The Boxing Truth®

Friday, August 29, 2025

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS FIRST EVER EVENT IN QUEBEC SEPTEMBER 27TH ON DAZN

Press Release: August 29, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- MVP’s 2x Canadian Olympian and #1 IBF and WBA middleweight Tamm Thibeault set for co-main event; Montreal’s undefeated Mazlum Akdeniz also joins main card

MVP’s global star Javon “Wanna” Walton returns in preliminary card headliner; Ontario’s Amanda Galle and Naomy Valle make promotional debuts under MVP

Montreal prospects Omar Alieh and Loick Lahaie join preliminary card

Montreal native and renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani joins broadcast team

MONTREAL, CANADA – August 28, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the company’s return to Canada for Most Valuable Prospects 15, an MVP Championship Edition on Saturday, September 27 at the Theatre St-Denis in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, available globally for free on both DAZN.com and the DAZN app with no subscription required. Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition will be headlined by IBF world champion Sol Cudos (10-0-2, 3 KOs) vs. MVP’s newest signee, Canadian boxing star Kim Clavel (21-2, 3 KOs) in a 10-round women’s world championship fight at 105lbs for the IBF strawweight world title. The co-main event will feature MVP’s 2x Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and #1 IBF and WBA middleweight contender Tamm Thibeault (3-0, 2 KOs). Also on the main card will be Montreal’s undefeated 28-year-old Mazlum Akdeniz (21-0, 8 KOs).

Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO). Joining Walton on the preliminary card will be MVP’s recent Ontario, Canadian signee Amanda Galle (11-0-1, 1 KO), MVP’s Costa Rican rising contender Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), Montreal super welterweight prospect Omar Alieh (2-0, 2 KOs) and Sherbrooke, Quebec super lightweight prospect Loick Lahaie (2-0).

MVP will also feature a special addition to Most Valuable Prospects 15. Montreal native and renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani is set to join the broadcast team as ringside reporter on fight night, marking Helwani’s first time part of an official team calling an event in Montreal. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition are on sale now HERE.

Small in stature but giant in her achievements, Kim Clavel has established herself as one of the leading figures in women’s boxing in Canada and around the world. Born in Joliette, a city on the outskirts of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, she is recognized for her fighting spirit, resilience, and charisma that resonate far beyond the ring. Before shining as a professional, Clavel distinguished herself as an amateur, climbing to #5 in the world rankings across 85 amateur bouts and winning gold at the 2017 Continental Games. After turning pro in 2017, she earned prestigious accolades such as WBC Prospect of the Year, ESPY Award, and Time Magazine New Generation Leader. Under the guidance of Groupe Yvon Michel, Kim reached a defining milestone in 2022 by capturing the WBC world title against Yesenia Gomez, a victory witnessed by hundreds of thousands of fans. Beyond the ring, Clavel is a trained nurse who returned to the front lines during the pandemic in a long-term care facility—an act of courage and humanity that earned her the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2020 ESPY Awards. Her warm and genuine personality also led her to participate in Big Brother Célébrités – Québec, where she won over viewers and broadened her popularity with an even wider audience. With the support of her coach Danielle Bouchard and now part of the Most Valuable Promotions roster, Clavel enters the next phase of her career with a clear mission: to reclaim a world title and achieve her dream of unifying the division. She will face IBF 105lb world title holder Sol Cudos on Saturday, September 27. The Argentinian champion comes to the ring from Buenos Aires, having claimed the then-vacant IBF world title by decision in her latest bout against Maria Sol Baumstarh in April 2025. She will defend her title for the first time against Clavel.

“To headline my tenth main event, this time with MVP in an iconic venue like Théâtre St-Denis in Montréal, is an honor and a motivation like no other,” said Kim Clavel. “Being the headliner for MVP’s first event in Québec makes this moment even more special. Under the spotlight, I don’t feel pressure — I feel power. I want all of Montreal to come out and show MVP why we are the best city to host big events. Saturday, September 27th will be unforgettable. See you there.”

MVP’s standout Tamm Thibeault is currently the #1-ranked WBA, #1 IBF, #4 WBO, and #8 WBC middleweight contender. Originally from Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada, Thibeault began her boxing journey at the age of nine, inspired by seeing her father, a former CFL player, knock out an opponent during a Provincial boxing tournament. Following in his footsteps, she took up boxing at age 12 and was inspired to compete for Canada while watching the first women’s Olympic boxing competition during the 2012 London Olympics. The 28-year-old middleweight, a southpaw standing 6 feet tall, forged an outstanding amateur career. A two-time Olympian, Thibeault made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where she advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 75kg (165lb) event, matching Canada’s best-ever Olympic result in any women’s boxing event. She went undefeated until she returned to the Paris Olympics in 2024, earning gold medals at the 2022 Amateur World Championship, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the 2023 Pan Am Games. Thibeault, who speaks French, English, and Spanish, recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Concordia University in 2023, which she earned over seven years while competing. She currently lives in Sheffield, England, where she is earning a one-year Master’s degree in urban design and urban planning while training at the renowned Steel City Gym. Thibeault made her pro debut while competing under men’s rules, three-minute rounds, on the main card of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10 in December 2024, then returned to the ring in March 2025 as part of MVP’s first ever event in Canada, Most Valuable Prospects 11, where she again competed under men’s rules with three-minute rounds and won by knockout in the final second of the first round, proving again the impact of women competing with equal rules to men. Thibeault entered her third pro fight continuing to compete under equal rules over 8, three-minute rounds on the preliminary card of MVP's historic Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 all-women's card against then-#1 contender Mary Casamassa, winning by TKO to become the #1 contender with both the IBF and WBA following the bout—one of the fastest-rising world title contenders in history.

"Coming back to Montreal to fight as a professional for the very first time is an incredible moment in my career," said Tamm Thibeault. "Quebec has always been close to my heart, and stepping into the ring here as a pro is nothing less than special. I carry so much pride representing not only Team Canada but also my home province, and I want to give the fans a performance that reflects all the hard work and sacrifices that brought me here. One of my biggest wishes as a professional has always been to fight 3-minute rounds, just like I did with Team Canada. Even though this bout will be under the current 2-minute rule, I truly hope that, in the future, opportunities will open up for equality in women’s boxing. This fight is more than just a debut in Quebec, it’s a homecoming, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone who has supported me along the way.”

Also on the main card will be Mazlum Akdeniz, an undefeated southpaw boxer from Montreal, known for his technique and discipline. At only 28 years old, he holds an impressive professional record of 21-0 with 8 KOs. Before turning professional, he built a strong amateur background with 49 wins and only 4 losses. On the rise, he already holds two prestigious belts, the WBC Continental Americas Champion at super lightweight (140 lbs) and the WBC International Champion at welterweight (147 lbs). Beyond the ring, Mazz is also the owner of AK Boxing & World Fitness. His strong performances, southpaw style, and undefeated record make him one of Canada’s top boxing prospects and an athlete to watch closely on the international stage.

“MVP is returning to Canada for the second time this year, now in one of the world’s great fight cities,” said Jake Paul, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “My partner Nakisa Bidarian is Canadian and has often spoken about Montreal being one of the greatest cities in the world with its renowned arts, culture and festival scene, amazing food and the beauty of a truly bilingual city. I can’t wait for team MVP and our global fans to experience it all. This event is especially meaningful as Kim Clavel headlines a world title fight in her hometown, alongside MVP and Quebec’s own 2x Olympian and #1 contender Tamm Thibeault. With a stacked card featuring Montreal’s top prospects and MVP’s rising global talent, Saturday, September 27 at Théâtre St-Denis will mark another milestone moment for Canadian boxing and a powerful showcase of women’s boxing on an international stage, live for fans worldwide on DAZN.”

Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO). Walton signed with MVP in July 2023 as an athlete under development before making his pro debut in 2024. As the youngest-ever athlete to sign with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Walton has continued to excel as a boxer. Walton began boxing at the age of four, and at age eight became one of America’s youngest amateur prospects, becoming a multi-time Junior Regional Champion and two-time Junior Olympic national silver medalist. The Atlanta native is also a world-renowned actor who captured international attention with his debut role as the beloved drug dealer “Ashtray” in the HBO Max Emmy-winning series Euphoria starring alongside Hollywood icons Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, and has since continued to co-star in numerous other film and TV titles. He trains under his father and coach, DJ Walton.

