Weekend Of Former World Champions Thoughts

The weekend of July 25, 2026 had one consistent theme. Whether it was by design, or coincidence, the theme was one where former world champions shared the spotlight of the sport with the consistent premise of several of these fighters looking to return to competition after time away from the sport and one fighter taking the next step in his own comeback, which began earlier this year. 

Unfortunately for this observer and the reader, my thoughts on that fighter, former two-time World Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who returned to action for the second time in his latest comeback against former world title challenger Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand on July 24th, will be limited to little more than a brief mention by yours truly because the bout took place under circumstances in 2026 that are rare for a fighter of Fury’s stature in the sport. In that there was no broadcast coverage of the bout on television or streaming and thus, unless you were fortunate to attend the event in person, not much is known as far as to what occurred during the fight. This observer, however, can report thanks to limited coverage that has emerged that Fury did emerge victorious via seventh round stoppage when the forty-six year old Wach, a fighter who had gone 2-4 in his last six fights and is not the same fighter he was many years ago when he was a top contender and challenged for a world title, retired on his stool after the seventh round. 

While the decision by the braintrusts behind this event to have what amounts to a blackout and limited coverage of it, is something some will question, the fact is, Fury was able to pick up his second victory in a little more than three months since returning to the ring following  a near two year hiatus.

It was also on July 24th, however, that another world champion took his first step in a comeback of his own after nearly three years out of action, which aligned with two other bouts in terms of former champions attempting comebacks that will also be discussed in this column on July 25th. Yours truly, is referring to former two-division world champion Demetrius Andrade, who returned for the first time since his loss in  November 2023 to David Benavidez, to face veteran  Douglas Ataide at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Although this observer was prepared for a long fight based on Andrade’s style that would have required more analysis, he simply did not waste time in knocking Ataide out with a brutal combination to the head that sent him down without a count from Referee Rick Gonzalez.

If one were to draw up an ideal scenario for a fighter attempting a comeback after a lengthy absence, you can not draw it much better than a first round knockout in terms of generating buzz. While Andrade, who picked up his thirty-third victory and his twentieth knockout in this fight, is not known for having this kind of punching power, he did succeed in getting people’s attention and perhaps this will lead to him fighting at least once more before the end of the year as he looks to continue building momentum.

Now we come to the stage of this writing where two fights that were originally going to be the central focus of this column took place on July 25th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Sydney, Australia respectively, each featuring fighters beginning comebacks. First up would be former two-time World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who returned for the first time since a tragic car accident in the weeks following his knockout win over Jake Paul last December to face “Knockout Artist" Kristian Prenga at the Jeddah, Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In Joshua's case, his comeback attempt differs from the others that have been and will be discussed in this column as he had been active as recently as last December and was competing consistently before his knockout of Jake Paul. Where his comeback differs is Joshua was competing for the first time since surviving a fatal car accident that he lost two close friends and members of his team in Nigeria. While Joshua suffered what has been described as minor injuries, his survival should be viewed as a miracle. The impact on him and the losses he suffered in the tragic accident makes this comeback different for him. 

Given those circumstances, the obvious question that surrounded this fight was what version of Joshua would show up in the ring. Although Kristian Prenga had scored knockouts in all twenty of his wins as a professional fighter, there were some who felt this was a soft touch for Joshua given Prenga’s limited level of competition. A point of view that nearly proved to be a major miscalculation as Premga dropped Joshua almost immediately after the bout began with a short right uppercut to the head. Joshua was able to get up on unsteady legs and was largely manhandled by Prenga for the majority of the rest of the first round including being roughed up in close before being shoved down to the canvas. This would be followed by Prenga being credited with a second knockdown before the round was over as Joshua's gloves touched the canvas after being hit with a short punch.

At the conclusion of the first round, I thought that at minimum Joshua coming back in a relatively short time following the accident may have been a costly decision. While obviously not wanting to jump to conclusions as yours truly was not and is not on the inside and knows no further information than what had been made public, at worst, I felt that perhaps the impacts of what Joshua had been through may have compromised him in some way. It also appeared that he did not look as though he was warmed up and beyond the circumstances that surrounded this fight, the possibility that he was caught cold was also something to take into consideration beyond what Prenga had brought into the ring. 

Round two would prove to be as dramatic. Joshua was able to slow the pace slightly, throwing right hands behind a consistent jab, which he was unable to do in the first round. This led to him gradually being able to back Prengan up and it would be late in the second round where Joshua would land a combination highlighted by a right hand to the head that sent Prenga down hard in his own corner. Although Prenga showed heart by trying to beat the count, he was unable to get up before the count of ten and Joshua had scored a dramatic, come from behind knockout.

While Joshua did what he had to do here, it should be cause for at least pause, if not concern. It is common knowledge that even before this fight and Tyson Fury’s bout against Mariusz Wach, it had been announced that the two former world champions, who have circled each other for years, had signed a contract to meet later this year in a bout to be streamed on digital subscription general entertainment network Netflix and had been advertised prior to both bouts.

It is a practice that though far from new in the sport of Boxing with regard to star fighters signing contacts to face each other, that interim bouts would be scheduled on or around the same dates featuring those fighters in separate fights, and is used as means of promotion for the eventual fight between the two, it does obviously come with risks and in this case, it nearly proved to be a bust for all involved. Perhaps some evaluation is needed and Joshua should take some time to make sure he is fully healed physically and mentally before that fight should be scheduled. 

This brings us to the final fight that took place on July 25th that pitted two former world champions against each other in a crossroads battle in Sydney, Australia in the 160lb. Middleweight division. Yours truly is referring to the encounter between former unified World Welterweight champion Errol Spence and former WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Tim Tszyu, which took place at the Afterpay Arena.

If one were to take the particulars of this encounter out of the equation briefly, they would see what amounted to a classic scenario of a boxer/puncher in Spence going against a power punching pressure fighter in Tszyu. The context in which this fight took place, however, is something that cannot be ignored. This was the first fight for Spence in over three years following his being stopped by Terrence Crawford in a bout that fully unified the 147lb. Welterweight division. The beating he sustained in that fight, along with medical issues outside the ring was a central story of this fight. It can also not be dismissed that this was an encounter originally contracted to take place at a 158lb. Catchweight, but was changed to be at the official 160lb. Middleweight limit at the request of Spence, which fueled speculation among at least some that he may have been struggling to make the agreed upon contracted weight. Longtime readers know that this observer is not a fan of the concept of catchweights for several reasons including, but not limited to it seems to serve as a disadvantage to either a fighter moving up in weight or a fighter moving down to make the theoretical “Catchweight” fight occur. More often than not, however, it amounts to semantics. In this case, this fight would have always been classified as a Middleweight bout due to it being above the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight limit and below the 160lb. Middleweight limit. The issue of allowing one fighter two extra pounds to come in right at the given limit for a weight class amounts to nothing more than a technicality and would not play any meaningful role in how the fight was fought. 

