Labor Day Weekend 2026 Thoughts

 Labor Day weekend 2026 featured two stars of the sport of Boxing at distinctly different stages of their careers. First up on September 4th, it was former unified World Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz returning to the ring for the first time in two years to face Heavyweight contender Damian Knyba at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Whenever a fighter, whether notable for their accomplishments or not inside the ring, returns from a long absence, the subject of inactivity is always a topic of discussion.

In that what will the effect of the inactivity have on the fighter when they step back into active competition? For Andy Ruiz, it proved to be both a combination of both inactivity as well as Knyba’s taller height and eighty six inch reach. From the opening bell, the 6’7 Knyba kept the 6’2 Ruiz on the outside with his longer arms and consistent jab. This proved to be the story of the fight as Knyba was able to keep Ruiz at distance and only able to land his punches sporadically. Though this is not the most entertaining approach from a fan’s perspective, when executed properly where a fighter knows how to use their physical attributes to their advantage, it is effective. Despite the formulaic pace of the fight, which consisted of Ruiz coming forward, often being hit with jabs and right hands as he tried to get on the inside, and Knyba moving laterally to maintain a distance where he could maintain control of the combat, Knyba nearly ended the fight in the seventh round with a 1-2 combination that set off a brutal barrage of punches that badly hurt Ruiz and sent him down to the canvas. 

Ruiz was able to beat the count on very unsteady legs, but Knyba had come within mere seconds of scoring a stoppage of the former world champion. With Ruiz being able to survive the round, it may have been logical to see Knyba become more aggressive in perhaps thinking he may have been able to force a stoppage on a still vulnerable Ruiz, but what stood out here was the discipline Knyba showed in maintaining his advantage, sticking to what had proven to be an effective strategy, and not allowing himself to be over aggressive in pursuing a knockout victory. To his credit, Ruiz did show an ability to recover from circumstances where he appeared to be out on his feet and did have some periodic success in the later rounds, but it was not enough to turn things in his favor as Knyba boxed his way to a wide twelve round unanimous decision victory.

As impressive and workmanlike as Knyba’s performance in this fight was, the story here coming out of this fight is what does the future look like for Andy Ruiz? Following the fight, this observer commented on social media in giving credit to Ruiz for his ability to survive nearly being stopped in the seventh round, but noted that inactivity is truly a silent killer for combat athletes. Ruiz, who had previously been aligned with the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters, like many fighters who have fought under the PBC banner, had seen his activity in how often he competes decline as the PBC has seen its schedule of events also decline in recent years. It is true that prior to this fight and loss to Damian Knyba, Andy Ruiz had fought only three times in the last seven years. 

Although it is not uncommon in the present day in the sport of Boxing to see fighters who are considered elite-level and/or stars of the sport to only compete once or twice in a calendar year, if nothing else due to the economics for fighters in that position having significantly improved per fight as compared to previous eras of the sport, the trade-off often to not competing as often is over time inactivity takes its toll and skills, reflexes, and reaction time tend to diminish due to both age and inactivity. For his part, the thirty-seven year old Ruiz, who is now competing under promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, has said he intends to continue his career. The benefit for Ruiz is he will likely be offered fights in a more frequent timeframe than had been the case previously in his career. What it will come down to is whether Ruiz is committed to what could be a lengthy rebuild process due to this setback to Knyba and whether he will stay the course even if he were to suffer another setback down the road. Ruiz still has name recognition clout and that will help him get opportunities, but he needs to stay active and make the most of whatever opportunities are presented to him if he is to continue his career as name recognition on its own will not be enough to get another opportunity at a world title if he does not stay active and does not score a few wins against fighters that range from fringe to legitimate contenders. The primary thing if Ruiz wants to continue his career will be to recover from the toll this fight took on him and stay active moving forward.

On September 5th, the focus of the Boxing world shifted to Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland where future Hall of Famer Katie Taylor fulfilled a lifelong dream to fight in the legendary stadium for her final fight in defense of her unified WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO Jr. Welterweight world championship to face undefeated IBO Jr. Welterweight world champion Flora Pili for the Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world championship. While the main story of this fight was the final chapter of Katie Taylor’s groundbreaking and incredible career, the other part of this story was the event itself in that this fight was the main event in a stadium that was filled with 82,000 spectators, something that had never been done before for a fight in Woman’s Boxing, and served as another accolade for Taylor following her participating in the first two women’s fights to main event the main arena inside of Madison Square Garden in her career.

As she has done for virtually her entire career, Taylor put forth a masterclass performance from the opening bell using lateral movement, compact combination punching, and when necessary, counter punching to out box Pili over ten rounds to score a wide ten round unanimous decision to become an undisputed champion for the third time in her career following previously accomplishing the feat in the Lightweight division and previously doing it as a Jr. Welterweight as well. 

Although yours truly is on record in saying following the conclusion of Taylor’s trilogy with Amanda Serrano in 2025 that there was nothing more either of the two legends and future Hall of Famers had to prove in their respective careers inside the ring, this fight, which was likely the only scenario Taylor would return to the ring for in being able to make history and fulfill her dream of fighting in Croke Park, along with the dominant performance she put forth, proved to be the ultimate storybook ending for a truly great fighter who broke ground for female fighters both in her native Ireland as well as worldwide as she was one of the fighters in the most recent era that was able to elevate pay for her fellow fighters through her success inside the ring and it will be future generations of female fighters who will be able to benefit more from what fighters like Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Cecilia Braekhus, Jessica McCaskill, Claressa Shields, and many others have been able to accomplish both in regard to the pay that is now available to female fighters as well as the position of women’s bouts as often women’s bouts are now featured in main events not just internationally, but also here in the United States, which was not the case in previous eras in the sport.