“Being on the same card as my MVP teammates and local legends like Kim Clavel and Tamm Thibeault is awesome. I spent a lot of time in Canada over the past few years so I’m looking to make a statement in my return to the True North,” said Wanna Walton. “They’ve inspired so many young fighters in Canada, some of which I’ve worked with during my time in Vancouver, and being part of this event in Montreal just pushes me to go even harder for my return. Don’t miss it — I’m coming to make my biggest statement yet on Saturday, September 27.”

Also on the preliminary card will be MVP’s Amanda Galle. Raised in a proud Italian family in Mississauga, Ontario, she began her combat sports journey at six, earning a black belt in karate by 11 before beginning boxing and kickboxing. At 16, she scored a 28-second knockout in her boxing debut and went on to capture three Canadian national titles between 2009 and 2018, persevering through her mother’s battle with breast cancer and her own struggles with depression. Turning professional in 2019, Galle built an undefeated record while balancing her career with family, ultimately delivering the Canadian super bantamweight title to her mother’s hospital bed before her passing in 2022. Galle rebounded with a string of victories, overcoming a broken hand and capturing the IBO bantamweight world championship in December 2023, which she defended successfully in 2024.

MVP’s 20-year-old undefeated light flyweight Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), from San Jose, Costa Rica, has established herself as one of boxing’s brightest prospects. In her most recent fight in March 2025, Valle maintained her unbeaten streak and earned her first title honors, becoming the WBC Youth world champion at 108 pounds after defeating Mexican fighter Yelmi Sánchez. Outside the ring, she made history by winning the first season of popular dance show Mira Quién Baila Costa Rica on Teletica, securing 34.91% of the public vote. With her victory, she donated the $15,000 prize to the National Children’s Hospital, Fundación para el Desarrollo del Hospital Nacional de Niños. Beyond that, she is also studying aviation and recently completed her first official flight with pilot Alessandro Serrano from Aero Formación. During her preparation for the fight that earned her the WBC world title, she balanced boxing training with theoretical studies and flight simulations, demonstrating her dedication in both fields.

At 21 years old, Omar Alieh, a Quebec boxer of Lebanese heritage, is already one of Canada’s brightest prospects. An eight-time Golden Gloves champion, he holds 44 amateur wins (17 KOs) and an undefeated professional record of 2-0-0, winning both by knockout. A member of the Canadian national team, he aspires to represent his country at the Olympics and become a world champion.

Born in 2002 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, 23-year-old Loick Lahaie completed a high school sports-study boxing program and boasts a record of 77 amateur bouts (49-28) along with an undefeated professional start at 2-0-0. A Canadian national champion and six-time Quebec champion, he competed internationally with Boxing Canada and now contributes to BoxÉduc, bringing boxing’s values to young people.

Most Valuable Prospects 15 is promoted by GYM and distributed globally by DAZN. The 15th event in the series will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly, TORKLAW, and Event Tickets Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects series.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

About MVP

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize returns for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last six global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Perry match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. MVP made history again in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson streamed live globally on Netflix and shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of Paul vs. Tyson and the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA). We are building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading tech, and multi-platform distribution. DAZN believes that fans from across the globe should be able to watch, read, bet, play, share, socialise, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app.

For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com.

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Former World Champion Kim Clavel Signs With Most Valuable Promotions

Press Release: August 26, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- Former WBC light flyweight world champion and Montreal, Quebec standout Kim Clavel set to make her MVP debut in Fall 2025

MONTREAL, CANADA – August 26, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the signing of former WBC light flyweight world champion at 108lbs and one of Canada’s most decorated female boxers, Kim Clavel (21-2, 3 KOs). The Montreal resident, celebrated for her accomplishments both inside and outside the ring, will make her highly anticipated MVP debut this fall. Clavel joins MVP’s growing roster of Canadian talent, including top-ranked lightweight “Prince” Lucas Bahdi known for the most-awarded knockout of 2024, and Tamm Thibeault a two-time Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and the current #1 IBF and WBA middleweight contender.

Small in stature but giant in her achievements, Kim Clavel has established herself as one of the leading figures in women’s boxing in Canada and around the world. Born in Joliette, a city on the outskirts of Montreal, Quebec (Canada), she has inspired a wide audience through her courage and talent. Crowned WBC light flyweight world champion in 2022, she is recognized for her fighting spirit, resilience, and charisma that resonate far beyond the ring. Before shining as a professional, Clavel enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, climbing to fifth place in the world rankings across 85 amateur bouts and capturing a gold medal at the 2017 Continental Games. Turning to the professional ranks in 2017, she added the WBC Silver and NABF titles to her record while earning prestigious accolades such as WBC Prospect of the Year, ESPY Award, and Time Magazine New Generation Leader. Under the guidance of Groupe Yvon Michel, Kim reached a defining milestone in 2022 by capturing the WBC world title against Yesenia Gomez, a victory witnessed by hundreds of thousands of fans.

Beyond the ring, Kim Clavel is a trained nurse who distinguished herself during the pandemic by returning to the front lines in a long-term care facility—an act of courage and humanity that earned her the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2020 ESPY Awards. Her warm and genuine personality also led her to participate in Big Brother Célébrités – Québec, where she won over viewers and broadened her popularity with an even wider audience. With the support of her coach Danielle Bouchard and now joining the Most Valuable Promotions roster, Kim Clavel enters the next phase of her career with a clear mission: to reclaim a world title and achieve her dream of unifying the division.

“A new chapter begins with MVP: pride, motivation, and the honor of joining a team that’s redefining women’s boxing,” said Kim Clavel. “I am grateful to Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and the whole organization for their trust. I also want to thank the GYM team for helping me get to this point. We have come a long way but we still have far to go!”

“Kim Clavel is the definition of a champion, not just in the ring, but in life,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of MVP. “From stepping away from boxing at the height of her career to return to nursing during the pandemic, to earning the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY awards, Kim has shown the kind of courage, selflessness, and commitment that inspires millions. She’s also a world-class athlete, a former world champion whose talent and work ethic have made her a fan favorite in Canada. At MVP, we’re honored to welcome Kim to the family and to help her write the next chapter of her career. Attache ta tuque—because the next chapter is going to be big and we will start it with an event in Quebec soon.”

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @KKlavel or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @KimKlavel.

About MVP

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing and Telemundo Strike Multi-Fight Deal to Broadcast Live Bare Knuckle Boxing

Press Release: August 26, 2025 By BKB Bareknuckle Boxing -MIAMI, FLORIDA – BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing CEO David Tetreault announced today that the Miami-based and Hispanic-owned company has signed a multi-fight partnership with Telemundo, a division of NBCUniversal, to air the company’s live Spanish-language broadcast on the recently-launched Telemundo Deportes Ahora. The partnership kicked off this live from Denver at August 16’s BKB 44 Denver Brawl V, headlined by Mexico’s Paty Juarez successfully defending her BKB Lightweight championship in a rematch with Khortni Kamyron. The partnership announcement comes on the heels of BKB’s recent exclusive deal to broadcast live in the UK and Ireland on News UK’s talkSPORT, and months after announcing a deal with VICE to carry the [English language] shows in the US and Canada. Said BKB Chairman Mike Vazquez, “For years, BKB has grown and sustained a loyal audience of Spanishspeaking fight fans throughout the US and in Latin and South America, as evidenced by our online viewership, brand partnerships and the fans who attend our live shows. We have worked diligently to build a global product, at the heart of which is our Spanish broadcast. We have built a library of past events led by acclaimed play-by-play announcer Claudia Trejos and color commentator Benny Ricardo, along with the respected likes of Ricardo Celis and Rodolfo Roman. Now, having a massive platform like Telemundo broadcast our live events is a natural and overdue evolution of our company and the overall sport of bare knuckle boxing.” Said Tetreault, “The growth, ratings success and mainstream acceptance of bare knuckle boxing has made BKB a hot property as outlets vie for live sports to attract the coveted male 18-54-year-old demographic. Fight fans have grown weary of long, boring boxing matches and ground-centric MMA fights. BKB is built for the modern era with high-intensity matches and fast-paced action. Broadcasters and sponsors have finally begun to recognized that.” He added, “Mike and I look forward to moving the partnership forward and are excited to join the NBCUniversal team this week at their LA Upfronts.” “Telemundo Deportes Ahora was built to deliver high-energy, culturally relevant sports content for today’s digitally driven Hispanic audiences. Partnering with BKB allows us to expand that promise by offering an electrifying, fast-paced combat sport that’s capturing the attention of a new generation of fans,” said Joaquín Duro, Executive Vice President of Sports, Telemundo. “We’re excited to elevate BKB as a key content pillar on our new 24/7 FAST channel, and to continue pushing the boundaries of what sports storytelling looks like for the Latino community.” In the past two years, BKB (originally BYB) has purchased the UK-based BKB, the world’s oldest professional bare knuckle boxing company, and in doing so merged the organizations to create the largest bare knuckle boxing company in the world in terms of roster, library and distribution; ushered in ethical and legalized gambling to the sport; acquired the rights to the historic and prestigious Police Gazette Diamond Belt which now serves as the Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship; and brought live bare knuckle boxing to lineal television. For more information visit bkbbareknuckle.com and follow us on social @bkbbareknuckle. About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises leads the media industry in the production and distribution of Spanish-language content for U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. The company serves U.S. Hispanics through its national broadcast network, the cable network Universo, and digital platforms including the Telemundo app, a suite of FAST channels, and streaming services, such as Peacock, among others. The Telemundo Network offers Spanish-language entertainment, news, and sports content reaching 95% of U.S. Hispanic TV households in 210 markets through 30 owned stations and 91 affiliate stations. Telemundo also owns an independent station serving Puerto Rico. Anchored on Telemundo Studios, the network is the #1 producer of scripted Spanish-language content in the U.S., and the only network to produce original content specifically for US Hispanic audiences. Offering over 600 hours of reality TV shows a year, and top-rated live specials such as the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Miss Universe, Telemundo is considered the undisputed Home of Live TV in Hispanic media. The network is also the exclusive Spanish-language home of the world’s two most popular sporting events, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Material Courtesy of: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing Used with permission.