In terms of how the fight was fought, the first six rounds seemed to be a trade off in that the two fighters traded rounds. One round would appear to be dictated by Spence’s combination and volume punching, where the next round would be highlighted by Tszyu’s heavier power punches. While this set up a close fight through the first six rounds of the scheduled twelve round bout, what was noticeable not only during the first half of the contest, but increasingly became more evident as the fight progressed was Tszyu’s heavier punches and ability to consistently knock Spence off balance and hurt him. What also stood out to yours truly was Spence’s legs at no point during this fight appeared to be steady and as the fight progressed even though he showed a lot of heart and mettle by taking hard, thudding blows, it seemed like in some respects, whether it be because of his inactivity or because of age being thirty-six years old, his punch resistance was not what it appeared to be prior to his encounter with Terence Crawford three years ago. Despite this, he was able to stay on his feet even though as the fight progressed, the look of a lopsided contest where one fighter was taking a gradual beating became increasingly clear. 

To his credit, however, Spence showed a lot of heart and was able to make it to the final bell where Tszyu would be declared the winner by twelve round unanimous decision. Immediately following the fight in a post-fight interview with Australia’s Main Event broadcast, which served as the global broadcaster for this fight, Spence acknowledged that he had given his best and when asked if he intended to continue his career, he said he wanted to talk with his family and start a new life outside of Boxing. 

Although some may contend that a fighter announcing his retirement in the ring immediately after a fight, particularly one that they lost may be dismissed as an emotional reaction in the immediate aftermath of a fight, there are times when a fighter realizes. whether they acknowledge it publicly or not, that they are not the fighter they once were and a universal truth that seems to be the case in virtually all combat sports where a fighter breaks down or ages at different times and one fighter’s journey will not be identical to another’s. Errol Spence has always represented his sport well and will go down in history as a likely Hall of Famer and one of the best Welterweights during his time in the sport. If this is the end for him as a fighter, he can hold his head high and know that he went out in his last fight like the champion he has been through most of his career.

As for Tim Tszyu, the victory over Spence, his third as a Middleweight will likely raise his stock as he looks to move himself into contention towards another opportunity to fight for a world title. The goal moving forward for him should be to try and move himself into a spot where a potential title fight in late 2027 or early 2028 might be a possibility if he continues to win. If he can stay active and depending on who he is matched up with, will likely determine how quick he might be able to move himself into position for that challenge. What Tszyu does have working in his favor is he does have name recognition and has proven to be a significant draw in his native Australia to such a degree where he may be able to dictate that fights occur in the land down under and can be in that position even as a potential challenger for a world title based on his ability to sell out arenas and stadiums regardless of who he fights. While continuing to be as active as possible and winning are crucial factors, so too is the ability to draw crowds and the business of the sport of Boxing, for better or worse, also plays a role in dictating how quickly a fighter gets an opportunity to fight for a world title and more specifically, how often those opportunities are given. The combination of name recognition value as well as being a proven draw may give Tszyu the ammunition he needs to accelerate towards a title shot quicker than some of the other contenders in the Middleweight division. Continuing to be active and perform well will make the argument for him to get the shot even stronger.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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DAZN Ultimate Put To It's First Big Test On July 25th Event Doubleheader

On July 25th the Boxing world will focus on Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Sydney, Australia respectively for two pay-per-view offerings that will also serve as the first significant selling point for digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN as both events will be available as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription. The first of the two events, which will be held in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will feature the return of former two-time World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua as he returns to the ring for the first time since scoring a knockout of Jake Paul in December of last year as he will face Heavyweight contender Kristian Prenga in a fight scheduled for twelve rounds. 

Although Joshua frankly did what most knowledgeable Boxing insiders including those who cover the sport, like yours truly, expected in knocking out the novice boxer/promoter Paul in six rounds, Joshua’s returns comes following surviving a horrible car accident in the weeks following the fight where he lost two of his close friends. Frankly, after enduring both a tragic accident, the injuries that came with it, and the loss of two friends, it would be understandable if Joshua either chose to remain out of the ring for an extended period or if he chose to not resume his career. In some ways, this fight against a “Knockout Artist” in Prenga comes on a similar timeline as most marquee stars, as Joshua is, compete in the sport, once or twice a year.

The obvious question here not only is what condition Joshua will be in considering what he has been through, but also what Prenga will bring to the table in what could be a dangerous fight for the former world champion, who still has the goal of trying to regain a World Heavyweight championship. Kristian Prenga  will come into this encounter with a record of 20-1, with all 20 wins coming via knockout. The Albanian-born New Jersey-based Prenga has only suffered one defeat in his career when he dropped a six round decision to a  fighter named Giovanni Auriemma in October 2016. Although it was only Prenga’s third professional fight and came against a fighter who ended his career with a 2-6–2 record, Prenga has remained unbeaten in the years since. Despite all of his victories coming via knockout, he has not fought a fighter considered to be a household name. This is likely viewed as a red flag in the eyes of some  because even though Prenga has built an impressive record in terms of numbers and has never been stopped in his career, he has fought a lower caliber of opposition as compared to the former world champion Joshua. 

What could work to Prenga’s advantage, however, is Joshua has been knocked out before and has been susceptible to getting caught even in fights he has won in the past. Although it may not be expected by some, the accumulation of years competing at or near the top level of the sport for most of his career, the punishment sustained both in fights he’s lost as well as those he’s won, and the fact that Joshua is thirty-six years old, in addition to now attempting a comeback from a tragic accident are all things that need to be considered here. Boxing is after all a sport of opportunity and, despite being at a disadvantage in terms of both overall experience and skillset, sometimes all a fighter needs is an opportunity and it is indisputable that this is the biggest fight in Prenga’s career. If he should pull of an upset here, it should put him on a short list of potential world title challengers.

