Showing posts with label Press Release. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Press Release. Show all posts

Friday, August 1, 2025

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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




About MVP


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





Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.


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





Wednesday, July 23, 2025

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS BACK-2-BACK EVENTS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Press Release: July 22, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions - ORLANDO, FL – July 22, 2025 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that Most Valuable Prospects 14 will return on Friday, August 22 ahead of MVP Fight Night on Saturday, August 23, as part of MVP’s back-2-back events at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Most Valuable Prospects 14 will be available globally for free on both DAZN.com and the DAZN app with no subscription required. Headlining Most Valuable Prospects 14 will be a 10-round featherweight bout at 126lbs between MVP’s top-15 WBA and WBO contender, Puerto Rican Puerto Rican National Team star Jan Paul Rivera (12-0, 6 KOs) vs. Miami, Florida’s Daniel Bailey (15-2, 8 KOs). In the co-main event, returning series favorite and Orlando, Florida’s own 24-year-old Corey Marksman (11-0-1, 8 KOs) will face Isabella, Puerto Rico’s 28-year old Luis “Bebo” Martinez (9-1, 4 KOs) in a 10 round lightweight bout at 135lbs. Also on the main card, 27-year-old Cuban middleweight Yoelvis Gomez (8-1, 7 KOs) will square off against Haiti’s 24-year-old Edwine Humaine (9-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout at 160lbs in the middleweight division.



Headlining the preliminary card will be Fort Lauderdale, FL’s undefeated 28-year old Tayre Jones (13-0, 7 KOs) vs. St. Cloud, Florida’s 24-year-old Puerto Rican talent Alex Rios (9-2, 3 KOs) in an 8-round bout at 140lbs in the super lightweight division. Also joining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 26-year-old undefeated Nigerian featherweight and IBF #1 contender Elizabeth Oshoba (9-0, 5 KOs) making her promotional debut vs. Springs, TX fighter Melissa Oddessa Parker (6-3-1, 2 KOs) in an 8-round bout at 126lbs. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 14 are on sale now at Ticketmaster.



Headlining Most Valuable Prospects 14 will be MVP’s top-15 WBA and WBO contender, Puerto Rican Puerto Rican National Team star Jan Paul Rivera (12-0, 6 KOs) vs. Daniel Bailey (15-2, 8 KOs). Rivera, the 24-year-old featherweight prospect from Salinas, Puerto Rico, was a decorated member of the Puerto Rican national boxing team as an amateur, competing in over 200 bouts. His amateur accolades include winning two straight Puerto Rico Elite National Championships in 2020 and 2021, as well as the Puerto Rico Youth National Championships in 2018 and 2019. He also earned a silver medal at the AIBA Youth World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in 2018. Across his 10-fight professional career to date, Rivera has competed across the USA, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Colombia, furthering his aspirations to become a global star in the sport. He recently took home a knockout win over then-8-0 Justin Goodson in the main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 7  defeated Andy Beltran by unanimous decision in the main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 9 in October 2024, and earned a UD win over Alexis Eduardo Molina Jimenez in April 2024. His opponent, Daniel Bailey, is a 29-year-old contender from Miami, Florida. Bailey most recently earned back-to-back KO wins in 2024.



In the co-main event will be 24-year-old Florida native Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (11-0-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight bout at 135 lbs. The talented prospect made a name for himself in his first major PPV appearance on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry main card in July 2024 in a rematch against Tony Aguilar. The pair’s first meeting resulted in a well-fought split decision draw, contested during MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 5 in February 2024. In the rematch, Marksman impressed, taking home a majority decision win. He most recently delivered a ferocious TKO of then-undefeated powerhouse Tayden Beltran in the co-main event of Most Valuable Prospects 12 in May 2025. He now takes on 28-year old Luis “Bebo” Martinez (9-1, 4 KOs). Martinez comes to the ring from Isabella, Puerto Rico by way of Aguadilla, PR boasting a current 3-bout win streak, including his most recent second-round KO win over Carlos Manuel Portillo in February 2025. 



Also on the main card of Most Valuable Prospects 14, 27-year-old middleweight Yoelvis Gomez (8-1, 7 KOs) will take on the challenge of Haiti’s 24-year-old Edwine Humaine (9-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout at 160lbs. Gomez comes to the ring from Havana, Cuba by way of Las Vegas, Nevada. Gomez began his pro career with five straight knockout wins and most recently has delivered two sensational performances earning him a 6th round TKO win in June 2024 and a 4th round KO win following his opponent retiring in September 2024. Now, he looks to test himself against a fellow young prospect in Edwine Humaine. Humaine comes to the ring from Springfield, Massachusetts by way of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and looks to establish himself in the middleweight division with a win over promising prospect Gomez.