Monday, August 25, 2025

MVP’S YANKIEL RIVERA VS ANGELINO CORDOVA ENDS IN CONTENTIOUS MAJORITY DRAW

Press Release: August 25, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions -ORLANDO, FL – August 23, 2025 – MVP’s Puerto Rican Olympian and #1 WBA contender Yankiel “El Doctorcito” Rivera (7-0-1, 3 KOs) made his MVP debut against #2 WBA flyweight titleholder Angelino “Huracan” Cordova (19-0-2, 12 KOs) in the first-ever MVP Fight Night, live on DAZN from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The bout turned into an intense, back-and-forth battle, with Rivera scoring a fourth-round knockdown to gain early momentum. Cordova clawed his way back, though a sixth-round point deduction for a shot to the back of Rivera’s head proved costly. After 12 chaotic, action-packed rounds, the bout went to the judges’ scorecards and was ruled a majority draw (115-111 Cordova, 113-113 x2). After the fight, Rivera acknowledged Cordova’s awkward style made the bout a unique and complicated test.

MVP Fight Night, promoted by MVP in association with Boxlab Promotions, saw a star-studded crowd in attendance including Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, the most dominant two-sport athlete in combat sports history Holly Holm, bare knuckle boxer and UFC veteran Mike Perry, WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero, boxing’s youngest current world champion and current WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas, WBA light flyweight champion Sara Bailey, 4-division former world champion boxer Nonito Donaire, former world champion boxer Kim Clavel, and MVP’s Jan Paul Rivera, Jahmal Harvey, Javon “Wanna” Walton, and Alexis “Chop Chop” Chaparro.

In the co-main event, former WBA interim super welterweight champion Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (10-1, 7 KOs) faced then-#1 WBA contender and European champion Abass Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs) in his first title defense. From the opening bell, Baraou’s high guard and relentless pressure kept Tellez on the defensive, controlling the action blow-for-blow. Tellez fought back with sharp counters, but Baraou systematically broke him down, finally scoring a knockdown in the final seconds of the 12th round. Baraou secured a unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 117-110) to claim the WBA interim title at 154 lbs. After the fight, an emotional Baraou celebrated proving the strength of German boxing on a global stage, before facing off with WBO champion Xander Zayas. The thrilling showdown earned Baraou the MVP Performance of the Night bonus, presented by Caribe Royale.

Also on the main card, MVP’s newest signee, WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han (11-0, 3 KOs) successfully defended her title in her MVP debut, battling Medellin, Colombia’s Paulina Angel (7-2-2, 3 KOs) in a thrilling 10-round war at 135 lbs. Angel came forward relentlessly from the opening bell, even dropping Han in the first round, but Han stayed composed under pressure, answering with sharp combinations and high-volume counters that steadily broke through Angel’s guard. After 10 high-paced rounds, Han secured a unanimous decision victory (98-91 x3) to remain the WBA lightweight world champion. After the fight, Han praised Angel’s toughness and reiterated her desire to defend her title next against MVP’s Holly Holm, whether in El Paso, Texas, or Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On the main card, MVP’s undefeated lightweight contender “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs)—ranked #5 WBA, #6 IBF, #12 WBC, and #14 WBO, and owner of 2024’s most-awarded knockout—took on former WBA world champion Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (29-7-1, 22 KOs) in a high-stakes 12-round WBA elimination bout to determine the mandatory challenger for Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Bahdi started sharp, controlling the early rounds before the experienced Gutierrez ramped up his offense in the third, using his reach and left hook to apply pressure. Bahdi answered back, flooring Gutierrez with a massive overhand right at the end of Round 6, then punishing him with heavy shots through the late rounds. The fight went to the cards, where Bahdi won a unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 115-112), preserving his perfect record and securing his spot as Tank’s next mandatory challenger. Post-fight, Bahdi celebrated his first 12-round victory and called out Tank ahead of his Friday, November 14 clash with Jake Paul.

Opening the main card, Stockton’s combat sports icon and Real Fight Inc/Team Nate Diaz mainstay Chris Avila (6-2) squared off against Tampa’s undefeated Ariel “Golden Hulk” Perez (8-0, 4 KOs) in a 175-lb light heavyweight bout. Perez controlled the early rounds, exploiting openings in Avila’s guard with sharp uppercuts and right hooks. Avila rallied, landing heavy overhand rights while absorbing Perez’s biggest shots in a tightly contested round. But the late surge wasn’t enough, as Perez earned a unanimous decision (58-56x2, 59-55) after six rounds. Post-fight, Avila showed respect, while Perez used the moment to call out UFC veteran Nate Diaz for his next fight.

In the preliminary card headliner, MVP’s newest signee, WBA super flyweight world champion Jasmine “Animal” Artiga (14-0-1, 7 KOs), delivered a statement performance in her first title defense against Swedish-Australian challenger and WBA #1 contender Linn Sandstrom (10-4-3, 2 KOs). Tampa’s first homegrown world champion came out firing from the opening bell, overwhelming Sandstrom — the WBA Gold champion — with a relentless barrage of blistering combinations. Artiga dictated every second of the fight, dismantling Sandstrom with ease before ending the fight with a dominant TKO at 1:01 of the third round to remain undefeated and retain her title. After the fight, Artiga thanked MVP, her Tampa community, and her grandmother, and made it clear she’s coming for unification next, calling out the IBF, WBO, and WBC champions.

Also on the preliminary card, Boxlab Promotions’ #8-ranked IBF, #10 WBO, #11 WBA, and #11 WBC super lightweight contender Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) delivered a flawless, one-sided dismantling of the Dominican Republic’s Ambiorix Bautista (19-3, 11 KOs). From the opening bell, Ortiz dictated every exchange, slicing through Bautista’s defense with precision combinations and relentless pressure. The bout was never in doubt, as Ortiz finished with a TKO at 1:32 of the third round.

MVP’s 15-time U.S. national amateur champion Nat “No Love” Dove (6-0-1, 2 KOs) continued to showcase her star potential in a 6-round super flyweight bout at 115 lbs against Rio Rancho, New Mexico’s Randee Lynn Morales (5-6, 3 KOs). Dove took early command of the fight, systematically breaking down Morales until the bout was stopped at 1:50 in the fifth round, adding a TKO win to her undefeated record. After the fight, MVP’s Jake Paul and Wanna Walton joined Dove in the ring, where Paul praised her rapid progression and called her a “star on the rise.” Opening the night in a 4-round light flyweight bout, Indio, California’s Jocelyn Camarillo (5-0) defeated Argentina’s Agustina Vazquez (4-5-2) by unanimous decision (40-36, 39-37 x2).

