Boxing’s Game Changers Set to Make Their UK Debut
Self-proclaimed “disruptors” of the boxing world, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), headed by Jake Paul, are making their way to the UK. This Sunday, they will host their inaugural event in London, showcasing the largest roster of female boxers globally. The event will be aired on Sky Sports at 7 p.m. GMT and on the ESPN App in the U.S. at 12 p.m. ET.
MVP is pulling out all the stops for this show. It will feature two world title bouts at the top of the card: Caroline Dubois facing Terri Harper for the unified lightweight titles and Ellie Scotney battling Mayelli Flores for the undisputed junior featherweight title.
Over the past five years, Paul and his business partner Nakisa Bidarian have made significant strides in elevating women’s boxing, signing several top athletes, including multiple world champions. Their efforts also extend into the MMA realm, promoting a Netflix card headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, with Francis Ngannou in the co-main event on May 16. Paul himself has drawn millions of viewers during his fights against high-profile opponents like Tommy Fury and Mike Tyson.
Women’s boxing has always been the cornerstone of MVP’s endeavors since they identified an opportunity in the market. Instead of taking a cautious approach, Paul and Bidarian launched headfirst into promoting female fighters. Their first signing was Amanda Serrano, a seven-weight world champion, marking the beginning of their ambitious journey.
Bidarian reflects on their trajectory, mentioning the skepticism they faced when Serrano featured in Jake Paul’s first pay-per-view event in 2021. Since then, they have stacked undercards with female fighters, sharing their journeys across major platforms. They aim to produce more all-female fight cards internationally, with Alycia Baumgardner defending her unified junior lightweight titles in New York on April 17.
Having witnessed the potential of women in combat sports during his time with the UFC, Bidarian is passionately committed to women’s boxing. He and Paul share a vision of providing opportunities for young athletes while placing women’s boxing at the forefront of their efforts. While other promoters may overlook this segment, MVP sees its immense potential and is determined to capitalize on it.
Looking ahead, Bidarian envisions building a powerful brand that consistently features top-level female fighters, setting the stage for championship-level bouts to become the norm. He emphasizes that reaching this goal may take years, but the commitment to strengthening women’s boxing remains unwavering.