This is a significant legacy for Taylor to leave and though as there always seems to be in Boxing, there will likely be offers for her to continue her career, which may be enticing depending on the financial incentives, there simply is no other way that she could top what he has done, in both being part of the first two Women’s main events in the history of Madison Square Garden, being victorious in both of those bouts, and being able to headline the first stadium event in which a women’s bout drew 82,000 spectators. Whatever the next chapter of Katie Taylor’s life entails, you simply cannot do much better than what she has accomplished. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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MVPW 2 Card Set For April 17th At The Theater At Madison Square Garden On ESPN And The ESPN App

Press Release: March 19, 2026 By Most Valuable Promotions- MVP’s #1 IBF, WBC, WBA and #2 WBO contender Tamm Thibeault returns on main card vs. Brazil’s Nadja Jesus

MVP’s young sensation Krystal Rosado vs. Fernanda Reyes opens main card in battle of Puerto Rico vs. Mexico

MVP’s Jahmal Harvey, Wanna Walton, Nat Dove and Raquel Miller joined by Dunkirk, New York’s Elon De Jesus and Bellport, New York’s Alex Vargas in preliminary card bouts

Credit: Most Valuable Promotions 

NEW YORK, NY –  Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the rest of the card for MVPW-02 which will mark the inaugural U.S. event for MVPW, taking place live on ESPN on Friday, April 17 at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Joining the main card, MVP’s 2x Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and #1 IBF, WBC, WBA and #2 WBO contender Tamm Thibeault (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. Brazil’s Nadja Jesus (5-0, 3 KOs) in a 10-round bout at 160lbs in the middleweight division. Opening the main card, MVP’s young Puerto Rican sensation Krystal Rosado (8-1, 2 KOs) will face Fernanda Reyes (8-0) in an 8-round battle of Puerto Rico vs. Mexico in the bantamweight division at 118lbs. The event will be headlined by MVP’s unified super featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KOs) vs. WBA #4, IBF #6, and WBO #7 contender Bo Mi Re Shin (19-3-3, 10 KOs). The bout will be contested over 10 three-minute rounds for the unified WBA, WBO, and IBF world titles at 130 lbs. In the co-main event, MVP’s unified super middleweight world champion Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (16-1, 11 KOs) will make a 10-round world title defense vs. IBF #2 and WBO #3 contender Lani Daniels (11-4-2, 1 KO) at 168lbs. MVPW on ESPN will always feature a main card composed entirely of female fighters, with an undercard including a mix of female and male bouts. MVPW-02 marks the inaugural U.S. event of MVPW, a new year-round global platform for women’s boxing from MVP, showcasing the sport’s most elite female fighters with championship bouts on every card. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. 

On the preliminary card, streaming exclusively on the ESPN App, MVP’s US Olympian and amateur world champion Jahmal Harvey (2-0, 1 KO) will face Argentina’s Leandro Medina (7-3-1, 4 KOs) in a 6-round lightweight bout at 135lbs. Also joining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton vs. Brownsville, Texas’s Dionne Ruvalcaba (2-2, 1 KO) in a 6-round bout at 135lbs , MVP’s Nat “No Love” Dove (7-0-1, 2 KOs) vs. Maria Micheo (14-6, 8 KOs) in an 8-round flyweight bout at 112lbs (pending approval), and MVP’s undefeated Raquel “Pretty Beast” Miller (13-0, 6 KOs) will make her promotional debut vs. Brazil’s Adriana “Pitbull” Araújo (6-3, 1 KO) in a 6-round bout at 168lbs in the super middleweight division (pending approval). Dunkirk, New York’s Elon “El Leon” De Jesus (11-1-2, 8 KOs) will also face Plymouth, England’s Connor Adaway (10-2-1, 4 KOs) in an 8 round super bantamweight bout at 122lbs, and Bellport, New York’s Alex “El Toro” Vargas (14-0, 5 KOs) will face Dublin, Ireland’s Ryan “The Silent Assassin” O'Rourke (13-0, 3 KOs).

MVP’s standout Tamm Thibeault is currently the #1-ranked WBA, #1 IBF, #1 WBC, and #2 WBO 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, then 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, completed a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Concordia University in 2023, which she earned over seven years while competing, then moved to Sheffield, England, where she earned 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 two sanctioning bodies following the bout—one of the fastest-rising world title contenders in history. She earned her most recent TKO win in September 2025 on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 15.

“I’m proud to be part of the first all-women’s main card on ESPN,” said Tamm Thibeault. “ESPN and MVP are making a statement by putting women’s boxing at the forefront, and on Friday, April 17, I’ll be ready to show my talent, my elegance, and exactly why I belong on this stage.”

Nadja Jesus Santos has represented Brazil in national and international competitions and is part of the new generation of athletes helping strengthen women’s boxing in the country. Born in Brazil, she developed an interest in sports at a young age and discovered boxing as both a passion and a path for personal growth. She advanced through regional competitions before representing her state and later Brazil in amateur tournaments, with an amateur record of 65 fights with 50 wins and 15 losses. She is a two-time Brazilian champion as well as the current Brazilian champion. Inside the ring, she is recognized for a tactical style that combines speed with defensive awareness. Her performances have contributed to the continued rise of women’s boxing in Brazil, helping inspire younger athletes to pursue the sport and further expanding opportunities for female fighters nationwide.

“Fighting in New York, at a major MVP event, is proof that all the work, sacrifice, and dedication are paying off,” said Nadja Jesus Santos. “Facing Tamm Thibeault will be a big challenge, but I am prepared and motivated to show my progress inside the ring. Representing my team, my country, and all the people who believe in me gives me even more strength. I will step into that ring with a lot of determination, heart, and desire to win. It is a huge opportunity, and I am ready to seize it.”

MVP’s rising bantamweight contender and Amanda Serrano’s protege, Krystal Rosado is a 23-year-old sensation and Carolina, Puerto Rico native who made her professional debut on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 2 show in August 2023, stunning fans with a ferocious second-round KO. Rosado went on to collect a win on MVP’s historic Serrano vs. Ramos card in October 2023 before appearing in front of her home fans at the legendary Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan as part of MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Ryan Bourland in March 2024, taking home a majority decision win, which she followed with a swift knockout victory at MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 7 in July 2024. She returned for Most Valuable Prospects 9 in October 2024 where she earned a UD win. Following another dominant UD win in March 2025, Rosado competed with three minute rounds—equal rules to men—during the fight week Open Workouts for MVP and Netflix’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 all-women’s mega-event, winning by unanimous decision. She most recently defeated Tania Walters on the Serrano vs. Tellez undercard in January 2026. She is currently ranked the WBA #5, WBO #8, IBF #10, and the WBC #17 contender. 

“I know Fernanda Reyes is coming to fight like the proud Mexican warrior she is and to defend her undefeated record. But I’m coming to New York to give everything I have and continue the great momentum my team and I have been building,” said Krystal Rosado. “I’m ready to put on a spectacular show for the fans and prove once again why I belong at the top. With God on my side, I will step into that ring prepared for war and leave with my hand raised.”