MVP Fight Night followed MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14 as part of the first-ever MVP back-2-back weekend. The event was promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions and distributed globally by DAZN. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP. Fansly, TORKLAW, and Event Ticket Center also sponsored the event.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

About MVP

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last six global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Perry match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. MVP made history again in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson streamed live globally on Netflix and shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of Paul vs. Tyson and the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit dazngroup.com.

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

Sunday, August 24, 2025

MVP’S JAN PAUL RIVERA DELIVERS VICIOUS SIXTH-ROUND TKO TO STAY UNDEFEATED

Press Release: August 25, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- ORLANDO, FL – August 22, 2025 – MVP’s top-15 WBA and WBO contender and Puerto Rican national team star Jan Paul Rivera (13-0, 7 KOs) delivered a commanding performance in the main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14 tonight against Miami, Florida’s Daniel Bailey (15-3, 8 KOs), proving himself again as a star on the rise in the 126lb featherweight division. The bout, which aired globally for free on DAZN.com and the DAZN app, was another clinical showing for the still-undefeated Rivera, who set the tone early with a first-round knockdown, then systematically broke down Bailey over six rounds. In the final seconds of the sixth, Rivera unleashed an unstoppable barrage to score his second knockdown and force the referee’s stoppage at 2:58. Rivera’s win topped a sensational night of boxing from MVP, which saw seven knockouts across nine bouts.

Most Valuable Prospects 14 was the first event of MVP’s back-2-back weekend, to be followed by MVP Fight Night tomorrow, Saturday, August 23 in association with Boxlab Promotions at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, live on DAZN. The event brought out a star-studded crowd including Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, WBA bantamweight world champion Antonio Vargas, WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero, former Miami Marlin Nick Gordon, former world champion boxer and commentator Antonio Tarver, former world champion boxer Kim Clavel, 2024 Puerto Rican Olympian Ashleyann Lozada, and MVP’s Javon “Wanna” Walton.

In the co-main event of the night, returning fan-favorite and Orlando native Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (12-0-1, 9 KOs) lived up to his nickname and put on a show for the hometown crowd against Isabela, Puerto Rico’s Luis Martinez (9-2, 4 KOs). Marksman dominated throughout the bout, landing 57% of his power shots, inflicting heavy damage against Martinez. Marksman’s power proved overwhelming, forcing the referee to step in 19 seconds into the seventh round, declaring Marksman the winner by TKO. In his post-fight interview with Sibley Scoles, Marksman issued a bold callout to MVP’s undefeated #5-ranked WBA, #6-ranked IBF, #12-ranked WBC, and #14-ranked WBO lightweight contender with the most-awarded knockout of 2024, Lucas Bahdi, challenging him to meet in the ring after Bahdi’s upcoming main card WBA eliminator bout against Roger Gutierrez at MVP Fight Night tomorrow Saturday, August 23.

Also on the main card, MVP’s new signee, U.S. Olympian, amateur world champion, and one of boxing’s most promising young prospects, Jahmal Harvey (1-0, 1 KO) delivered in spectacular fashion in his professional debut against Peru’s Marcelo Del Aguila (5-2, 1 KO). Harvey came out firing in the first round, overwhelming Del Aguila with blistering speed and power, forcing the Peruvian fighter to retire on his stool after just one round. The first-round TKO marked a statement-making debut for the 21-year-old phenom in the super featherweight division. After the bout, MVP co-founder Jake Paul and unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano joined Harvey in the ring, praising his electrifying performance and expressing their excitement for what’s ahead for him with MVP.

In a hard-fought battle to open the main card tonight, Boxlab Promotions’ Yoelvis Gomez (9-1, 7 KOs) secured a majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 97-93) win over Haiti’s Edwine Humaine Jr. (9-2, 7 KOs) after ten intense rounds. Gomez started strong, using his southpaw stance and sharp body shots to set the tone early, while Humaine rallied in the middle rounds with clean counters and combinations. In the end, Gomez’s late-round adjustments and consistent pressure earned him the victory on two of the three judges’ scorecards, further cementing his status as one of boxing’s rising stars as he became the new WBA Continental Americas champion at 154lbs.

The action-packed preliminary card tonight saw knockout finishes across four of five bouts. In the preliminary card headliner, Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Tayre Jones (13-1, 7 KOs) faced St. Cloud, Florida’s Alex Rios (9-2, 3 KOs) in a contentious 8-round super lightweight bout at 140lbs. Rios, despite coming in as the underdog, showcased energy and precision across the bout, maintaining high pressure into the later rounds to keep Jones on his back foot before winning by unanimous decision (78-74 x3).

Also returning to the Most Valuable Prospects series, Damazion Van Houter (9-0, 6 KOs) showcased his rising potential as a heavyweight contender as he earned a ferocious KO of the 45lbs heavier Colby Madison (11-9-3, 7 KOs) at 2:48 in the first round. In a scheduled featherweight bout, Cupey Alto, Puerto Rican talent Carlos De Leon (5-0, 4 KOs) continued to showcase his potential in the featherweight division against Nicaraguan Haminton Blandon (3-2-1, 1 KO) with a second round TKO at 1:47 in the round. Also on the preliminary card, rising super welterweight prospect Sebastian Juarez (9-0, 7 KOs) defeated Forrest, Mississippi’s Louis Hernandez (11-4-1, 9 KOs) by TKO at 1:19 in the fourth round.

Opening the night, Brazil’s Pedro Da Silva Conceica (5-0, 3 KOs) delivered a highlight-reel knockout of Renny Viamonte (4-3-1, 2 KOs) at 1:59 in the second round of their welterweight bout, earning instant recognition as a potential contender for Knockout of the Year. The showing earned Conceica the MVP Performance of the Night bonus presented by Caribe Royale.

The Most Valuable Prospects series is promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions and distributed globally by DAZN. The 14th event in the series, hosted by the Caribe Royale Resort, continued the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly, TORKLAW and Event Tickets Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects series.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

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Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

Friday, August 22, 2025

Billy “Big Bosh” Quinncroft is back. Friday August 29, Perth – Thunderdome 51

Press Release: August 12, 2025 By Lewis Moss and Dragon Fire Boxing - ‘When I look back from my first pro debut to now, I feel like a totally different fighter’ State Champion Billy Quinncroft talks moving gyms and upcoming title defence

Credit: Mike O'Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing

On August 29, Metro City Night Club sees the return of Dragonfire Promotions for their third event of the year.

Early in the night, undefeated WA State Cruiserweight Champion Billy Quinncroft makes his first title defence when he steps into the ring against former training partner Will Cleggett.

When catching up with the defending Brit he stated that he was fit and ready to go, having started his camp straight after his previous outing.

“I’ve just gone straight into another camp after the last fight” Quinncroft said, “I'm feeling fit, strong and ready to defend my title.

Quinncroft won the state title in his last fight against Bilal Seidu last May. Throughout the encounter, Quinncroft showed superior technique with his footwork and use of the jab, but there were some moments where Seidu was able to catch him.

When reflecting, Quinncroft said that he was happy with his performance that night.

“I watched [the fight] back, I was definitely the more technical boxer” Quinncroft felt. “He threw some big shots, but not a lot of them hit me.

“He did catch me once in the third and again in the fifth when he caught me straight on the chin.

“But after watching it back multiple times, I was very comfortable and felt in control of the fight.”

The Englishman’s upcoming fight will be his second under the coaching of Big Rig’s gym, which has produced some of Perth’s best prospects such as Jude Grant, Joel Lewis and Jordan LaRuccia.

Throughout his time in camp, Quinncroft has admitted to being surprised at his rapid progress as a fighter.

“The training is a lot more intense and I’ve just been levelling up” Quinncroft said.

“When I look back from my pro debut to now, I feel like a totally different fighter.

“I'm excited to put in a good performance for this one and see the difference to where I'm at now after changing gyms.

“I’ve come so far in such a short time.”

Standing in his way this time is former training partner Will Cleggett. On the same card Quinncroft won the state title, Cleggett won his fight against Cameron Moffat which was said to be a title eliminator.

Having trained with him in the past, the state champion feels that he knows what to expect from his worthy opponent.

“I've sparred Will a lot and I've watched his fight back” Quinncroft said.

“Will is very technical and has a very tight guard.

“He's a bit of a counterpuncher but I should be able to manage that with my reach and distance.