Headlining the preliminary card will be undefeated 28-year old Tayre Jones (13-0, 7 KOs) vs. 24-year-old Puerto Rican talent Alex Rios (9-2, 3 KOs) in an 8-round super lightweight bout at 140lbs. Jones comes to the ring from Fort Lauderdale, Florida fresh from his latest KO win in February 2025, and will make his Most Valuable Prospects debut, while Rios returns to the series for his fourth appearance. Rios, who comes to the ring from St. Cloud, Florida by way of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, most recently earned a unanimous decision over Felix Santana Jr. in November 2024.



Also on the preliminary card, IBF #1 contender and MVP’s Nigerian featherweight signee Elizabeth Oshoba (9-0, 5 KOs) will make her promotional debut over 8 rounds at 126lbs vs. Melissa Oddessa Parker (6-3-1, 2 KOs). Oshoba, the undefeated 26-year-old, grew up in a challenging neighborhood in Lagos, inspired by her older brother in the Nigerian Army to become tough and succeed despite all odds. She began boxing at age 13, quickly distinguishing herself with a relentless work ethic and powerful punches, the start of a decorated amateur career with over 70 fights, including becoming a 6x Nigerian national amateur champion, a bronze medal at the 2019 All African Games, a gold at the 2020 African Zone 3 Championships, and winning silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Oshoba relocated to the UK to make her pro debut in September 2022 and has maintained an unblemished record since. In November 2023, she clinched the IBO female super featherweight title, defeating Martina Reighi via unanimous decision. In January 2024, Oshaba made history with a dominant performance against Italy’s Michela Braga, winning by 10th round knockout to become Nigeria’s first female world title holder and the WBC Silver featherweight champion. She has continued to build her undefeated record, most recently defeating Agustina Rojas in June 2024 and Lenka Volejnikova in March 2025. Outside the ring, Oshoba balances academic commitments with her deep commitment to mentoring young female boxers in Nigeria, providing support and guidance to aspiring athletes and aiming to inspire and cultivate the next generation of champions. She is managed by Lee Eaton. Her opponent, Melissa Odessa Parker, comes to the ring from Springs, Texas looking to halt Oshoba’s rise. Parker most recently contested for the North American Boxing Federation featherweight title against Hannah Noelle Rapp, fighting to a split decision draw in March 2025.



“Most Valuable Prospects 14 will kick off our first ever back-2-back events with Most Valuable Prospects 14 MVP on Friday, August 22, followed by MVP Fight Night on Saturday, August 23, and we’re thrilled to showcase another stacked lineup of MVP talent,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of MVP. “Jan Paul Rivera continues to climb the ranks as one of Puerto Rico’s next big stars, and we’re introducing the world to Nigeria’s Elizabeth Oshoba–who has the knockout power to put the entire 126lb division on notice–as she makes her MVP debut. Thank you to Boxlab Promotions and DAZN for their continued support to bring these cards to fans in Orlando at the Caribe Royale and around the world.”



“Caribe Royale is once again pleased to partner with Most Valuable Promotions on this 14th installment of the Most Valuable Prospects series,” said Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions and Managing Director of the Caribe Royale Resort. “What started close to three years ago has blossomed into the premier showcase for up and coming talent in boxing! This card is no exception, with young stars showing off their talents for the viewing audience at home and the Central Florida fans that have come to expect these great events!”



Most Valuable Prospects 14 on Friday, August 22 will precede the Saturday, August 23 MVP Fight Night headlined by MVP’s Puerto Rican Olympian and the WBA’s #1 ranked flyweight contender Yankiel “El Doctorcito” Rivera (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. WBO international flyweight titleholder Angelino “Huracan” Cordova (19-0-1, 12 KOs) in a 12-round bout at 112 lbs for the WBA interim flyweight world title. MVP Fight Night will stream live globally as part of the DAZN subscription package. Tickets for MVP Fight Night are also on sale now at Ticketmaster.



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



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




About MVP


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



About DAZN


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



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




Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.


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





Thursday, July 10, 2025

Taylor-Serrano 3 Weights From New York City

Credit: Sarah Steir / Getty Images for Netflix)


Press Release: July 10, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix - NEW YORK, NY –  July 10, 2025  – Today at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Ireland’s 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) stepped on the scales ahead of their highly anticipated Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix showdown.

The first-ever live official weigh-in on Netflix was hosted by Ariel Helwani, with on-stage coverage from Sibley Scoles, and expert commentary from Andre Ward, Seniesa Estrada, and Laila Ali on the eve of this historic night for women’s boxing. See below for all official weights ahead of tomorrow’s fight night. For additional details on the final weights, please refer to the attached bout sheet.