Fernanda Jimena “Torita” Reyes Delgado is a Mexican boxer from Jiquipilco, Mexico who began boxing at the age of 13 after being inspired by her father. Her nickname, “Torita,” originally belonged to her late father, and she adopted it in his honor. Reyes Delgado developed a standout amateur career, compiling an impressive stated amateur record of 80 wins, 2 losses, and 4 draws while building a reputation for a style that blends technical skill with aggression and a willingness to exchange in the ring.

“I’m proud to be part of this historic event and facing a talented boxer like Krystal Rosado,” said Fernanda Reyes. “I am sure we will keep the tradition alive of an all out war between Puerto Ricans and Mexicans inside the ring. For those that don’t know me, don’t miss this one. I don’t step back, and I’m coming to win. I am ready to put on a show and come out victorious.”

“MVPW was created to give the best women in boxing the same platform, spotlight, and opportunity as male counterparts in the sport, and this card shows exactly what that looks like,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “We’re proud to have women leading the charge with MVPW. This is what true equality in the sport looks like. For years, women fought on the undercards of men’s events, and now the roles can be reversed, with the best female fighters headlining, supported by incredible male talent on the undercard. MVPW-02 highlights the incredible depth of talent in women’s boxing today and bringing this event to New York at Madison Square Garden and delivering it live on ESPN is another major step in establishing MVPW as the global home for women’s boxing.”

US Olympian and amateur world champion Jahmal Harvey (2-0, 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. He most recently earned a knockout win on the main Netflix card of MVP’s Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day in December 2025. 

“I’m happy to be back on another great stage!” said Jahmal Harvey. “I’m looking to put on another skilled performance at the Mecca of boxing, MSG. Catch me live on ESPN on Friday, April 17.”

He will face Leandro Medina (7-3-1, 4 KOs), the 30-year-old from Rosario, Argentina. Medina returns to the ring following an active year. Fighting four times since July 2025, he notably earned two knockout wins, and most recently went the distance against rising contender Zaquin Moses in January 2026. 

MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (3-0-1, 1 KO) 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. 

“I’m back in action on Friday, April 17, and I’m hyped to be fighting at such a historic venue like MSG,” said Wanna Walton. “I’ve got strong ties to New York, so it’s the perfect place to showcase everything I’ve been working hard on since my last fight in September.”

Brownsville, Texas 22-year-old Dionne Ruvalcaba (2-2, 1 KO) began boxing at the age of 16 after facing bullying in school, turning to the sport as a way to build confidence, discipline, and resilience. Ruvalcaba competed in 15 amateur bouts, compiling a record of 8 wins and 7 losses while developing a traditional boxer’s style in the ring. Known for his discipline, coachability, and hunger for success, Ruvalcaba continues to develop his craft as a young fighter building his path in the sport.

Following her outstanding amateur career as a 15x US national champion, MVP’s Nat Dove (7-0-1, 2 KOs) has quickly emerged as one of women’s boxing’s most promising up-and-coming talents. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native first made waves on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects developmental series, competing at the 6th and 8th installments of the series. Dove made her first knockout against Michel Novas in March 2025, continuing to develop her undefeated record. She defeated Randee Lynn Morales by TKO in August 2025 on the MVP Fight Night card and most recently defeated Perla Lomeli on MVP’s Jake vs. Joshua Judgment Day Showcase in December. She is managed by Bob Kane, lives in Atlanta, Georgia and trains out of Philadelphia. 

“MVPW brought boxing back to ESPN, and I’m blessed to be a part of it,” said Nat Dove. “I’m finally fighting close to home, NEW YORK WHAT UP!”

Maria “La Imparabla” Micheo (14-6, 8 KOs) comes to the ring from Corona, California. She began boxing at the age of 21 and competed in 50 amateur fights. As a pro, she is a two-time world title contender, who contested for the unified IBF and WBO minimumweight titles vs. Yokasta Valle in 2023, and the WBA minimumweight title vs. Senesia Estrada in December 2021, with additional notable fights against other top pound-for-pound fighters including Gabriela Fundora. She steps back into the ring following her latest two TKO wins in August and October 2025. 

MVP’s Raquel “Pretty Beast” Miller is an undefeated professional boxer from San Francisco, California, boasting a record of 13-0 with 6 knockouts and a reign as former WBA Interim super welterweight world champion, currently ranked the WBC #2 contender at 168lbs. A standout talent from the moment she laced up gloves, Miller began boxing in her early 20s and, within just two years, captured the 2012 USA Boxing National Championship and a silver medal at the 2012 Women’s World Championships in Beijing. She also earned a bronze medal at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and was selected to join the historic first-ever U.S. women’s boxing team for the London 2012 Olympic Games as an alternate. Beyond the ring, Miller is a driven entrepreneur and mentor. She is the founder of PB Brand, a luxury athletic line inspired by her “Pretty Beast” persona, and the co-founder of Ladies In Power, a Bay Area nonprofit empowering youth through mental health support, financial literacy, leadership training, and life skills development. Following her latest first-round TKO win in 2023, Miller took a break from boxing and now will make her return under the MVP banner. 

“I’m excited to make my MVP debut on Friday, April 17 at Madison Square Garden,” said Raquel Miller. “Fighting on the Baumgardner vs. Shin card is a huge opportunity, and I’m ready to show the world why I belong on the big stage.”

Adriana Dos Santos Araújo is a 2x Brazilian Olympian who made history as the first Brazilian woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing. Raised in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, she grew up facing financial hardship and turned to sports as an outlet, initially playing soccer before discovering boxing in her late teens, where her natural talent and determination quickly stood out. Araújo rose through Brazil’s amateur ranks and reached a historic milestone at the 2012 London Olympic Games—the first Olympics to feature women’s boxing—where she won a bronze medal in the lightweight (60 kg) division, becoming the first Brazilian woman to stand on an Olympic boxing podium. She then returned to represent Brazil in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Following her Olympic success, Araújo transitioned to the professional ranks, competing internationally across multiple weight divisions and building a respected career known for her technical skill, speed, and resilience. Today, she is widely regarded as a pioneer of women’s boxing in Brazil, with her accomplishments inspiring a new generation of female fighters and expanding opportunities for women in combat sports across the country.

“I am very happy to be fighting at the best event in the world with MVP in New York, the company that takes care of us women,” said Adriana Araujo. “I am super excited and confident for this fight. I know that Raquel is a great fighter, but she knows who I am. I am training a lot and I will come out with the victory.”

