transition to MMA in 2021. The 34-year-old is known as a dangerous striker, but his professional boxing record is limited: he has competed in one bout, 11 years ago, and went the full four rounds.

That résumé creates an obvious question for a boxing matchup with Paul. Kickboxing success signals high-level striking skill, but the disciplines demand different habits and preparation. Doumbe has not fought in more than two years, according to the source, and is a welterweight. His limited time in professional boxing gives critics a clear point to challenge when assessing the pairing.

Paul’s selection of Doumbe, a name few would have expected for this return, therefore carries a sporting risk as well as novelty. Doumbe’s striking credentials make him a recognizable combat-sports opponent, but the switch to boxing leaves his ability in that format far less established. The bout will put that difference under scrutiny when they meet in Dubai.

Till offers a more proven boxing record

Till’s case rests on recent activity and a stronger record in boxing. Since leaving the UFC several years ago, he has competed in boxing and, in 2025, recorded three wins in Misfits, with two by knockout. He then moved into bare-knuckle boxing this year. Those results give him more recent boxing experience than Doumbe, though they don’t settle the question of how a fight with Paul would have played out.

Till is also described as considerably bigger than Doumbe. That physical difference, alongside the contrast in their boxing records, helps explain why Till has challenged Paul’s choice so sharply. But Paul has selected Doumbe, and the available facts don’t show whether size, experience or negotiations drove that decision.

The confirmed bout leaves Till’s taunt hanging over a matchup he won’t be part of on December 24. Doumbe must convert his elite kickboxing background into success under boxing rules, while Paul takes on an opponent with just one professional boxing contest. For Till, the immediate takeaway is that the discussions did not produce the contract he wanted. His next move, and whether Paul’s later schedule brings their names together again, remains open.