“The fight will be more of a technical battle compared to my fight with Bilal [Seidu], so I'm hoping it should be a decent chess match.”

After his upcoming title encounter, Quinncroft is in no rush to get back into the ring.

“[After this fight] I'm going to have a short break” Quinncroft told.

“There's potentially talks for a fight either before or after November. If not, then I'll be ready to go again in March.”

Material Courtesy of: Lewis Moss and Dragon Fire Boxing/ Photo Courtesy of: Mike O’Hara Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

Monday, August 18, 2025

The Gamble Pays Off For Itauma, Parker Next?

In May of this year, this observer penned a column here on The Boxing Truth®️ that asked a simple, yet complex question. Is Moses Itauma the future of the Heavyweight division? A question asked in the aftermath of his second round knockout of Mike Balogun in Glasgow, Scotland where the twenty year old “Knockout Artist" moved to 12-0, with 10 Knockouts in defense of regional championships, the WBO Intercontinental and WBA International Heavyweight titles.

Although only twenty years old with a relatively short resume in the professional ranks, the fact that Itauma had already achieved success in winning regional titles, which is used not only as a theoretical measuring stick for experts to gage the potential of prospects turned contenders as potential world title hopefuls down the line, but more specifically, a caveat to elevating a fighter up the world rankings towards that goal, made the question seem appropriate. As experienced and knowledgeable as yours truly is, having spent most of my life covering Boxing and by extension combat sports, I obviously did not know at the time I wrote that column that Itauma and his promoter Hall of Famer Frank Warren were preparing to roll the dice.

Boxing by its very nature is a sport ideal for taking risks and in taking said risks, those doing so are gambling their standings and potential future positions in their division as well as the sport. The Heavyweight division, perhaps more than most, is one where risks need to be taken and done so regularly if one is serious about challenging for a world championship. In this case, Warren, who has been one of the top promoters in the sport for decades, opted to put his charge in with what was a significant step up in class in the form of former longtime number one Heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Dillian Whyte on August 16th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Such an encounter beyond the obvious angle of youth versus experience was indeed a gamble at this stage in the twenty year old Itauma’s career. Despite having previously faced former world title challenger Mariusz Wach, there was an argument to be made that Wach was not the fighter he had been when he was viewed as a top contender when Itauma fought him in July of last year in stopping him in two rounds. This, however, was a scenario where Whyte was more towards a point where he had challenged for a world title in 2022, and not more than a decade removed from challenging for world title as Wach had been.

The question for Whyte, who had only fought twice since 2022 was what he had left at this stage in his career after a seventh round stoppage of Ebenezer Tetteh in his last outing in December of last year. Although Whyte got the stoppage in that fight, it was a workmanlike performance rather than one that necessarily convinced fans and experts that Whyte was still a player in the division.

As had been the case in his fight with Mike Balogun earlier this year, Itauma was surgical in both his approach of Whyte and in his temperament in that he was not awed by Whyte’s experience or what the former world title challenger brought to the table. He simply came forward out of the southpaw stance behind a consistent jab and patiently waited for an opportunity to strike. It would not take long.

A short left hook to the head buckled the legs of Whyte and the follow-up barrage of blows led to a right hand that dropped Whyte in the first round. As he had done throughout his career in situations where he had been hurt or dropped, Whyte was very “Game" and got to his feet. He was on very unsteady legs and stumbled backwards forcing the fight to be stopped at 1:59 of round one. Despite the significant test and roll of the dice this fight appeared to be on paper, Moses Itauma passed it with flying colors.

The eleventh knockout in thirteen fights for Itauma puts him in prime position for either a world title shot as the current WBO number one Heavyweight contender or potentially a fight against former WBO Heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker, who currently holds interim championship status in the WBO’s Heavyweight ratings. While Parker is in line to face the recently recrowned Undisputed World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, the possibility exists that Usyk, who recently asked for an extension from the WBO before being mandated to face Parker, that Itauma could be moved into a fight against Parker, particularly off of the strength of this latest performance. Whether or not that indeed happens remains to be seen, but even with a limited resume, the idea of giving Moses Itauma more time to gain experience before challenging for a world title has now passed and the reality is after taking what some saw as a gamble, which clearly paid off, the only fighter that might be standing in the way of a world title shot is Joseph Parker. If Usyk is not going to be in the immediate future for Parker, why not make that fight? It is a high risk scenario for both fighters, but Boxing is a sport of risk, but also reward.

“And That's The Boxing Truth."

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Thursday, August 14, 2025

Jabs And Observations July-August 2025

The time has come once again for this observer to pull out the periodic feature here on The Boxing Truth®️ Jabs And Observations. A feature column that was originally thought up as a bi-monthly addition as an attempt by yours truly to cover even more ground than what is typically found during a standard calendar year in covering the sport of Boxing. In more recent times, however, the concept of what I refer to as J&O in referencing upcoming features on social media has been used when pauses in the usual schedule have been unwanted, but necessary.

While the month of July necessitated such a pause that was not intended by yours truly, it certainly did not mean that the sport was inactive. In fact, it was quite the opposite. When one will look back at the month that was July 2025 down the line, it will likely be summed up in two words: “Marquee Events." A description that due largely to the fourth of July holiday, the fact that it is in the middle of the summer here in the United States and for many, that means vacations and traveling, as well as other sporting events typically scheduled for this time of year, one usually does not think of the month of July as a target for Boxing’s major events. This time around, however, there were four significant events throughout the month that for their own reasons, fit the description.

Of course, arguably the biggest among those events took place on July 11th inside Madison Square Garden in New York City as future Hall of Famers and world champions Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano met for the third time with Taylor's Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world championship on the line. Back at the location of their legendary first encounter in April 2022 where they became the first women's Boxing match to main event in the main arena of Madison Square Garden, the third encounter was even more significant as it would not only serve as a main event once more, but this time, would top the first ever all-women’s Boxing card in the history of Madison Square Garden.

Seen by over six million live viewers on Netflix as the general entertainment subscription-based streaming network’s second foray into Boxing after serving as the broadcaster of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson event last November, in which the second encounter between Taylor and Serrano stole the show, the third battle between the two best female fighters of their era, like the previous two, was a closely fought and competitive fight from start to finish. Unlike the first two bouts, however, which were all-action grueling wars that some feel Taylor just barely did enough to win those fights, fight three was more of a tactical battle where each woman had periods of success in showcasing her skillset.

A fight fought at a more measured pace favored Taylor more than the grueling back and forth wars of the first two fights in that she was able to use her movement and angles to set up her offense, consistently get her punches off first, and not get into the heated exchanges that highlighted the previous bouts between the two. While perhaps disappointing to some, when two fighters face each other multiple times, not every fight is going to be exactly like the one or ones that preceded it. This is due primarily to the fighters being able to familiarize themselves with each other's styles and tendencies and make adjustments to their respective approach. In this case, though she also got the upper hand in the first two fights, Taylor was able to keep the pace slightly slower in the third bout and not get into a toe to toe battle with Serrano.

Although Serrano had periods of success throughout the third fight, this time the measured pace that was established by Taylor allowed the Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world champion to outwork her over ten rounds to earn a decision victory to retain her crown. Similar to the previous two fights, however, a split decision in the first and a unanimous one point decision in the second, fight three saw Taylor earn the nod of two official judges, while the third judge scored the fight even giving her a majority decision.

While this observer will likely revisit the Taylor-Serrano trilogy again in long-form down the line as the historic series and its significance deserves its own column, what will likely be the final encounter between the two legends before each takes their rightful place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and a well-earned retirement, Taylor-Serrano 3 is not the only topic that will be discussed in this edition of Jabs and Observations.

The very next evening on July 12th, the first of three pay-per-view events during the month of July, a doubleheader took place at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, NY broadcast by DAZN as part of an event titled simply as Ring III, which in short was the third card promoted under the Ring Magazine banner. The highlight of this card was two separate bouts in the Lightweight and Super-Middleweight divisions. In the first encounter, undefeated three-division world champion Shakur Stevenson defended his WBC World Lightweight championship against number one WBC contender William Zepeda. Despite being one of the top stars in the sport, Stevenson had somewhat unfairly gained a reputation in recent years for being a dominant, yet not necessarily the most crowd pleasing world champion. This is due largely to Stevenson's superior Boxing ability in being able to out box his opposition, often earning decision victories rather than highlight reel knockouts or putting himself at unnecessary risk.