The second main event that will take place on July 25th brings us to Sydney, Australia where two former world champions will meet in a crossroads bout as former unified Welterweight world champion Errol Spence will return to the ring for the first time in three years to face hometown favorite and former WBO World Jr. Middleweight champion Tim Tszyu in a scheduled twelve round Middleweight bout, which can also be seen either as a standalone pay-per-view offering or included as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription. 

This fight, which will headline a card, the first official card for the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters under their new worldwide broadcast deal with DAZN. What this fight is in more specific context is an encounter between two former world champions, each trying to reestablish themselves in the sport. For Errol Spence, who has not fought since being stopped by Terence Crawford in 2023 in a fight to fully unify the 147lb. Welterweight division at that time, the central issue that surrounds him will be both inactivity as well as what the condition of his eyes will be after spending the last several years dealing with vision problems. In the other corner will stand Tim Tszyu, the former Jr. Middleweight world champion, who while more active over the period of time in which Spence has been inactive, has also suffered some setbacks over that time, which has affected his standing in the sport including two losses to Sebastian Fundora and one loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev. The loss to Murtazaliev and the second loss to Fundora, were via stoppage and it has prompted some to question what Tszyu has left himself.

The 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division has suddenly become a commodity with Jaron Ennis recently becoming a unified world champion in the division having recently stopped previously unbeaten WBO world champion Xander Zayas to unify the WBO and vacant WBA crowns. It is logical to assume that the end goal for both Spence and Tszyu here will be to try to get into the discussion of potential challengers for Ennis. While this fight is not at the highest level the division has to offer, it is still an encounter between two of the recent stars in the sport that are trying to get back into position to challenge for another world title. 

Given the length of time Spence has been inactive and the fact that this bout, which was originally supposed to occur at a contracted weight of 158lbs., a technicality given that it is two pounds under the 160lb. Middleweight limit, it is logical to expect that Tszyu will attempt to test Spence early on in this fight. The danger for Tszyu is he has been caught before when being overly aggressive and at his best, Errol Spence was a fighter with a good mix of punching power and hand speed, Tszyu should pursue with caution if he is able to have success early. On the flip side of the equation, Spence should look to try and get a few rounds under his belt. What is known as “Ring Rust” is a very real thing for a fighter and it is unrealistic to expect that Spence will not have at least a little rust given his inactivity and the medical issues he has dealt with outside of the ring in his first return to competition in three years.

Both fights that will be showcased here on July 25th have a similar theme. Joshua is looking to get back into the Heavyweight title picture and both Spence and Tszyu are looking to get back into the world title picture as well in either the Jr. Middleweight or Middleweight divisions. Although the theme of both fights are similar in scope, some may argue that Spence and Tszyu are in a scenario where it might be win or go home. This observer will stay clear of such debates, but it does not lessen the intrigue of frankly both fights. What might follow including a planned fight for Joshua with former two-time World Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury aimed for later this year, remains to be seen.

In terms of the business side of the sport these two bouts headlining separate cards, each available either as standalone pay-per-view offerings at $60 and $80 respectively, this either as an unintended coincidence or by design will spotlight the strategy by DAZN as a subscription-based network’s new tiered approach as events like these two are offered under a DAZN Ultimate subscription, which at $44.99 per month does offer value as compared to paying just shy of $140 for these two bouts as standalone options. 

While such a subscription model is clearly aimed at the combat sports enthusiast and was no doubt implemented in response to both criticism of using the pay-per-view model as well as what were likely numbers that showed it was not a winning strategy both for the network and for promoters who insisted on using it, this observer will repeat a point he has made numerous times. It will come down to both matchmaking and which fights are aimed for an ultimate subscription as opposed to a base subscription that DAZN initially launched with in 2018. Clearly, pay-per-view on its own due to both overpricing and the frequency that it has been used has not worked for Boxing in some time, it needed to change and July 25, 2026 is the first day on the Boxing calendar since the introduction of the Ultimate tier subscription for DAZN where the value of this approach will be displayed. With more events coming through the remainder of 2026 and beyond, hopefully, both for the sport as well as its promoters who are largely congregated under one broadcast platform now, it will prove to be a winner both in its implementation as well as providing a reasonably priced alternative for consumers, and for the network, both growing and maintaining their subscriber base without much of the churn that subscription models are often submitted to.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Joshua vs. Prenga takes place on Saturday, July 25th at the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The card is available either as a standalone pay-per-view offering for $59.99 or as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription for $44.99 per month. The broadcast will begin at 9AM ET/6AM PT.

Spence vs. Tszyu takes place on Saturday, July 25th at the Afterpay Arena in Sydney, Australia. The card is available as a standalone pay-per-view offering for $79.99 or as part of a DAZN Ultimate subscription for $44.99 per month. The broadcast will begin at 9PM ET/6PM PT.

(*North American Start Times Only.*)

(*Cards and Start Times Subject to Change.*

*Both Events Available Worldwide.*

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times and region specific pricing in your area, to order these events separately or to subscribe or upgrade to a DAZN Ultimate subscription please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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Fury Works Off Rust

April 11, 2026 marked the beginning of a new chapter for former two-time World Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Following another in a series of sabbaticals away from the sport of Boxing, this one following suffering his only two career defeats in consecutive fights to Oleksandr Usyk, this chapter at the age of thirty-seven was the start of a comeback. Fury’s opponent for his first fight in nearly two years was contender Arslanbek Makhmudov in London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

 Makhmudov, a veteran of twenty-three professional fights coming into this encounter, had the size and punching power that on paper appeared as though he may have been able to pose a legitimate challenge to Fury, and was not a soft touch for a “Comeback Fight.” Initially, Makhmudov seemed as though he would provide just that by frequently and aggressively pushing Fury back against the ropes and frailing wide, looping punches. Although it needs to be pointed out that Tyson Fury has not been known as a traditionally fast starter in fights, at minimum, it seemed like he would have trouble finding a rhythm, primarily due to Makhmudov’s aggression.

From the second round, however, Fury, showing his skillset and ability to make adjustments, took control of the fight. While the contest often resembled a grappling match due to Fury frequently tying up Makhmudov on the inside and frequent jockeying for position between the two massive Heavyweights who weighed a combined 533lbs. While often ugly and not the most entertaining fight to watch, particularly for the over 50,000 spectators in attendance, gradually as Fury took over the tempo of the combat, he would showcase his hand speed and frequently caught Makhmudov with combinations as he came forward. This would be the pattern for the majority of the scheduled twelve round bout. Makhmudov continued to press forward, but was unable to land anything significant to change the tempo or hurt Fury.