Elon “El Leon” De Jesus (11-1-2, 8 KOs) is a 31-year-old hard-hitting super bantamweight prospect. A 2019 New York Golden Gloves Champion, DeJesus turned professional in 2020. He quickly earned a reputation as a dangerous fighter willing to test himself against tough opposition. With explosive power and a warrior’s mentality, he has delivered thrilling performances that keep fans on the edge of their seats. Proudly representing Dunkirk and Western New York, De Jesus carries the pride of his hometown into every fight. A determined and battle-tested boxer-puncher, Elon DeJesus is a rising force in the super bantamweight division, and a fighter to watch as he pursues his goal of becoming a world champion.

"I’m very excited to be a part of this event, fighting in Madison Square Garden is every fighter's dream! I appreciate MVP and my manager, Times Square Boxing, for making this opportunity happen,” said Elon De Jesus. “Training camp has been all work and no shortcuts. April 17th I step in that ring to make a statement. Every moment of sacrifice throughout the years led to this moment. I’m hungry, I’m prepared, and I’m coming for the win."

Connor Adaway (10-2-1, 4 KOs) is a 27-year-old rising contender from Plymouth, Devon, England who has built his professional résumé fighting across Europe, Asia, and now the United States. Adaway has made a strong impact fighting in Atlantic City, recently headlining an August 2025 card and defeating then 15-2 Emmanuel Rodriguez by eighth-round UD. He followed with another statement victory in November 2025, stopping then 20-3 Carlos Jackson by seventh-round TKO in another main event appearance.

“I’m excited and ready. I’ve had a great camp and I’ve put the work in,” said Connor Adaway. “Elon’s a tough fighter and I respect him, but I know what I’m capable of and I’m ready to show the level I belong at. Coming over from England to fight in America on a stage like Madison Square Garden is something fighters dream about. Especially on a huge MVP show, I’m grateful for the opportunity that they’ve given me but I’m not just coming to take part, I’m coming to make a statement and show everyone exactly who I am.”

Alex “El Toro” Vargas fights out of Bellport, New York. He began boxing at age six and built an accomplished amateur career highlighted by two Junior Olympic titles and a major victory at the New York Golden Gloves, where he won the 165lb title and was named Fighter of the Tournament. A standout multi-sport athlete and captain of the football and wrestling teams in high school, Vargas stepped away from boxing to pursue his education, earning degrees from Suffolk County Community College and SUNY Cortland, and studying Spanish in Colombia. After returning to the sport, he became a 2018 Golden Gloves finalist, then turned professional later that year, developing a reputation for slick footwork and speed while training alongside elite fighters including Richard Commey, Chris Colbert, Chris Algieri, and Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Outside the ring, Vargas serves his community as a police officer with the Suffolk County Police Department.

“I’ve been doubted my entire career, but that’s what motivated me,” said Alex Vargas. “Fighting at Madison Square Garden is a dream, and on Friday, April 17th it’s time to beat another undefeated fighter and prove I belong here.” 

Ryan “The Silent Assassin” O’Rourke was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. With around 70 amateur bouts, he was a finalist at the prestigious Eindhoven Box Cup in 2019 and 2020 Irish National Boxing Championships semifinalist.He then turned pro, earning his first seven wins across the United Kingdom, Spain, and Brussels. He made his U.S. debut in April 2022 with a dominant six-round shutout over Faycal Rezkallah, then returned later that year to score a first-round TKO against Andreas Maier. A tall, rangy 140-pounder who uses his reach, angles, and body work effectively, O’Rourke most recently delivered a standout victory over Boubacar Sylla, further establishing himself as one of Ireland’s rising contenders.

”This is the sort of opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Big thanks to Joe DeGuardia, Sheer Sports and MVP for giving it to me,” said Ryan O’Rourke. “To come all the way from Ireland and fight in such and iconic venue like MSG is a dream come true, but these are the sort of cards and venues I've always seen myself boxing on, so on Friday, April 17th I’m coming to put on a standout performance and announce myself on the big stage.”

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

About MVP

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) was founded in August 2021 by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian with a fighter first ethos. Since inception, MVP has produced 30 live boxing events, currently promotes nearly 60 fighters, 16 world champions, and 26 top contenders.

MVP has led boxing’s evolution in the streaming era through partnerships with the world’s leading platforms. In November 2024, MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 was the first-ever live professional sports event streamed on Netflix. Paul vs. Tyson shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event of all time with 125 million live viewers worldwide. MVP went on to partner with Netflix twice in 2025 for MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 and Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day.

Today, MVP is the global home of women’s boxing. MVP’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano in 2022 was the first female fight to headline Madison Square Garden, while Taylor vs. Serrano 2 in 2024 saw 74 million viewers globally on Netflix and became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history with 47 million AMA in the US. Their 2025 trilogy on Netflix topped an all-women’s megacard that set the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 17 world titles, earning nearly 6 million viewers globally. 

About ESPN

ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.

Material and Photo Courtesy of Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

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

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS’ TAYLOR VS. SERRANO 3 WOMEN’S MEGACARD SET TO BREAK GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™

Press Release: July 9, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix -NEW YORK, NY – July 8, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced it is set to break the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 17 world titles on the line across five bouts. The historic moment is set to take place during MVP’s highly anticipated Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano trilogy megafight, streaming live globally on Netflix from Madison Square Garden on Friday, July 11. The record attempt from Most Valuable Promotions exclusively includes world championship titles from the four major boxing sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF) and will be officially judged on Taylor vs. Serrano 3 fight night. The historic night will feature 3 undisputed championship bouts and 2 unified championship bouts total, while the main card will feature entirely women’s undisputed and unified championship fights. The announcement of this record attempt was made today at the Empire State Building by MVP co-founder and CEO Nakisa Bidarian.

Headlining the historic night is the highly anticipated trilogy bout between Ireland’s pound-for-pound great, undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs), and Brooklyn’s Puerto Rican boxing trailblazer, unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs). They will go head to head in a women’s super lightweight undisputed championship fight contested over 10, two-minute rounds. Also included in the record attempt is MVP’s reigning undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) as she faces Spain’s undefeated WBA Interim world champion Jennifer Miranda (12-0, 1 KO) in a 10-round undisputed super featherweight championship fight contested at 130 lbs during the co-main event. From the main card, IBF super middleweight world champion Savannah “The Silent Assassin” Marshall (13-1, 10 KOs) will take on WBO super middleweight world champion Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (14-1, 11 KOs) in a highly anticipated 10 round, 168lbs world title unification bout. Also attempting to set the record is MVP and England’s unified super bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney (10-0) as she faces Mexico’s WBC super bantamweight world champion Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) on the main card in a women’s unified championship fight at 122 lbs. Rounding out the record attempt is MVP’s reigning WBA bantamweight world champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson (17-2, 7 KOs) as she faces MVP’s IBF bantamweight world champion Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) on the preliminary card in a 10-round undisputed bantamweight world title bout at 118 lbs. 