It was because of this reputation that not much was expected by many fans and experts, including yours truly. Although William Zepeda had earned his number one ranking legitimately and deserved the opportunity, having covered several of Stevenson's fights, I felt stylistically, unless Zepeda were to catch the champion with something significant early, this would be another performance highlighted by Stevenson's combination punching, hand speed, and ability to be elusive in a likely wide victory on the scorecards.

While the champion's skillset ultimately would be the story of this fight, it would not necessarily be for the aforementioned attributes, or at least not in the form they had been showcased up to the point of this bout. In a strategy that was perhaps a response to pressure both from fans and the promoters of this event, Stevenson chose to be more engaging in the sense of being willing to stand in the line of fire, rather than using his legs to evade offense from his opponent.

From a pure entertainment standpoint, the change in approach seemed to make things more interesting for those who do not necessarily consider themselves to be Boxing purest. Despite staying in the pocket and putting himself at risk, Stevenson's ability to use upper body movement, timing, and counter punching as well as his hand speed carried the action as he outworked Zepeda to retain his world championship via a wide and convincing twelve round unanimous decision.

While more entertaining in the sense that he did not use his legs to evade offense as much as compared to previous fights, Shakur Stevenson showed why he is among the elite fighters in the world with this latest performance and did so against a dangerous opponent. As for what's next for Stevenson, it would not surprise yours truly to see him try to pursue a unification bout before the end of this year or early 2026.

The second half of this doubleheader in Queens saw former world title challenger and top Super-Middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga facing undefeated top contender Hamzah Sheeraz in a WBA world title elimination bout. After three rounds of tactical positioning where neither fighter really stood out clearly from the other while each was looking for an opening, a combination to the head highlighted by a left hook by Sheeraz sent Berlanga down hard on the canvas late in the fourth round. This would be followed by a second knockdown of Berlanga with a follow up barrage of punches in the closing seconds of the round.

At this point Berlanga showed the appearance of a fighter that was overwhelmed and knowing he had his opponent compromised, Sheeraz closed the show in the fifth round with a flurry of unanswered blows, which forced a stoppage of the fight. The victory for Hamzah Sheeraz was the type of statement-making performance that most would like to see of a contender looking for an opportunity at a world championship.

Whether or not Sheeraz gets that opportunity as now the WBA’s top contender in the Super-Middleweight division will likely be dependent on what happens when current undisputed world champion Saul “Canelo" Alvarez faces undefeated multi-division world champion Terence Crawford in September as depending on the outcome of that fight, there may be a contractual rematch clause that would obviously force Sheeraz to wait longer than would probably be the case for his opportunity. Sheeraz can say, however, that unlike Alvarez, who dropped Berlanga early in their fight in 2024, he was able to do what the champion could not do, score a knockout win over a fighter in Berlanga, who until he lost to Alvarez was considered a knockout artist in his own right. If nothing else, it provides an effective sales hook for whomever the promoter of a fight between Alvarez and Sheeraz would be, assuming of course, that the champion is able to get by Terence Crawford.

This brings us to two marquee events that took place on July 19th. First, in Wembley Stadium in London, England, the highly anticipated rematch to reunify the Heavyweight division as world champions Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois met for the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world also broadcast by DAZN.

By now the narrative of the first encounter between the two in August 2023 is well known. Dubois, then a mandatory challenger going against a then unified, but not yet undisputed champion in Usyk, landing a body shot that sent the champion down in pain on the canvas. Had it been called a knockdown, which it appeared to be, Dubois would have emerged victorious as Usyk did not appear that he would have been able to beat a ten count in order to continue. While the punch appeared to land on the beltline of Usyk, it was ruled a low blow, allowing the champion time to recover and effectively taking what appeared to be a potential knockout and a world championship away from Dubois.

As most know, Usyk was able to recover and went on to knock out Dubois in the ninth round. Following that fight Usyk went on to become undisputed champion in his first fight with Tyson Fury later that year, only to be stripped of the IBF Heavyweight world championship for having to go through a contractually mandated rematch with Fury rather than face its mandatory challenger, which was coincidentally due, which happened to be Dubois, who had worked himself back into contention and was subsequently named world champion by the IBF. While that synopsis is only a brief glimpse into the political landscape of the sport of Boxing, the controversy of the first encounter on its own was enough to warrant a rematch. The addition of reunifying the Heavyweight division and the historical significance of such an occasion of an Undisputed World Heavyweight champion being determined for the first time in British soil made it a bigger event than the storyline of whether or not Usyk had benefited from what some deemed a bad call by a referee in the first fight.

Although Dubois began this fight like a fighter on a mission in immediately pressing the action from the opening bell, he ran into Usyk’s jab and counter punches. Despite being physical and trying to use his strength, Dubois, as was the case in the first fight, had trouble adjusting to Usyk’s ability to use angles and found himself getting caught in exchanges. As has often been the case throughout Usyk’s career, he was able to make his opponent fight his fight and use that opponent's aggression against them.

The systematic approach by Usyk would culminate in the fifth round, knocking Dubois down with a right hand that seemed to land on the ear, which can affect the equilibrium. Although Dubois was able to get up, Usyk would drop him a second time, this time hard and for the count with a perfectly timed counter left hook to the jaw. Oleksandr Usyk had made a statement in emphatic fashion.

Not only did Usyk become the first fighter in Boxing history to fully unify the Heavyweight division twice, but his victory in this fight also earned him his third undisputed world championship after previously accomplishing the feat as a Cruiserweight. Simply put, when one looks up the definition of Hall of Fame Resume or All-time great, a picture of Oleksandr Usyk should be next to it.

While it would be wonderful to see the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world remain fully unified and see Usyk attempt to somehow add to his cemented legacy, the reality is, much like Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, two fighters who have carried Women's Boxing to unprecedented heights, Oleksandr Usyk having dominated the amateur ranks where he was an Olympic Gold medalist and having completely dominated both the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight divisions as a professional seemingly has nothing left to prove and this victory by unifying the Heavyweight championship of the world for a second time, something that based on past history and the politics that be in the sport, seems unlikely to happen again, it would appear this would be the ideal scenario to end his career even though it would force the Heavyweight division into a reset period as has been the case when world champions and unified champions have retired throughout the sport’s history.

When one thinks of fighters with legacies long having been cemented in history with nothing more to prove, Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao would be on that list. In August 2021, Pacquiao lost a decision to Yordenis Ugas in an attempt to regain a World Welterweight championship. A fight that Pacquiao seemed to show decline and after a long and illustrious career, the legend and Boxing’s first eight-division world champion and politician in his native Philippines, retired from the ring.

While Pacquiao would return in December 2022 in picking up a victory in an exhibition bout against martial artist DK Yoo in a bout held in Korea, many assumed Pacquiao's career as an active fighter was concluded with his defeat to Ugas. At age forty-six and one month after his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, however, Pacquiao would return to the ring on July 19th to challenge WBC World Welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

Although Boxing history is full of stories regarding legendary fighters and former world champions attempting to make a comeback after a lengthy absence from active competition, this was a case where the curiosity was squarely centered on Pacquiao and given what had happened in his last fight four years earlier, there were some who were concerned for him in getting back in the ring. It did not take long for fears to dissipate as Pacquiao showed that though he was older, he could still compete and do so effectively.

While obviously not the blistering, swarming, attacking fighter he had been in his prime, Pacquiao consistently beat the younger Barrios to the punch, frequently landing two and three punch combinations and seeming to outwork the champion, who for whatever reason chose not to press the issue when he had opportunities to gain an advantage. Whether it was a hesitancy to take a risk knowing Pacquiao’s reputation for being a precision counter puncher, or simply being awed by the event in sharing the ring with a legend of the sport, gradually it appeared that Barrios had let the fight get away from him as he opted to throw single punches rather than combinations. Though effective in spots, he did not do enough in this observer’s view to retain his championship as at the conclusion of the twelve round world championship bout, I had Pacquiao winning by a margin of nine rounds to three or 117-111 in points.

Despite the view of yours truly as well as several fellow media members and fans of a clear victory for Pacquiao, the result would be a majority draw, the second consecutive draw for Barrios in his reign as champion following a lackluster performance in his previous title defense before this outing against Pacquiao against Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson event. While that does not necessarily paint Barrios in a light that makes him considered a dominant champion after back to back close calls in fights that many felt could have gone against him, the opinion of yours truly aside that Pacquiao did enough to win this fight, the fact is Mario Barrios did retain the title via a draw.