While as the fight progressed it seemed like Fury could have pressed the issue any time he wanted and possibly could have gotten a stoppage of an opponent in Makhmudov, who was exhausted by the middle and late rounds, the former world champion opted to use the majority of the rounds to work off the “Ring Rust” on his way to winning a wide twelve round unanimous decision.

Put simply, there is not much analysis one could offer beyond saying that Fury took a round to find his footing after a long layoff, and put forth a workmanlike performance in a lopsided, and at times, ugly outing. What stood out to this observer, however, was a more serious approach by Fury as this fight just saw a fighter going about his business and did not feature some of the showboating tactics that he has been known for throughout his career. Perhaps this chapter of Fury’s career will be highlighted by a more serious approach as he continues his career with an aim towards trying to secure an opportunity to become a three-time World Heavyweight champion.

As refreshing as it was to see a fighter in Fury adopt a more serious temperament as he does not need showboating tactics and never did, there was the moment after the fight where Fury joined in the ring by H.E. Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, the man who has been primarily responsible for a significant majority of major fights having taken place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the recent history of the sport and the owner of Ring Magazine, called out former two-time World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn, who were seated at ringside for a fight perhaps later this year in London. 

A fight between Fury and Joshua has been one of many potential fights throughout the history of Boxing that at times has been in negotiations on and off, particularly during the period where the two British Heavyweights were the two world champions in the division, which would have been perhaps the biggest Heavyweight fight to be held in England in Boxing history, perhaps only rivaled by the October 1993 World Heavyweight championship fight between then WBC world champion Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno, which took place at National Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, that marked at that point in time the first time that two British fighters had met in the ring for a version of the World Heavyweight championship in nearly one hundred years.

Although Lewis-Bruno, which took place on a rainy night in Cardiff, Wales and was in danger of being postponed because of weather conditions, will always hold a special place in Boxing history for its significance and for being one of the best Heavyweight fights of the 1990’s, some would claim that a potential fight between Fury and Joshua would be bigger. Yours truly will not get into that debate as one who has always held British Boxing in high regard and respect, but what I will say is perhaps this fight, if it finally does happen, would have been bigger if it were made when the Fury and Joshua had the opportunity to meet for what would have been the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world. For a variety of reasons, all having to do with the business side of the sport, the fight did not happen.

Now with H.E. Turki Al-Sheikh being actively involved in the sport as a power broker and significant investor, perhaps a Fury-Joshua fight might finally get over the finish line, but whether or not Al-Sheikh succeeds, the potential for it being a scenario where buyers remorse may ultimately be the feeling both he and Boxing fans worldwide are left with is there. Unfortunately, while it will no doubt still be a significant event, particularly throughout the United Kingdom, Boxing and particularly those promoters and networks who were involved several years back when the opportunity was there to stage a fight for all the marbles in the Heavyweight division, which would have been more significant than merely a big event between two star Heavyweights and future Hall of Famers. For that, the business of the sport is to blame.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Important Update Regarding 2026 Schedule Start

We would like to provide our readers with a brief update. Over the Christmas holidays, we here at The Boxing Truth® and the Denison family suffered an unexpected personal tragedy, which unfortunately occurred during the week of the Anthony Joshua-Jake Paul bout on December 19th, which in turn, resulted in that bout not being covered as originally planned and the ongoing pause in our schedule, which has gone into the month of January. 

We do want to let readers know that due to the aforementioned circumstances and given that the 2026 Boxing schedule has already begun in our absence, there will be no 2026 edition of Beau Denison’s annual Boxing Wishlist, which was in the works prior to things having to be paused due to the aforementioned circumstances and typically begins the calendar year each year here at The Boxing Truth®. It is our intention for that annual feature to return in its normal slot as beginning our schedule for the new year in 2027 and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

While we do not have a date as of this writing as to when we will resume, our target is within the next few weeks. In the interim, content that has been sent in to us from promoters, networks, and others involved in the sport of Boxing will be made available here on the website over the coming days. We thank those who have sent in content and appreciate their patience during this time. We will update readers once more when we have a solid date on when we will resume and begin our 2026 schedule and we thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, understanding, and patience during what is and has been an extremely difficult time.

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Joshua-Paul: Another Curiosity, Or Legitimate Fight?

On December 19th, aspiring boxer Jake Paul, who had previously been known as a social media influencer, will return to the ring for his fourteenth professional fight. While this noted Boxing scribe has been critical of Paul, who has frequently boasted about his desire to become a world champion, but has not compiled a resume of opponents that would suggest legitimacy of trying to attain that goal, having faced primarily fighters who have come from the sport of MMA, who had limited or no Boxing experience, or those who have come either from an influencer background or in one case one retired hall of fame fighter who was twenty years removed from a competitive fight, while simultaneously giving him credit for his promotional savvy and in particular what he has done in advocating and helping advance and elevate Women's Boxing, to be honest, I did not feel optimistic when Paul's original fight, which was to take place during the month of November was announced.

This was due to Paul, who has fought most of his fights as a 190lb. Cruiserweight and in one instance against an advanced-aged Mike Tyson at Heavyweight, choosing to face Gervonta Davis, who while an active fighter, who is at or near the top of the sport, had never fought above the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. To say that the idea of a flight between the two gave this observer vibes of something strictly intended to generate buzz and the look of a physical mismatch is an understatement. Fortunately, I was not the only one who felt this way as the announcement was met with no shortage of criticism from both those of us who cover the sport as well as fans. Criticism that ultimately led to the Georgia State Athletic Commission, as the bout was originally slated to take place in Atlanta, refusing to sanction the bout, even as an exhibition, resulting in the event being moved to Miami, FL, whose commission unfortunately has a history of accepting events that were denied from taking place in other jurisdictions for reasons including, but not limited to medical grounds, as was the case when the Florida State Athletic Commission greenlit the unfortunate Evander Holyfield-Vitor Belfort event in 2021, a fiasco that yours truly was extremely critical of, which I stand by, agreed to hold the announced Paul-Davis event. 

Perhaps a blessing in disguise, however, emerged when Davis was removed from the bout due to accusations of domestic violence. The blessing in disguise reference is in no way a commentary on the ongoing issues Gervonta Davis finds himself dealing with, but is in reference to that situation indirectly saving the commission in Florida, where this observer also resides, from having to defend what would likely have been another controversial decision by allowing that event to go forward given the significant size and weight disparity between Paul and Davis.