“This is exactly the kind of history we set out to make when we founded Most Valuable Promotions,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of MVP. “Breaking a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card this Friday at Taylor vs. Serrano 3 would be a landmark moment for both boxing and women’s sports. There’s no place more fitting for this moment than the world’s most iconic arena, Madison Square Garden. With a global platform on Netflix and the best women’s fighters on the planet, Friday, July 11 is set to be a record-breaking night the world will never forget.”

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 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 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 Taylor vs. Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix, which became 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., 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.

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.

Hitchins Makes A Statement With KO of Kambosos

On June 14th Brooklyn-born undefeated IBF Jr. Welterweight world champion Richardson Hitchins returned to New York City for his first title defense as the headliner of a card at The Theater inside of Madison Square Garden. For a fighter in Hitchens, who won the IBF world championship in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division with a twelve round split decision over Liam Paro in December of last year, to make his first title defense inside of Madison Square Garden alone was a motivator. To be in the headline position, however, a solid performance in the theater inside of Madison Square Garden, which in itself is a historic Boxing venue, would be an obvious step towards eventually headlining in the Garden’s main arena.

Hitchins’ opponent also offered a dynamic of youth versus experience in the form of former two-time Lightweight world champion George Kambosos, who was no stranger to Madison Square Garden's theater having become Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world by decisioning Teofimo Lopez in the same ring in which this fight would take place in November 2021. Despite having a brief reign as undisputed Lightweight champion and then winning the IBO Lightweight world championship down the road in his career, much as was the case leading up to the Lopez bout, Kambosos was viewed as a significant underdog going against a young and unbeaten world champion.

Unlike Kambosos’ major accomplishment in dethroning Lopez, there would be no dramatic moments that would tip the scales in the challenger’s favor. For the champion Richardson Hitchins put on a performance that can be summed up in one word, “Dominant." 

From the opening bell, the champion used his height, reach, ability to use angles, and hand speed to keep Kambosos from being able to have any sustainable success beyond landing an occasional single punch. As the fight went on, the effects of the punishment dished out by the champion began to show on the former two-time world champion who gradually had all the visual signs of a fighter that though determined, had no answers and was taking a beating to the body and head. 

It would be Hitchins’ ability to change levels and make the body a focal point for his offense that would ultimately bring an end to this fight as a flush left hook to the body forced Kambosos to crumble to the canvas in the eighth round. The always “Game" Kambosos showed his mettle by trying to get up and to his credit, did seem to beat the count at the count of nine, but was in no condition to continue and the fight was promptly stopped.

If you were to draw up an ideal scenario for Richardson Hitchins in his first title defense and his first time as a main event in Madison Square Garden, you would be hard pressed to find one that would be better or one that was executed as perfectly as this performance was for the champion. In simple terms, Hitchins simply took his time and broke down a very " Game” opponent in George Kambosos. What might the future hold for this 27 year old champion who might just be entering his athletic prime? It is at times too easy to anoint a fighter as the next superstar in the sport after a performance like this where there were no flaws and a fight plan was carried out perfectly with almost surgical precision, but Hitchins does have star quality both in his skillset and the way he conducts himself and if he continues to produce these types of performances going forward, the label of "Superstar” will indeed be appropriate.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Foster-Nova Thoughts

With an unexpected detour of the plans of many Boxing fans for the weekend of February 17th, instead of the focus being on an encounter to determine the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world in Saudi Arabia, the Boxing world’s focus instead shifted to the friendly confines of The Theater in Madison Square Garden on February 16th where the spotlight focused on the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division. In previewing WBC Jr. Lightweight world champion O'Shaquie Foster’s title defense against WBC number twelve rated contender Abraham Nova, this observer noted how the current landscape of the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division is wide open with five current world champions, representing the five major world sanctioning organizations, currently sitting atop the division.

As such, there is no current central figure in the division, which means that it will be up to one of the current five champions to make a strong enough argument for himself as being the top fighter in the division. What yours truly did not mention was that there are times where such arguments are not likely to be made in one fight, but would/will perhaps take a few fights in order for the fighter through performances in the ring, to drum up public support in their favor as well as to potentially bring about the unification process, which would at least in theory move progress towards determining one world champion, and thus end any would be debates in the court of public opinion. Nearing the one year anniversary of his becoming a world champion by defeating Rey Vargas, now going into his second title defense, it was Foster's chance to continue to make the argument for himself. 

Under such a scenario, one might expect that a champion in Foster’s position might try to be aggressive and in the process look to make a statement. If that were the fight plan for Foster going into this encounter, it did not come to fruition. What occurred inside the ring was the very definition of a tactical Boxing chess match where neither fighter was willing to give much room for their opposition.

The first six rounds of this twelve round world championship bout was largely a contest of jabs and fighting for position. Abraham was very consistent in that any time he threw his jab, it was usually two or three at a time as he came forward. As consistent as it was, the champion Foster seemed prepared for it as he seemed to just evade those jabs from Nova by stepping slightly out of range and trying to give angles. When Foster threw his jab, they were thrown singularly and the challenger seemed to mimic his opponent by stepping out of range.

A true conundrum for anyone attempting to score a fight that is fought in such a way, often who wins a round will be determined by moments in a round that tends to sway opinion one way or the other. Nevertheless, when two fighters are essentially matching each other both offensively as well as defensively, determining such moments can be extremely difficult for any would-be judge. As the fight progressed, Nova seemed to be getting a slight edge as he was able to close the distance in spots and started landing short combinations to the body and head of the champion.

Just as it seemed there was some separation between the two fighters developing, even by the slightest of margins, Foster would respond in the following round where the ebb and flow was essentially at a standstill. After six rounds, I felt the fight was even.

It would be over the second half of the fight however,  where there would be a separation between the two fighters. Despite the bout remaining competitive,  Foster's sharper combination punching, ability to bait Nova into being countered, most notably with left hooks, and finally, being able to score a knockdown in the closing seconds of the twelfth and final round,  ultimately resulted in Foster's retaining his world championship via twelve round split decision. 

