Trump Picks Jake Paul's Next Fight

President Donald Trump suggested Jake Paul should target retired UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for his next outing.

Paul joined Trump on stage in Kentucky on Wednesday, March 11, where the President gave the boxer his endorsement for a potential future in politics. However, the conversation shifted back to the ring when Paul asked who he would want to see him fight next—Trump didn’t hesitate. Trump suggested Khabib to which Paul agreed.

“I’m going to make a prediction that you will be, in the not-too-distant future, running for political office. You have my complete and total endorsement," Trump

"What Mr. Trump has taught me is courage. We never back down from a fight, even if they’re much bigger than you, much, much bigger than you. I feel all the local Kentuckians feel the same way. You guys have that fight. You guys have that swag," Paul stated

Will It Happen?

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The likelihood of "The Eagle" returning to the cage—or entering a boxing ring—remains slim. Khabib (29-0) retired in 2020 following the passing of his father. He has reportedly turned down offers as high as $100 million for a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather, maintaining that his competitive days are over.

Khabib was a world-class grappler and Sambo specialist. While his striking was effective in MMA (notably dropping Conor McGregor), a pure boxing match against a larger, younger opponent like Paul would not favor him.

Other Options

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In addition, Paul revealed that he is still recovering from a broken jaw sustained in his recent loss to Anthony Joshua in Miami. Doctors have reportedly told Paul he may not be able to engage in full-contact sparring until late 2026. If that fight does not go ahead, there are rumors of the following bouts that could take place.

Opponent	Background	Status
Khabib Nurmagomedov	Retired UFC Champion	Unlikely
Tommy Fury	Professional Boxer	Rematch could happen
Ryan Garcia	Professional Boxer	Teased on social media
Oleksandr Usyk	Unified HW Champion	Paul’s "Legacy" target (Exhibition)
Tommy Hearns	Boxing Legend	Rumors of a "Legends" exhibition

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