Nevertheless, the circumstances of which the event fell apart left Paul as well as digital subscription general entertainment network Netflix, who also broadcast Paul’s fight against Tyson in its first foray into the sport of Boxing, with a conundrum of trying to find a suitable opponent to replace Davis so at least Paul could compete before the end of 2025 after previously defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. earlier this year.

While Chavez is one of five previous Paul opponents with a Boxing background, the perception I had was that if someone was going to step in on what would be short notice, it would likely have been a fighter from the sport of MMA, as whether seen as legitimate in pushing towards his goal of eventually fighting for a world title or not, has been a successful approach at least in terms of making sure events take place even if original dates end up being changed. To the surprise of many, yours truly included, former two-time World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua stepped in and will face Paul in a scheduled ten round Heavyweight bout at the Kaysa Center in Miami that will be broadcast worldwide by Netflix.

Upon being notified of this change in opponent, in all honesty with the reader, my initial thought was at least the Florida State Athletic Commission would not face as much criticism as would have been the case if the event had gone on with Davis as the opponent. My other thought was at least this has the potential to be viewed as a legitimate fight.

The Cruiserweight division is only one division away from the Heavyweight division and regardless of what one might have thought about Paul's eight rounds against Mike Tyson in November of last year, Paul did move to in weight for it so the initial thought was this would not be something that the central topic would be about a weight difference because numerous fighters who have fought as Cruiserweights at one time or another over decades, long before Paul was born in the 1990’s, have fought in the Heavyweight division either originally starting at Heavyweight and moving down in weight or starting at Cruiserweight and moving up in weight. This will be more a question of whether Paul with limited experience will be able to compete against someone who has fought at a much higher level and is closer to his physical prime than Tyson and Chavez were when they shared the ring with Paul.

From skillset, to level of competition, to having an advantage in both height and weight, every metric that one could point to in comparing two fighters, favors Joshua. Despite those facts, Joshua is coming into this fight off of a knockout loss at the hands of then IBF World Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in September of last year and the perception, which could have some validity is Joshua's punch resistance is not what it once was and he has also been known to fatigue later in fights. The obvious question here is whether Paul has the polish in order to try and exploit those perceived flaws. 

As has been the case for most of Jake Paul's fights, the element of curiosity is there, but some are likely questioning if this will be a legitimate fight. Regardless of what one might think, Jake Paul does have a fan following that enables him to draw significant interest regardless of who he fights. It is debatable as to whether or not that ability has started to wane due to his not facing fighters that will push him up the ladder towards contention, with the perception being that most of his fights have been more about the event than expected competition.

In this case, the curiosity remains, but there is a better than average chance that Paul will be tested here as when he is at his best Anthony Joshua has power in either hand and can be devastating when he lands flush on an opponent. What one needs to also keep in mind here is, despite being knocked out in his last fight in a failed attempt to become a three-time World Heavyweight champion, Joshua is still considered one of the top Heavyweight contenders and if one views the objectively, he has very little to gain here by facing a fighter that many would consider a novice strictly based on his resume. It is also an open secret that there might be significant plans for Joshua in 2026 towards getting back in line to try and regain a Heavyweight title. Paul meanwhile is also taking a risk in that he has not faced anyone that would make one consider him a prospect or contender, but is now taking a steep step up in class. 

The era in which we all live is one where folks for whatever their motivations like to vent their grievances via social media on just about any topic one could think of. No matter who Paul has fought, he too has not been immune from such rhetoric whether legitimate or not. This is a scenario where most people if they are objective would say at minimum, Paul has an uphill battle given his limited resume and previous competition. If he were to find himself on the receiving end of a quick knockout here, the opinion of many of those keyboard warrior types will likely be that none of his previous fights were legitimate, or at least that will be the narrative some will attempt to push. If he holds his own, but still loses criticism will remain. If he wins, the criticism and narrative will be that Joshua was a shot fighter at minimum or will devolve into accusations of fixed fights, which has been a narrative some have pushed in recent fights, but often such claims have lacked legitimate evidence to support it. 

What that all amounts to is a no win scenario for Paul. The silver lining, however, if he can pull off what would be a significant upset here is he might finally be forced to face boxers and active ones exclusively. While Paul is rated in the top twenty of contenders by the WBA, a sanctioning organization that does not do it's best to avoid controversy, in the Cruiserweight division, despite not facing anyone in the WBA’s rankings to earn a spot in the rankings,a win over a fighter of Joshua's resume and caliber would likely lead to a ranking at Heavyweight as well.

It is a truly unlikely scenario and an unlikely encounter where two fighters are rolling the dice on their futures. We will simply have to wait and see how it all plays out.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Joshua vs. Paul takes place on Friday, December 19th at the Kaysa Center in Miami, FL. The fight can be seen on digital subscription general entertainment network Netflix beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT. (*North American Times Only.*)

(*Card Subject To Change.*)

For more information about Netflix including availability on streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.Netflix.com. 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

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MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS AND NETFLIX ANNOUNCE ON-AIR TALENT FOR MVP’S JAKE VS. JOSHUA

Press Release: December 15, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix - Laila Ali, Andre Ward, Lennox Lewis, Kate Scott, Mauro Ranallo, David Haye, Crystina Poncher, Sean Wheelock, Ariel Helwani, Sibley Scoles, and Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts join the star-studded fight night broadcast roster, with additional fight week support from Corey Erdman 

NEW YORK, NY – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix today announced the broadcast team for all fight week events and the Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day mega-event, beginning on Tuesday, December 16 and culminating on Friday, December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

On Friday, December 19, the Jake vs. Joshua preliminary card begins at 4:45pm ET / 1:45pm PT on Netflix’s Tudum and MVP’s YouTube Channel, with the main card starting at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT, live only on Netflix. MVP and Netflix’s fight night coverage will feature a powerhouse lineup of broadcasting veterans and combat sports legends anchored by broadcaster Kate Scott as the main desk host, joined by a world-class team of desk analysts including heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis, undefeated Hall of Famer Laila Ali, and former undefeated world champion Andre Ward.

The ringside team will be led by the iconic voice of Mauro Ranallo on blow-by-blow, with expert analysis provided by former world champion David Haye and Crystina Poncher. Sean Wheelock will serve as the rules and scoring expert. Sibley Scoles will serve as reporter, providing updates from backstage and the crowd, with Ariel Helwani serving as ringside reporter. The night will be emceed by in-ring announcer Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts.