Although this was likely not the ideal scenario in which O'Shaquie Foster wanted to retain his title on a big stage in Madison Square Garden, he got the job done against a determined opponent, who to his credit, was able to make things difficult, particularly when the fight was fought on the inside. While we may be no closer to determining who is the top Jr. Lightweight in the world currently,  O'Shaquie Foster did succeed in establishing that he is firmly in the discussion and the focus will likely remain on him moving forward to see if he can continue to make his case. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth."

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Cameron-Taylor II: Repeat Or Redemption?

Women's Boxing has made significant strides over the last decade that has seen the sport for women receive long overdue recognition as well as mainstream attention. One of the most notable fighters that has led the charge in this era has been former Olympic Gold medalist and current Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world Katie Taylor.

Taylor has become one of the biggest stars in the sport both due to her dominance in the Lightweight division as well as her willingness to fight anyone in and around the division. Many likely remember Taylor taking part in a true groundbreaking moment for the sport when she scored a close decision victory over Undisputed Featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano in April 2021. A fight that was not only an all-time classic, but more importantly before a sellout crowd, one that marked the first time that a woman's bout main evented a Boxing card in the main arena in New York’s Madison Square Garden. As Taylor's dominance of the Lightweight division has continued, in search of a challenge, she moved up in weight to challenge undefeated Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world champion Chantelle Cameron earlier this year in her home country of Ireland.

Despite having what amounted to a home field advantage over the champion in May of this year, Taylor was unable to come away with a victory. In what was a close and competitive fight, it was Cameron who outworked Taylor over the course of the ten round world championship bout to retain her undisputed championship via majority decision. In doing so, Cameron not only scored what many felt was an upset given Taylor's standing in the sport, but also handed the Undisputed Lightweight queen the first loss of her career.

Rather than going back to the Lightweight division and look to continue her reign, Taylor will instead attempt to avenge her defeat when she faces Cameron for a second time. A rematch that will take place on November 25th in Dublin, Ireland and can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.

The story of this rematch is simple, can Taylor avenge her first career loss or will Chantelle Cameron be able to get a second victory over a future Hall of Famer? A misconception that this observer believes was exposed in the first fight between these two world champions is that even though Katie Taylor had a considerably higher profile and what amounted to a home field advantage, Cameron was also an undefeated, undisputed world champion in her division going into that fight, and was able to show that she herself is a world-class boxer that belonged in the ring with someone of Taylor's caliber.

This time around, the scenario is almost identical to what it was like for Cameron going into the first fight. Despite her victory over Taylor, there are some that view her as an underdog going into the rematch, much like how even though she was the defending champion the first time around, there were some that did not think she had much of a chance. As was the case in the first fight, the rematch will also take place in Taylor's home country of Ireland giving her once again, the theoretical home field or to be more appropriate “Home Ring" advantage. Cameron proved however, she could win under those conditions and did win the first fight. With that knowledge, she is not likely to feel intimidated going into fight two.

What this will boil down to in my eyes is whether Taylor will be able to control the tempo of the combat and be able to use her lateral movement and combination punching, two cornerstones of her Boxing style, to try and out box Cameron. There were periods in the first fight where Taylor was able to implement this approach, but she could not sustain it for the duration, which allowed Cameron to come on in the middle and late rounds to secure the victory. Taylor must be elusive and be tactical in her approach in this fight because if she gives up any ground, Cameron will look to take advantage as was the case in the first encounter. Whether Cameron can limit Taylor's movement again as she was able to in the first fight and try to get a more conclusive victory remains to be seen. 

2023 has been another year that has marked progress for Women's Boxing. Will Cameron-Taylor II be regarded as another classic in the continued progression for the sport and possibly lead to a third chapter? We will find out on Saturday, November 25th.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Cameron vs. Taylor II takes place on Saturday, November 25 at 3 Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 11:05AM ET/8:05AM PT with Before The Bell, which will feature preliminary bouts. This will be followed by the main card, which will begin at 2PM ET/11AM PT.

(*U.S. Times Only.*)

(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

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Can Berlanga Convince The Boxing World He's Ready For Alvarez?

The main goal of just about every fighter that competes in and around the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division is to secure a fight with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Not only is Alvarez one of the superstars in the sport of Boxing, which obviously means whomever he fights is most likely assured a career high payday, but in regard to the Super-Middleweight division, he remains the undisputed champion of the world. As such whenever a fight occurs in the division that does not directly involve Alvarez, the obvious question that surrounds it is whether those participating in a fight can make a convincing argument as being a potential opponent for him either in the near future or perhaps further down the road.

Undefeated Super-Middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga is one fighter that is trying to make that argument. Unbeaten in twenty professional fights with sixteen knockouts, Berlanga has quickly developed not only a fan following, but also buzz due to his punching power and ability to score knockouts almost as quickly as a fight begins, having scored all sixteen of his knockouts in the first round. Naturally, as a fighter moves up the ladder of contention, the level of opposition theoretically is supposed to get tougher for young prospects turned would be contenders.

While Berlanga had successfully worked his way to being the North American Boxing Organization (NABO), champion in the Super-Middleweight division, the streak of knockouts which began his career would ultimately come to an end in April 2021 when he scored an eight round unanimous decision over Demond Nicholson. This would begin a different streak as in his last four fights, Berlanga has been forced to go the distance.

Following his last outing in June of last year, where he scored a ten round unanimous decision over Alexis Angulo in his first fight as a main event attraction, which was broadcast on ESPN  and it's streaming network ESPN+ from Madison Square Garden's Theater in Berlanga 's home of New York, the fighter came to a  mutual agreement with his promoter Bob Arum to part ways. It is not uncommon for fighters to try and break away from promoters who help develop them as they try to progress for a hoped for shot at a world championship. Usually, such splits between fighter and promoter usually come as a result of the promoter's failure to secure a fight that would either move the fighter closer or directly to the goal of challenging for a world championship.

In essence, that appears to be what led to the split between Berlanga and Arum as the promoter described the split as a difference in opinion as to the direction of Berlanga 's career. Now one year removed from his last fight Berlanga, who is rated in the top ten in both the World Boxing Organization (WBO) per his holding the affiliated NABO and the World Boxing Council (WBC) in the Super-Middleweight division, prepares to return the the ring on Saturday, June 24th at The Theater in Madison Square Garden as he faces former world title challenger Jason Quigley in a scheduled twelve round bout that can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN. 

