Alistair
Overeem will make his professional boxing debut against
Jimi
Manuwa in a six-round heavyweight bout on Dec. 24 at Coca-Cola
Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Most Valuable Promotions announced the matchup Thursday. It joins a
Christmas Eve card headlined by Jake Paul’s
return to boxing against Cedric
Doumbe.
Alistair Overeem and Jimi Manuwa meet in a six-round
heavyweight boxing bout Dec. 24 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai
Overeem (47-19, 1 NC in MMA) is a former Strikeforce heavyweight
champion and the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix winner. The Dutchman
last competed in kickboxing for Glory in 2022.
“I’ve fought the best in the world, and I’ve been a world champion
in multiple disciplines. Now I’m starting a new chapter in boxing,
and I’m not here to make up the numbers,” Overeem said. “Jimi
Manuwa is a dangerous man with serious knockout power, but I’ve
built my career on taking the toughest challenges in combat
sports.”
Manuwa (17-6 in MMA) retired from mixed martial arts in 2019 with
15 wins by knockout or technical knockout. The former Ultimate
Fighting Championship light heavyweight contender won his
professional boxing debut in August, stopping former UFC
heavyweight Chase
Sherman by second-round technical knockout, according to the
promotion.
“After my win in Orlando, I wasn’t looking for an easy opponent,”
Manuwa said. “On Christmas Eve, one of us is going to sleep, and
it’s not going to be me.”
YES IT’S REAL. OVEREEM vs MANUWA goes down
on the Jake Paul vs Cedric Doumbe card on Thursday, December 24th🎄🍿
Tickets go ON SALE Sun, Nov 15th🎟️ ——— Thursday, December 24th
Coca-Cola Arena – Dubai, UAE @visit.dubai @dubaisc #PaulDoumbe
https://t.co/uEExyGJjVb— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions)
November 12, 2026