Ahead of Jake vs. Joshua, Netflix and MVP will host a series of fight week events open to the public.

On Tuesday, December 16, MVP Fight Week Showcase 2 will take place at LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts will serve as emcee. Commentary and blow-by-blow analysis for the sanctioned, professional fights will be provided by Corey Erdman and Crystina Poncher on the livestream desk. Entertainment personality Sibley Scoles will serve as ringside reporter. The entire showcase event will stream live on stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT.

On Wednesday, December 17, the final Jake vs. Joshua Press Conference will take place at Fillmore Miami Beach hosted by renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani. The press conference will stream live on stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT.

On Thursday, December 18, the Public Weigh-Ins will take place at Fillmore Miami Beach, with Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts  serving as emcee with support from Ariel Helwani as on-stage reporter. The broadcast desk will be hosted by Sibley Scoles with analysis from David Haye and Crystina Poncher.  The weigh-in will stream live on stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT.

“When you’re delivering a global event of this magnitude on Netflix, every detail matters, especially the voices telling the story,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. “This broadcast team represents the absolute best in boxing, sports media, and live television. From legendary champions to world-class broadcasters, this group reflects the standard we’ve set for Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day. Together with Netflix, we’re building a fight week and fight night experience that feels truly historic, and this team is central to bringing that vision to life for fans around the world.”

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @Netflix, on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @Netflix, or on Netflix’s Tudum.

About Netflix 

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films, and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause, and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Most Valuable Promotions (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 has produced Jake Paul’s last seven global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Chavez Jr. 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. MVP followed that up by Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 in July 2024 the first all women’s boxing card to be featured on Netflix.  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.

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Harvey vs. Cervantes Added To Joshua-Paul Card

Credit:Most Valuable Promotions/Netflix 

Press Release: December 4, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix- MVP Fight Week Showcase 2 takes place Tuesday, December 16 at 6pm ET at LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, featuring Jake vs. Joshua open workouts and three sanctioned, professional bouts featuring MVP’s Luan Medeiros, Shannon Courtenay, and Jocelyn Camarillo

MVP Jake vs. Joshua Press Conference takes place Wednesday, December 17 at 6pm ET at Fillmore Miami Beach

MVP Jake vs. Joshua Public Weigh-Ins take place Thursday, December 18 at 6pm ET at Fillmore Miami Beach

All fight week events are free and open to the public to attend on a first-come, first-served basis

MIAMI, FLORIDA – December 4, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix today announced that MVP’s US Olympian, amateur world champion, and 10x US amateur national champion Jahmal Harvey (1-0, 1 KO) will open the main card of MVP’s Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day, live only on Netflix, on Friday, December 19. After a statement knockout in his pro debut, Harvey now steps into the global spotlight on Netflix vs. undefeated prospect Kevin Cervantes (5-0, 5 KOs) in a matchup designed to showcase two of the division’s most promising rising talents. Harvey vs. Cervantes will be a 6-round super featherweight bout contested at 130lbs. Tickets for Jake vs. Joshua are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. 

MVP and Netflix today also announced the full fight week schedule for Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day, headlined by the colossal global showdown between boxing’s biggest disruptor, international superstar and WBA #15-ranked cruiserweight Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) and two-time unified WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight world champion, Olympic gold medalist and knockout machine Anthony “AJ” Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs). As part of the buildup to the mega-event at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on Friday, December 19, MVP and Netflix will host three fight week events. Kicking off the week, MVP Fight Week Showcase 2 will feature Jake vs. Joshua open workouts alongside three sanctioned, professional bouts, set to include MVP’s newest signees Luan Medeiros and Jocelyn Camarillo alongside MVP’s Shannon Courtenay at LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, followed by the MVP Fight Week press conference and public weigh-ins at Fillmore Miami Beach. All fight week events will be free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

On Tuesday, December 16, MVP Fight Week Showcase 2 will take place at LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, featuring open workouts for Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day and three sanctioned professional fights, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT. The second installment of MVP’s fight week showcase bouts will be headlined by Brazilian national champion and MVP’s new signee Luan Medeiros (6-0, 4 KOs) vs. Mexico’s Hugo Macias (7-1-1, 5 KOs) in a 6-round lightweight bout at 135lbs. Also on the card will be MVP and England’s Shannon “The Baby Face Assassin” Courtenay (9-3, 3 KOs) vs. Jessica Radtke Maltez (2-2-2) in a 6-round bantamweight bout at 118lbs and MVP’s new signee Jocelyn Camarillo (5-0) vs. Yazmin Martinez Jimenez (3-2-2, 1 KO) in a 4-round light flyweight bout at 108 lbs. These fights will be officially sanctioned by the Florida Athletic Commission. The entire event, including the three fights, will stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel.

On Wednesday, December 17, MVP and Netflix will host the official final Press Conference for Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day at Fillmore Miami Beach starting at 6:00pm ET / 3:00pm PT. The press conference will feature the final war of words between main event stars Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua, co-main event stars Alycia Baumgardner and Leila Beaudoin, main card fighters Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, as well as additional preliminary card fighters, and will stream live on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel.

On Thursday, December 18, MVP and Netflix will host the Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day public weigh-in, streaming live from Fillmore Miami Beach at 6:00pm ET / 3:00pm PT on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix Sports’ YouTube Channel. 

On Friday, December 19, Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day streams live on Netflix from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The preliminary card begins at 4:45pm ET / 1:45pm PT on MVP’s YouTube Channel and Netflix’s Tudum, with the main card starting at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT, live only on Netflix. 

“Being on the main card of Jake vs. Joshua is a massive stage and platform to showcase my talent and really introduce Jahmal Harvey to the world; so I’m grateful to my team, MVP and Netflix for making it happen,” said Jahmal Harvey. “I’m looking to seize the moment and make a big statement to kick off the main card live on Netflix!”

“Jake vs. Joshua fight week builds up to the biggest event in boxing this year, with fight week events hosted at the iconic LIV at Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Fillmore Miami Beach, all free and open to the public,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO and co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “The week will begin with the return of our signature series of sanctioned, professional fights within our open workouts event, MVP Fight Week Showcase 2, spotlighting three MVP fighters: our newest signings Luan Almeida and US prospect Jocelyn Camarillo, joined by former world champion Shannon Courtenay. The week continues with a massive press conference and our public weigh-in, each bringing together the entire fight card. We also look forward to formally introducing the global Netflix audience to US Olympian Jahmal Harvey, who will open the main card of Jake vs. Joshua, and who we believe is the most promising male boxing prospect to come out of Team USA this decade.”