This fight not only represents Berlanga 's debut on a new network after fighting the majority of his career up to this point competing on ESPN/ESPN+, but more specifically and perhaps importantly, this will be his first fight under new promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing. What makes that significant is for the last several years, Hearn has promoted and developed what has so far been a successful relationship with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Berlanga 's decision to sign with Hearn should be viewed as the obvious path for him to try to get a shot at Alvarez.

In Jason Quigley, Berlanga will face a fighter who has challenged for a world title for the first time in his career in a fight that is one further step up. There are two questions that come to this observer's mind as this fight approaches.

Number one, what kind of Berlanga will we see in this fight? As some may recall, despite getting the victory over Alexis Angulo in his last fight, he was criticized for his performance with some fans even stating that they felt Angulo won the fight. Whether his performance was in part affected by nerves in main eventing a Boxing card for the first time and doing so in Madison Square Garden, and/or what turned out to be a pending split with his then promoter Bob Arum and his promotional company Top Rank Inc., is something that only Berlanga can answer for himself. At this stage of his career after turning professional in 2016, Berlanga should know that he is at least in theory approaching competing at the top level of the sport and therefore, should expect the competition level to increase. The second question that surrounds this fight is whether or not Jason Quigley will be able to provide resistance and be able to test Berlanga?

Despite a respectable record of 20-2, with 14 Knockouts coming into this fight and being a former North American Boxing Federation (NABF) as a 160lb. Middleweight, Quigley is most known for having been knocked out by then WBO Middleweight world champion Demetrius Andrade in two rounds in November 2021. While Quigley seemed to be caught cold by the highly skilled and dangerous Andrade before he could have an opportunity to get into a rhythm, perhaps what some might see as a possible red flag is that Quigley has been stopped in both of his career losses. The loss to Andrade led to a near two year layoff for Quigley before getting back to the ring in April of this year in scoring a ten round unanimous decision over veteran Garbor Gorbics in what was his Super-Middleweight debut.

Quigley can rely on his experience or at least try to in this fight against Berlanga, but zt thirty-two there might be some who question what he might have left as perhaps some are questioning whether the twenty-six year old Berlanga is ready to potentially challenge for a world title or at least face another top contender should he win this fight. Perhaps some might take it a step further by saying that the difference in opinion as to the direction of his career, which led to his split with Bob Arum might have been rooted in Arum possibly feeling that Berlanga needs more time to develop rather than trying to get into position to challenge Alvarez in the near future.

Whatever the case might be, Berlanga knows that Quigley has been caught cold before and it would not surprise me, despite going the distance in his previous four fights, to see him try to jump on Quigley early and attempt to end the fight quickly. If that is indeed the case, Quigley's main objective at least for the first couple of rounds should be to try and weather the storm of Berlanga's punching power and try to gradually work his way into the fight as it progresses. Quigley must however, try to be as warmed up and ready to go as possible because he will likely be pressured from the outset and Berlanga is a fighter that can hurt you with either hand. If Quigley is not ready for the pressure and attack that Berlanga will likely apply, this could indeed be a short evening.

There were some fans particularly on social media that have been critical of Berlanga and Eddie Hearn for the selection of Quigley as the opponent for this fight. Such criticism is likely based on what happened to Quigley against Andrade. Sometimes however, especially in the present time we are all living in, no matter what a fighter and promoter might do, the fan can be fickle and hard to please. Regardless of what happens when Berlanga and Quigley square off in the ring, the fan regardless of what their level of knowledge of the sport and the development of a possible future world title challenger might be, fights like this are necessary for a fighter's continued progression and if Edgar Berlanga gets through Jason Quigley and does so impressively, his next fight will likely be against a top contender, if not what would likely be considered a long shot at least at this point to get a shot at Alvarez. It is up to Edgar Berlanga to make the best argument he can that he is indeed ready for that challenge. Whether he can do that in this fight might be debatable, but nevertheless, remains to be seen.

"And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Berlanga vs. Quigley takes place on Saturday, June 24th at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The card can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 5:45PM ET/2:45PM PT with Before The Bell featuring preliminary bouts. This will be followed by the main card beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT. (U.S. Times Only.)

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com. 

(*Card and start times subject to change.*)

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

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Taylor-Lopez Thoughts

 The fight between Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez, while being an encounter between two recent undisputed world champions in the sport for Taylor's WBO Jr. Welterweight world championship at the Theater in Madison Square Garden on June 10th, was one that was overshadowed by comments made in the days that preceded the fight as both fighters made references to the possibility of inflicting serious injury on the other. Although this observer made his feelings clear in previewing this fight as to such comments and conduct, which I stand by, it unfortunately did overshadow what was a compelling bout between two of the sport's top stars and one that was regarded as one of the most anticipated encounters of 2023.

Despite my feelings regarding the conduct that preceded this fight, it was one that I was nevertheless looking forward to because of both the interesting clash of styles between the two fighters as well as the respective scenarios that each fighter found himself in, in coming into this bout off of performances in their respective last outings that the consensus was that both fighters had lost. As it would turn out, this would be another example of Teofimo Lopez' ability to go against the type of strategy that one would expect of a fighter known for his punching power and using a surprising tactical Boxing style and approach that proved to be effective. An approach similar in execution to the one that Lopez used in his unification bout with Vasyl Lomachenko in October 2020 where he fully unified the Lightweight division.

By using faints, lateral movement, and attacking in spurts at varying angles, Lopez was able to dictate how the fight was fought by keeping the champion Taylor off balance and unable to find a consistent rhythm. While the early rounds of this twelve round world championship bout were competitive and Taylor did have success periodically, Lopez' ability to time his attacks, be elusive, often attack in short combinations that Taylor had trouble defending against, and overall ring generalship was the story of this fight. Although likely not the most entertaining of bouts of you were one expecting Lopez to be throwing punches with knockout intention, Teofimo Lopez once again was able to show in this fight that he has more wrinkles to his Boxing strategies than only merely relying on the punching power he has demonstrated throughout his career.