The obvious question is what happens now? An interesting development surfaced in the days following the fight in that the WBC named Pacquiao its number one contender, which appears to set up a rematch between him and Barrios. Whether or not that happens, however, will depend on both what Pacquiao decides to do next as well as whether there will be sufficient public demand for a return encounter. It should also not be overlooked that it remains unknown as of this writing how the bout, which was promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters and broadcast on pay-per-view via digital subscription general entertainment network Prime Video did in terms of buys as those numbers have not been made public.

While one should not make assumptions based on that fact, it should also not be dismissed that the pay-per-view model has been in steady decline for years as consumers have demonstrated not only a dissatisfaction with being asked to pay the same inflated prices that led many to cut the cord of traditional cable and satellite Pay-TV service and the same pay-per-view prices, which ultimately led to networks like HBO and what is now known as Paramount+ with Showtime to exit broadcasting Boxing altogether, but also a willingness to pay for more reasonably priced subscription-based streaming options that are budget-friendly. Although this trend in consumer choice is certainly not exclusive to the PBC group of promoters or one specific network or streaming platform, it will be interesting to see what will follow as DAZN recently announced that they will soon discontinue it's selective pay-per-view approach for Boxing events and return to the subscription-based approach the streaming network implemented successfully from its entry into the United States in 2018, and now the most recent news that the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, a longtime stalwart of pay-per-view, will be leaving the model behind in favor of a seven-year $7.7 Billion broadcast deal with subscription-based digital streaming entertainment network Paramount+ to broadcast all of the promotion’s events including numbered (Previously pay-per-view) UFC events to subscribers at no additional cost while also maintaining their UFC Fight Pass combat sports digital streaming network, which houses the full UFC library plus other combat sports including Boxing. With Netflix also continuing to throw its hat in the Boxing ring not only with the recent successful Taylor-Serrano 3 card, but also preparing to serve as the global broadcaster for the upcoming Undisputed Super-Middleweight championship fight between Saul “Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford on September 13th, arguably the biggest event on the Boxing calendar in 2025 to Netflix subscribers at no additional cost, it remains to be seen what appetite, if any, remains for pay-per-view and that is certainly not exclusive to a potential rematch between Barrios and Pacquiao, but across the combat sports genre as a whole. One can only hope that hold outs like the PBC, who have relied heavily on the pay-per-view model, despite losing numerous broadcast partners along the way and continuing mounting evidence that the pay-per-view model is no longer viable or preferred by consumers, will finally adapt their strategy to a more consumer-friendly approach while also looking to different sources of revenue that can effectively achieve what is hoped for, but rarely accomplished via pay-per-view. The reality is Boxing will be much better off by such change and the sport will only grow because of it.

“And That's The Boxing Truth."

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Wednesday, August 13, 2025

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS SIGNS COSTA RICAN POUND-FOR-POUND SUPERSTAR, THREE-DIVISION CHAMPION AND WBC CHAMPION YOKASTA VALLE

Press Release: August 13, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions - Boxrec’s #5 and ESPN’s #10 pound-for-pound women’s boxer globally now joins younger sister WBC Youth champion Naomy Valle under Most Valuable Promotions banner

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA – August 12, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today welcomed pound-for-pound superstar, three-division world champion, and current WBC minimumweight champion at 105lbs Yokasta Valle (33-3, 10 KOs) as its latest elite women’s signee. Valle signed her MVP promotional contract tonight alongside Most Valuable Promotions CEO and co-founder Nakisa Bidarian at a press conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, held at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica. Valle, currently ranked Boxrec’s #5 and ESPN’s #10 pound-for-pound women’s boxer globally, was also joined by her sister, recent MVP signee and WBC Youth champion at 108lbs Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs) on stage to celebrate the signing as the company continues to advance its investment and global commitment to women’s boxing. Most Valuable Promotions now promotes 6 of the top 10 women’s pound-for-pound stars globally on Boxrec and 5 of the top 10 on ESPN.

Yokasta Valle (33-3, 10 KOs) is a world champion boxer born in Nicaragua and raised in Costa Rica. At a young age, her family made the life changing decision to move to Costa Rica in search of a better future. In the heart of San José, Yokasta developed both as a person and as an athlete, forging the values that would define her: discipline, resilience, and an unbreakable will. Growing up with limited resources and countless challenges, Yokasta learned early on that nothing is given, and everything is earned. In a sport historically dominated by men, she carved her own path and fought not only for her own dreams, but to open doors for women in boxing. Before turning professional, Yokasta had a decorated amateur career, earning two Central American championship titles. As a professional, she won her first world title in 2016 and since then, she has never looked back. She has gone on to conquer six world titles across three weight divisions (102, 105, and 108 lbs), establishing herself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, currently holding the WBC minimumweight title at 105lbs since November 2024. Her reign has been marked by consistency, dominance, and a fearless attitude, often defeating world champions in their own countries that mark her resume with international fights and global exposure. Throughout this time, Valle has also championed equal pay in women’s boxing, fighting for and achieving the same purse conditions as male boxers in similar positions.

Outside the ring, the 32-year-old is an entrepreneur, boxing promoter, and social role model. She is the first world champion in Central America to run her own promotional company, Yoka Sports & Boxing Promotions, where she creates opportunities for the next generation of fighters, especially women. She is also the face of leading brands like Vaseline, Kolbi, Grupo Mutual, Dexketo, and Chery, and is celebrated as a national sports ambassador in Costa Rica not only for her achievements, but for living a life that exemplifies hard work, consistency, and humility.

In 2023, she was recognized by the United Nations as their Costa Rica Champion for the example she set in the fight for women's rights and migrants’ rights, continuing to prove her relentless spirit both inside and beyond the ropes. On a personal level, she remains grounded and deeply connected to her family, especially her younger sister Naomy Valle, a rising professional boxer, recent signee to MVP, and aspiring pilot who continues Yokasta’s legacy in and out of the ring.

“Today marks a new chapter in my career, and I couldn’t be more excited to announce that I’m joining Most Valuable Promotions. This signing is not just a step for me—it’s a step forward for all of Latin American women’s boxing, proving that our stories, our talent, and our passion deserve to be on the biggest stages,” said Yokasta Valle. “I’ve walked a path full of sacrifices, tough training, and battles inside and outside the ring. Every punch, every victory, and every setback has prepared me for this moment. MVP has shown they believe in women and in our ability to fill arenas and break barriers, and I’m here to leave my heart in every fight. Thank you to MVP for believing in me, to my team who never let go of me, and to all my Latino people who have supported me, no matter the distance. This new stage is for you… because together, we’re going to keep making history.”

“Yokasta Valle is a trailblazer and one of the most accomplished and respected champions in boxing, and she’s just getting started,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “As a three-division champion and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, she has created generational impact and inspired young girls across Central America. Now at MVP, her story will continue to transcend geographical barriers and resonate with fans around the world. It is an honor to welcome Yokasta to MVP and to now represent both her and her sister Naomy as we continue our shared mission to elevate women’s boxing globally. The Serrano sisters set a high bar and now the Valle sisters are going to continue the legacy of sisters that reign supreme in boxing.”

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @YokaValle or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @yokavalle_oficial.

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Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

Saturday, August 9, 2025

COMBAT SPORTS VETERAN CHRIS AVILA VS. TAMPA’S UNDEFEATED ARIEL “GOLDEN HULK” PEREZ JOINS MAIN CARD OF MVP FIGHT NIGHT IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, AVAILABLE GLOBALLY ON DAZN

Press Release: August 9, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions - Chris Avila vs. Ariel Perez added to MVP Fight Night on Sat, Aug 23

ORLANDO, FL – August 8, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that combat sports icon and Team Nate Diaz mainstay Chris Avila (6-1) vs. Tampa, Florida’s undefeated Ariel “Golden Hulk” Perez (7-0, 4 KOs) will join the company’s upcoming MVP Fight Night on Saturday, August 23 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Avila vs. Perez will be a 6-round light heavyweight bout at 175lbs to open the main card of MVP Fight Night, available globally on DAZN.