“MVP keeps raising the bar. Two GOATs in Anderson Silva vs. Tyron Woodley, Alycia Baumgardner ready for a takeover and doing so with men’s rules, and now Jahmal Harvey joining the main card to show the world why he’s America’s next superstar,” said Jake Paul. “Jake vs. Joshua Fight Week is stacked, it’s free for fans, and it’s all building to me shocking the world on Friday, December 19 at Kaseya Center, live only on Netflix.”

US Olympian and amateur world champion Jahmal Harvey (1-0, 1 KO) was introduced to boxing at age 13 by his football coach Darrell Davis, who also owned a boxing gym. After competing in both sports, Harvey, an Oxon Hill, Maryland native, soon went all-in on boxing and immediately proved his elite potential at the junior, youth, and amateur levels, becoming a 10x national champion. By 18, he was training and sparring with Olympians, including Keyshawn Davis and Duke Ragan. That same year, he captured gold at the 2021 Elite World Championships— becoming the first American male to win the world title since 2007, while competing as one of the youngest athletes in the tournament. The next year, he took home silver at the 2022 Continental Championships and continued to dominate at the international level in 2023, winning gold at the Santiago Pan American Games. The finish qualified him for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he finished as a quarter-finalist. The 22-year-old Harvey signed with Most Valuable Promotions ahead of his professional debut–a knockout win–on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14 in August 2025, heralded as one of the top prospects in American boxing.

Kevin Cervantes (5-0, 5 KOs) comes to the ring from Los Angeles by way of Barranquilla, Colombia. The 25-year-old prospect holds a perfect undefeated record so far in his pro career, and comes to the ring fresh from his latest first-round TKO win in September 2025. He began boxing at just 11 years old after his parents introduced him to the sport to channel his energy and fighting spirit productively. With an impressive 87-fight amateur background, Cervantes has developed into a relentless brawler known for his aggressive, high-pressure style reminiscent of his idol, Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán. Defined by his hard work, discipline, and commitment, Cervantes continues to build his name in the professional ranks as one of the sport’s most determined young fighters. He is managed by Rob Suarez and trained by Oscar Negrete. 

MVP’s new signee Luan Medeiros (6-0, 4 KOs) is an undefeated professional lightweight boxer and the current CNB Super Lightweight Brazilian National Champion. As an amateur, he built an extensive career with close to 150 fights, boasting over 114 wins and becoming a Brazilian National Champion, Copa del Pacífico winner in Ecuador, and a Cheo Aponte Tournament runner-up in Puerto Rico. Domestically, he won multiple regional titles, including 4x Rio de Janeiro state champion, 3x São Paulo state champion, Paraná state champion, Sul-Sudeste champion, and Centro-Oeste champion. He also represented Brazil internationally, winning team challenges against Italy and Argentina. Outside the ring, the 30-year-old Luan is known for his relationship with Brazilian A-list actress Mel Maia, who has over 21 million followers. His opponent, Hugo Macias (7-1-1, 5 KOs), is a 32-year-old prospect from Tijuana, Mexico. Macias most recently earned a 4th round TKO win in September 2025, and now makes his international boxing debut in his first pro bout outside of Mexico against Medeiros.

Former WBA bantamweight world champion at 118lbs and Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire native, Shannon Courtenay (9‑3, 3 KOs) transformed her life and career after discovering boxing in her early twenties, trading in a party lifestyle for intense discipline at Finchley ABC in London. Rising through the professional ranks beginning in March 2019, she claimed the vacant WBA female bantamweight title in April 2021, delivering a fiercely technical and emotional unanimous decision over Australia’s Ebanie Bridges in what many hailed as one of women's boxing’s best fights. Courtenay’s jab proved decisive, and she overcame early cut damage and increasing pressure to outmaneuver Bridges and increasingly exploit a swelling eye that nearly shut by round eight. Unfortunately, Courtenay was stripped of her title ahead of her first defense in October 2021 when she came in 2.5 lb over the limit, an issue she attributed to an unexpected menstrual cycle—a rare moment of honesty that highlighted health over title retention. She subsequently faced Jamie Mitchell at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, losing a hard-fought majority decision in October  2021 despite staying in the ring through adversity. Courtenay returned to the ring in October 2024, edged out with a competitive points decision defeat to Catherine Tacone Ramos in a six-round bout at London’s Copper Box Arena. She most recently defeated Bec Connolly in March 2025. Her opponent, Jessica Radtke Maltez (2-2-2) comes to the ring from Waconia, Minnesota. Maltez most recently earned a unanimous decision win in September 2025.

MVP’s new signee Jocelyn Camarillo (5-0) is a 3x amateur national champion, former #1-ranked US amateur in the light flyweight division, and a proud training partner for Team USA Youth & Elite. She proudly represents Indio, California as one of the brightest young talents coming out of the Coachella Valley boxing community. Jocelyn grew up watching boxing and developed a natural passion that eventually led her to train at the historic Coachella Valley Boxing Club, where she built a strong amateur foundation and sharpened her skills among some of the region’s best athletes. Known for her speed, accuracy, and high-IQ pressure style, Jocelyn has quickly developed a reputation as a disciplined athlete with true star potential. Both inside and outside the ring, she brings charisma, professionalism, and a growing fanbase that continues to follow her journey. As she enters the next chapter of her career with MVP, standing 5-0 on her pro career, Jocelyn is focused, hungry, and ready to take on bigger challenges. She will face Yazmin Martinez Jimenez (3-2-2, 1 KO) over 4 rounds at light flyweight. Jimenez, the 24-year-old prospect, fights out of Mexico City, Mexico and most recently earned a TKO win in March 2025 and a split draw in October 2025 against highly touted and undefeated prospect, Perla Bazaldua.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @Netflix, on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @Netflix, or on Netflix’s Tudum.

