Paul’s MVP launches women’s ‘league’ with Serrano & DuboisImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Seven-division champion Amanda Serrano (right) has been the marquee name for Jake Paul’s MVP outfit Published1 hour agoSuper-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will defend her WBO, WBA and IBF titles against Bo Mi Re Shin on 17 April in New York as part of MVPW, a newly launched women’s boxing league from Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).The league features MVP’s 43 signed fighters, including multiple world champions and top contenders, and represents a major investment in female boxing by the Jake Paul-owned promotions company.The MVPW events are also part of a new broadcast deal with ESPN in the United States, and a separate partnership with Sky Sports in the UK.”Over the past five years, we have invested heavily in female athletes, delivered historic and record-breaking events, and proven that these athletes belong on the biggest stages in the sport,” stated Nakisa Bidarian and Paul, co-founders of MVP.The series kicks off with MVPW1 on 5 April in London, headlined by a lightweight unification bout between Britons Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper.Although MVPW signals a major expansion for women’s boxing, it remains unclear how the league will operate. MVP’s original press release described the MVPW series as a “new global platform”, but it was later referred to as a league on the promotion’s social media channels. It’s about our athletes, not sanctioning bodies – BidarianImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Nakisa Bidarian was joined by some of MVP’s female champions and contenders at a news conference in New YorkIt is unlikely to be a closed system like UFC-style leagues, where fighters are restricted to competing only within one organisation.Seven-division champion Amanda Serrano, MVP’s marquee name, joined some of the fighters on stage at a news conference on Friday. When asked if MVPW could introduce its own belt in the future, Bidarian stated he wanted to give fans the “best possible match-ups” and work alongside the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF.”We’re interested in having as many world champions as possible being a part of the MVPW brand,” he stated.”Ultimately it’s not really about sanctioning bodies, it’s about our athletes. We respect the sanctioning bodies and their process, but they need to evolve as well to allow for consistent matchmaking that is logical in terms of growing the brand and fanbase.”MVPW3 will take place on 30 May in El Paso, Texas, with WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han facing Holly Holm in a rematch following a technical decision in their January meeting.MVP are looking to capitalise on proposed changes, external to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.
UFC-style leagues have been banned in boxing because of concerns over promoters controlling sanctioning, rankings, belts and fighter management.
Proposed amendments would allow league-style formats while claiming to maintain protections for fighters – a move initiated by Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