The event, which will have MVP superstars Jake Paul and Amanda Serrano in attendance, will also feature 4 world and interim world championship bouts, a WBA eliminator, and WBA regional title as part of MVP’s first back-2-back weekend featuring over 20 fights. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

Real Fight Inc.’s Chris Avila (6-1), a veteran of both the UFC and Bellator, who made a transition to boxing full time in 2021, has made the walk for 21 professional fights and has never been stopped or hurt during his time in the cage and ring. Avila is a staple at the iconic Nick Diaz Academy and Real Fight Inc. in Stockton, CA and a regular training partner of Nate Diaz. After making the full time transition to boxing, Avila beat Anthony Taylor in a super middleweight boxing match in December 2021 and boasted clean sweeps against “Dr. Mike” Varshavski in October 2022 and Paul Bamba in April 2023. He was in the feature bout on Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz in August 2023, where he swept Jeremy Stephens, winning by unanimous decision. He followed that up with wins over former UFC lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis in Anaheim and Jake Bostwick in Nashville. Now the 32-year-old Avila returns to the ring to face local favorite and rising light heavyweight prospect Ariel Perez.

“I’m here to fight on Saturday, August 23,” said Chris Avila. “I’m coming to win, get the job done and beat this dude’s ass.”

Tampa’s undefeated Ariel “Golden Hulk” Perez (7-0, 4 KOs) will make his fourth Most Valuable Promotions appearance on Saturday, August 23, facing his biggest test to date in Avila. The 33-year-old rising prospect first appeared on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 6 in April 2024, soundly defeating Steven Motley by fourth round TKO. Following the performance, Perez returned to face Dane Guerrero on the preliminary card of MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry at Amalie Arena in July 2024, securing another big win by third-round knockout. He most recently earned his latest UD win over Mario Bedolla Orozco on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 12 in May 2025.

“Avila is a guy who likes to do the talking, but we just show up and go to work,” said Ariel Perez. “We do our talking in the ring. He’s tough and it’s going to be a hell of a fight, but WE HIT DIFFERENT.”

“The addition of Chris Avila vs. Ariel ‘Golden Hulk’ Perez further elevates an already stacked MVP Fight Night card,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Both fighters have delivered on the MVP stage before, and now face off in what promises to be a statement bout—with Avila representing the notoriety of Team Diaz, and Perez looking to rise to the occasion in front of his home state. With Team Diaz in the building, the energy in Orlando will be on another level. Saturday, August 23 marks MVP’s biggest non-Jake and Amanda event to date, featuring four WBA world and interim world title bouts, a WBA eliminator, and much more—all live globally on DAZN as part of our first MVP back-2-back weekend.”

MVP Fight Night will be headlined by MVP’s Puerto Rican Olympian and #1 WBA contender Yankiel Rivera (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. Angelino “Huracan” Cordova (19-0-1, 12 KOs) in a 12-round bout at 112 lbs for the WBA interim flyweight world title. The co-main event will feature WBA interim world champion Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (10-0, 7 KOs) vs. #1 WBA contender and European super welterweight champion Abass Baraou (16-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round WBA interim super welterweight world title fight at 154 lbs. Also on the main card, MVP’s new signee, WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han (10-0, 3 KOs), will defend her title in a 10-round women’s championship bout at 135lbs against 24-year-old Paulina Angel (7-1-2, 3 KOs), MVP’s undefeated #5-ranked WBA, #6-ranked IBF, #12-ranked WBC, and #14-ranked WBO lightweight contender with the most-awarded knockout of 2024, Canadian “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (19-0, 15 KOs) will face former WBA world champion Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (29-6-1, 22 KOs) in a 12-round WBA elimination lightweight bout at 135 lbs, the winner to become the mandatory challenger to WBA lightweight world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Rounding out the card will be a 10-round super lightweight bout at 140lbs between Puerto Rican standout Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (19-2-1, 9 KOs) vs. Calgary, Alberta, Canada’s powerhouse Steve “The Dragon” Claggett (39-8-2, 27 KOs) for the WBA Continental USA title.

Most Valuable Prospects 14 on Friday, August 22, will precede the Saturday, August 23, MVP Fight Night as part of MVP’s first back-2-back weekend. Most Valuable Prospects 14 will be headlined by a 10-round featherweight bout at 126lbs between MVP’s top-15 WBA and WBO contender, Puerto Rican Puerto Rican National Team star Jan Paul Rivera (12-0, 6 KOs) vs. Miami, Florida’s Daniel Bailey (15-2, 8 KOs). Most Valuable Prospects 14 will be available globally for free on both DAZN.com and the DAZN app with no subscription required. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 14 are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

MVP Fight Night is produced and marketed by MVP, promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions, and distributed globally by DAZN. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP. Fansly, TORKLAW, and Event Ticket Center will also sponsor the event.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

About MVP

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Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

Friday, August 1, 2025

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS SIGNS ENGLAND’S THREE-DIVISION CHAMPION AND CURRENT WBO LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION TERRI HARPER

Press Release: August 1, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions - MVP signs Terri Harper, England's 3-Division champ and current WBO lightweight world champion

Britain’s first-ever three-division female world champion Harper joins MVP’s growing roster of elite UK talent alongside Ellie Scotney, Chantelle Cameron, Savannah Marshall, Ramla Ali, and Shannon Courtenay

NEW YORK, NY – July 31, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that England’s first-ever three-division female world champion and current WBO lightweight world champion Terri “Belter” Harper (16-2-2, 6 KOs) is the latest elite boxer to join MVP’s decorated roster of current and former champions and all-star prospects. Earlier this week, the company also announced the signings of unified Australia’s 160lb unified world champion Desley Robinson, Tampa, Florida’s 115lb WBA world champion Jasmine Artiga, Mexico’s former 108lb unified world champion Yesica Nery Plata, England’s former 118lb WBA world champion Shannon Courtenay, and 19x US amateur national champion Sa’Rai Brown-El.

WBO lightweight world champion Terri “Belter” Harper fights out of Doncaster, England. During her brief career at the amateur level, competing only 17 times, she earned three national titles and won silver at the 2012 European Junior Championships. Harper went on to make her professional debut in 2017 at age 21. Less than two years later in July 2019, she found her first world title opportunity in the super featherweight division at 130lbs, defeating Nozipho Bell by TKO to earn the previously vacant IBO world title. Following a successful first defense, Harper quickly unified her titles against then-WBC champion Eva Wahlstrom in February 2020, winning by unanimous decision. She successfully defended her unified titles twice more before facing a challenging loss to Alycia Baumgardner in November 2021. An unshaken Harper returned to the ring just four months later to earn her next win before moving up four divisions to 154lbs to challenge Hannah Rankin for the WBA and IBO super welterweight world titles, winning by UD. After contesting for the WBO world title at 154lbs, Harper moved down to 135lbs in September 2024, defeating Rhiannon Dixon to capture the WBO lightweight world title. With the win, she became Britain's first-ever three-division women’s world champion. Harper made her first title defense at 135lbs in May 2025, besting Natalie Zimmermann by unanimous decision. The 28-year-old is currently ranked as ESPN’s #2 lightweight in the world.

“I am excited to join the movement of women’s boxing at MVP,” said Terri Harper. “Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul are doing great things for the sport of boxing and for women in particular. I’m looking forward to some big nights and big fights ahead. Let’s go!”

“Terri has proven herself as a world champion across three weight classes, cementing her status as both a highly-versatile pound-for-pound athlete and one of the most respected names in British boxing,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “The UK is a top priority for MVP, and Terri’s pedigree and power are a perfect fit for our growing international platform. With her addition alongside Ellie Scotney, Chantelle Cameron, Savannah Marshall, Ramla Ali, and Shannon Courtenay, we’re assembling a powerhouse roster of British talent that will command global attention and deliver some of the biggest fights in women’s boxing.”

MVP’s latest wave of commitments to women’s boxing follows MVP’s historic Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 on Netflix, the first all-women’s card in Madison Square Garden history. The card showcased five undisputed and unified women’s world championship fights, earning a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 17 world titles from the four major boxing sanctioning bodies across the bouts. The main event garnered nearly 6 million global viewers, with an AMA audience of over 4.2 million in the US (Live +1), making it the most-watched professional women’s sports event of 2025. A sold-out crowd of 19,721 people were in attendance, generating a $2.63M gate at Madison Square Garden, the highest gate ever for a women’s boxing card and the highest gate for a female sporting event in MSG history. The event also garnered record paydays, making Serrano the highest-paid women’s athlete in history for a single event.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions, @JakePaul, and @TerriHarper96 or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions, @JakePaul, and @terri_harper96.

About MVP

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

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