About Most Valuable Promotions (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 has produced Jake Paul’s last seven global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Chavez Jr. 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. MVP followed that up by Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 in July 2024 the first all women’s boxing card to be featured on Netflix.  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 Netflix 

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films, and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause, and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Fontainebleau Miami Beach

A spectacular blend of Golden Era glamour and modern luxury, Fontainebleau Miami Beach merges striking design, contemporary art, music, fashion, and history into a vibrant guest experience. A revered landmark and symbol of style and sophistication since its opening in 1954, Fontainebleau Miami Beach boasts 1,504 guestrooms and suites appointed with lavish amenities; the world-renowned LIV™ Nightclub, 12 restaurants and lounges including AAA Four Diamond signature restaurant Hakkasan and Mirabella, celebrating coastal Italian cuisine; the 40,000-square-foot Lapis Spa with mineral-rich water therapies and invigorating treatments; a dramatic oceanfront pool-scape offering lush cabanas; and is home to BleauLive, the innovative concert series that combines intimate performances with memorable weekend escapes. For general information or accommodations at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, visit fontainebleau.com or call 1.877.512.8002. 

About Fillmore Miami Beach

Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater, located in the heart of Miami Beach, is one of South Florida’s premier live entertainment venues. For more than 70 years, the 2,400-seat theater has helped shape Miami’s vibrant entertainment culture by hosting many of the world’s most celebrated artists and performances across concerts, comedy, and special events. Operated by Live Nation, Fillmore Miami Beach continues to deliver world-class live experiences for fans throughout the region and beyond.

About Kaseya Center

Located in the center of booming downtown Miami and the Entertainment District, Kaseya Center—home of the NBA Champion Miami HEAT—hosts 80+ non-basketball events each year including A-list concerts, family shows, sporting events, national conferences and more. Built with state-of-the-art sound and lighting and HD and electronic media signage inside and out, the impressive 19,600-seat Kaseya Center is currently ranked the #1 arena in Florida for the 10th consecutive year—and the 13th time during the past 14 years—according to Billboard’s 2024 year-end rankings. Kaseya Center is also among the leading facilities in the country for hosting Latin entertainment. The Center has led the renaissance of downtown Miami over the past two decades, helping to transform the area into a thriving arts and entertainment district. The facility has hosted more than 1,200 events including diverse musical superstars such as Marc Anthony, Celine Dion, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Killers, Bad Bunny, Carrie Underwood, Dua Lipa, Tool, Imagine Dragons, Kane Brown, Karol G, Drake, Andrea Bocelli and Paul McCartney, just to name a few. In 2009, Kaseya Center became among the first existing buildings in the country to have achieved LEED certification by the United States Green Building Council for its commitment to sustainability practices. More recently, in 2021, the Arena achieved its second LEED gold recertification. For more information about Kaseya Center, visit kaseyacenter.com.

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix Used with permission 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP WITH EVERPASS MEDIA FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED JAKE VS. JOSHUA: JUDGMENT DAY EVENT

Press Release: December 2, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- EverPass holds the exclusive commercial rights to sell and distribute the upcoming Jake vs. Joshua event to bars, restaurants and casinos nationwide

Boxing’s biggest disruptor Jake Paul challenges heavyweight powerhouse Anthony Joshua in a colossal global showdown at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on Friday, December 19, 2025 on Netflix

NEW YORK – December 2, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (“MVP”), the trailblazing boxing promotion founded by Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, and EverPass Media (“EverPass”), the premier media platform delivering premium live sports content to commercial businesses, today announced a commercial distribution partnership providing EverPass the exclusive right to sell and distribute MVP’s upcoming boxing mega-event between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua and also featuring a matchup between two MMA legends in Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, to bars, restaurants and other commercial businesses in the United States. The event will take place on Friday, December 19, at Kaseya Center in Miami, FL and stream globally on Netflix.

“At Most Valuable Promotions, our mission is to bring premium, must-see fight nights to fans wherever they choose to watch,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. “Partnering with EverPass Media for Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day ensures that fans have the chance to experience one of the biggest boxing events in a decade, in the shared energy of bars, restaurants, casinos, and commercial venues nationwide.”

“This partnership with MVP underscores EverPass’ role as the leader in bringing premium live events to the commercial market,” said Alex Kaplan, CEO of EverPass Media. “Jake Paul events reliably bring fans through the door, and EverPass turns that demand into real business impact by aggregating must-see sports and making access simple for bars and restaurants.”

Kaplan continued, “The commercial ecosystem is moving fast, and EverPass sits at the center of it. Our platform gives businesses one place and one partner for premium sports, backed by a growing slate of marquee events. Events like this are meant to be experienced together, and that shared atmosphere is what sets the commercial market apart. We are proud to work with MVP and Netflix to deliver this event to audiences nationwide.”

Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day will be headlined by boxing’s biggest disruptor, international superstar and WBA #14-ranked cruiserweight Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) and two-time unified WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight world champion, Olympic gold medalist and knockout machine Anthony “AJ” Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs). The matchup unites Paul, the sport’s most-watched fighter, whose showmanship has redefined modern boxing and shattered records at every turn, with Joshua, one of boxing’s most accomplished, respected, and feared punchers, a global icon who has headlined sold-out stadiums across the UK and beyond. The event marks Paul’s second live event on Netflix in just over a year, following his record-breaking victory over Mike Tyson in November 2024. In the co-main event of Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day, MVP’s undisputed super featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (16-1, 7 KOs) will make a unified WBA, WBO, and IBF world title defense at 130lbs against Canada’s #2 IBF, #3 WBO and WBA contender Leila Beaudoin (13-1, 2 KOs). Tickets for Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. The event will also feature MVP’s exclusive VIP experiences, including the MVP Owner’s Experience.

Additional EverPass sports offerings include Netflix’s exclusive NFL 2025 Christmas Day games, NFL Sunday Ticket, Peacock Sports Pass (Premier League, Big Ten football and basketball), UEFA Champions League (Paramount+) and more. To learn more about how EverPass can bring premium live sports to your business, visit https://everpass.com/.

About EverPass Media

EverPass Media is a premier streaming platform dedicated to commercial businesses, that aggregates, distributes and enables streaming of live sports and entertainment content, and offers a wide array of consumer engagement and performance marketing tools for bars, restaurants, hotels and other commercial venues. Launched initially as the exclusive distributor of NFL Sunday Ticket to commercial establishments in the United States, EverPass partners with rightsholders, distribution partners and business owners to unlock greater access to premium live events and drive business growth. EverPass was founded in 2023 in partnership with RedBird Capital Partners and 32 Equity, the strategic investment arm of the National Football League. TKO Group Holdings, parent company of UFC and WWE, joined as an investor in 2024.

About Most Valuable Promotions (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 has produced Jake Paul’s last seven global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Chavez Jr. 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. MVP followed that up by Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 in July 2024, the first all-women’s boxing card to be featured on Netflix. 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.

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