A subplot going into this fight was the fact that this was Josh Taylor's first fight in over sixteen months as he had dealt with both injuries as well as elements of the politics that be in the sport, which ultimately led to him vacating three portions of what was the Undisputed Jr. Welterweight championship of the world before fulfilling his obligation to the World Boxing Organization (WBO) by facing Lopez, who came into this fight as the WBO's mandatory challenger in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. It is hard to say whether any of the aforementioned factors, specifically the issue of inactivity ended up working against Taylor in this fight, but from this observer's view, he seemed lethargic and a few steps behind Lopez throughout the entire fight. This does not take away anything from the performance that Teofimo Lopez put forth here in ultimately winning a convincing twelve round unanimous decision to win the title and hand Taylor the first loss of his career, but perhaps the possibility of Taylor being overtrained and possibly struggling to get down to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight limit might explain why there just seemed to be something off about Taylor's performance here. The possibility of him being unprepared for the approach that Lopez implemented is something to also consider.

Lopez now as a two-division world champion has thrown the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division a curveball as some considered him an underdog to dethrone Taylor. While Lopez does deserve credit not only for his performance, but also his apologizing to Taylor after the fight for the remarks he made in wanting to kill him, it is hard to say where he goes from here. Lopez is going through some issues related to his personal life outside of the ring and even though this observer will not comment on those issues, it will likely take some of the focus and time away from potential fights that could be made including a potential unification bout with current WBC world champion Regis Prograis, who coincidentally has a title defense on June 17th in his hometown of New Orleans against Danielito Zorrilla, or a potential rematch with Taylor. 

Although Lopez did apologize for his remarks prior to the fight and Taylor accepted the apology calling it ‘Fun and Games,” this observer does not feel that way in that those comments do not belong in any sport, even one as flawed as Boxing tends to be at times. Going forward regardless of what might be going on outside of the ring in a fighter’s life, Lopez, Taylor and any fighter on every level of the sport needs to understand that the sport needs to be respected at all times including the obvious dangers that are associated with it. It is the responsibility of the fighters, especially those who are in the position as being fortunate to be at the top level of the sport, to represent it with the dignity and class that it deserves. While emotions tend to be high prior to any fight and no one knows what a fighter might be dealing with in their private lives outside of Boxing, it might be a good idea for those around fighters to advise them on conduct, what to say, and how to say it. Thankfully, there were no tragedies inside of Madison Square Garden on June 10, 2023, but when you look at the long list of tragedies that have occured on every level of the sport, it is far from “Fun and Games,” and the sport needs to be treated with the respect it deserves.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Taylor-Lopez Preview

 

On Saturday, June 10th, one of the biggest fights of 2023 will take place in the Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY as undefeated WBO Jr. Welterweight world champion Josh Taylor will defend his title against former Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world Teofimo Lopez. While this fight, which can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ is for the WBO version of the Jr. Welterweight championship of the world, the interesting sub-plot is this is an encounter between two former undisputed world champions. One, Lopez having lost his title in the ring in the same venue where this fight coincidentally will take place, the other having relinquished portions of the undisputed championship in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division both due to injuries as well as the politics that be in the sport. 

While Lopez has been unbeaten since moving up from Lightweight following losing the Lightweight championship to George Kambosos in November 2021, there are questions regarding how effective a fighter he is now as a Jr. Welterweight. In his last fight, Lopez earned a controversial ten round split decision over top contender Sandor Martin in December of last year. An irony that is also a coincidence is the champion Taylor is coming off a controversial split decision victory in defense of what was then the Undisputed Jr. Welterweight championship of the world against Jack Catterall in February of last year. The commonality between the two fights, many believe that both Taylor and Lopez lost those bouts.

While this observer will save any debates for those who will partake in them regarding those fights, it does nevertheless create a unique situation where two fighters are meeting each other for a world championship with the opinion of some fans and experts alike being that each are coming off fights they might have lost. Opinion and debates aside, what those two fights did do for both Taylor and Lopez is create a scenario where both fighters likely feel that they have something to prove. The fight itself also provides an interesting clash of styles. 

 

Both fighters have shown in recent fights that they can do a little of everything. Most would likely say however, that this will be more of a classic scenario of a boxer in Taylor against a power puncher in Lopez. Teofimo Lopez is a fighter with knockout power in both hands that has throughout his career scored several highlight reel knockouts that seemed to come suddenly. Although the possibility of Lopez being able to do that should not be dismissed, we have yet to see that type of explosive power from him at 140lbs. Obviously, something else to keep in mind is Taylor is at the top of the division and this will likely be a significant test for Lopez in his third fight as a Jr. Welterweight. 

Taylor meanwhile is a solid boxer/puncher, but can take a few rounds to find his rhythm. If Lopez begins this fight by looking to apply pressure on the champion, Taylor will not be able to dictate how the fight is fought. While it is logical to think that this will be the approach Lopez will try to implement early on, Taylor will need to find a way to be active with his offense, but try to be elusive at the same time.

Unfortunately, a part of the story of this fight has also involved some less than sportsman-like comments between the two fighters with each alluding to the possibility of wanting to inflict serious injury upon the other. Although some may dismiss this as hype tactics to draw interest in the bout, this observer should not have to remind either the fighters themselves, or the readers of this column as to the dangers that exist in Boxing and by extension all combat sports.

 It may be the view of some that yours truly is possibly reading too much into comments prior to a fight and possibly taking it too seriously. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I will always defend the sport of Boxing and in an already dangerous sport, comments alluding to wanting to seriously injure an opponent if not God forbid worse, hype tactic or not, should not be viewed as acceptable in any way, shape, or form. Whether fighters know it or not, they do represent the sport both in and out of the ring and comments like that not only do not belong, but more importantly give the wrong impression to those who are new to the sport and far too much credibility to Boxing's detractors.

When one has covered the sport for as long as I have, things like seeing serious injuries and, yes, even death occur is something that unfortunately comes with the territory. If any fighter however, thinks that using the possibility of something like that happening in an attempt to hype interest in their bout is acceptable, I suggest reaching out to the people who have been affected by one of the sport's numerous tragedies and ask them if they feel such rhetoric is acceptable. I would feel safe betting money I do not have that the fighters or anyone else for that matter that think such conduct is acceptable will have a change of heart once they hear what those who have been impacted by a tragedy that occurred due to injuries suffered in a Boxing ring, have to say. Bottom line, it is not something that should be used as a hype tactic, is not something to make light of, and is not something to joke about. The fighters who have given their lives to the sport and their families deserve better and so does Boxing.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

Taylor vs. Lopez takes place on Saturday, June 10th at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 6:10PM ET/3:10PM PT. ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/Smart TVs. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. 

(*Card and Start time subject to change *)

(*Check your local listings internationally.)

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