MAIN CARD – 8:00 PM EDT

Undisputed Super Lightweight World Championship (140 lbs)
Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano
Bray, Ireland | Carolina, PR
23-1 (6 KOs) | 47-3-1 (31 KOs)
135.8 lbs | 136.0 lbs

Undisputed Super Featherweight World Championship (130 lbs)
Alycia Baumgardner vs. Jennifer Miranda
Detroit, MI | Madrid via Cadiz, Spain
15-1 (7 KOs) (1 NC) | 12-0 (1 KO)
130.0 lbs | 129.4 lbs

IBF/WBO/Ring Super Middleweight World Titles (168 lbs)
Savannah Marshall vs. Shadasia Green
Hartlepool, England | Paterson, NJ
13-1 (10 KOs) | 15-1 (11 KOs)
167.0 lbs | 167.2 lbs

IBF/WBC/WBO/Ring Super Bantamweight World Titles (122 lbs)
Ellie Scotney vs. Yamileth Mercado
London | Cuauhtemoc, MX
10-0 | 24-3 (5 KOs)
121.6 lbs | 119.6 lbs

PRELIMS – 5:00 PM EDT

Undisputed Bantamweight World Title (118 lbs)
Cherneka Johnson vs. Shurretta Metcalf
Gold Coast, Australia via Tauranga, NZ | Dallas, TX
17-2 (7 KOs) | 14-4 (2 KOs)
116.8 lbs | 117.0 lbs

WBC Interim World Title – Super Lightweight (140 lbs)
Chantelle Cameron vs. Jessica Camara
Northampton, England | Montreal, Canada
20-1 (8 KOs) | 14-4-1 (4 KOs)
139.0 lbs | 139.4 lbs

Super Bantamweight Bout (122 lbs)
Ramla Ali vs. Lila Furtado
London via Mogadishu, Somalia | Guarulhos, Brazil
9-2 (2 KOs) | 11-2 (2 KOs)
121.6 lbs | 121.2 lbs

Middleweight Bout (160 lbs)
Tamm Thibeault vs. Mary Casamassa
Shawinigan, Quebec | Pittsburgh, PA
2-0 (1 KO) | 6-0 (1 KO)
159.6 lbs | 156.8 lbs


Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano will stream LIVE on Netflix exclusively on Friday, July 11, from Madison Square Garden in New York City. In the first-ever all-women’s boxing card in Madison Square Garden history, Ireland’s undisputed champion Katie Taylor faces Brooklyn’s Puerto Rican boxing trailblazer and seven-division champion Amanda Serrano in a historic trilogy fight no one will want to miss. The event is produced, marketed, and promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and distributed by Netflix.


Fight night coverage will be anchored by host Kate Scott and boxing legend Laila Ali. Sean Grande will call the blow-by-blow ringside, joined by former undisputed world champion Seniesa Estrada and former world champion Andre Ward for in-fight analysis. Ariel Helwani and Sibley Scoles will provide ringside interviews and reporting, with Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts serving as the in-ring announcer and rules/scoring analysis from Sean Wheelock. 


Taylor vs. Serrano 3 will be available to stream live globally on all Netflix plans, at no additional cost to subscribers. The broadcast will feature live commentary in English, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Latin America), Brazilian Portuguese and French. Click HERE to set a reminder to watch. 

Follow Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano's intense journey and preparations as they train for their historic trilogy fight with the sports documentary, Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano, narrated by Uma Thurman, now streaming on Netflix. 


For more information on Taylor vs. Serrano 3 visit Tudum.com/tvs. Those who do not have a Netflix account can visit netflix.com/signup. 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 Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix/ Photo Courtesy of: Sarah Steir / Getty Images for Netflix) Used with permission.


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





Wednesday, July 9, 2025

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.





Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Former Two-Division World Champion Boxer Paulie Malignaggi Signs Three Fight Deal With BKB Bareknuckle Boxing

Credit: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing 

Press Release: June 17, 2025 By BKB Bareknuckle Boxing - Miami, Florida - Former IBF junior welterweight and WBA welterweight champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi announced today his return to fighting, signing a three-fight deal with BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing in hopes of becoming a 2-sport world champion and adding the historic Police Gazette Diamond Belt to his collection.


 


Malignaggi, who has served as BKB’s color commentator and lead analyst since 2021, will fight in the BKB Super Welterweight division and is slated to return to action and make his Trigon debut at BKB 45 on September 6 in Bristol, England.


 


Malignaggi, born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Sicily, holds a professional boxing record of 36-8 and has fought some of the biggest names in the sport including Miguel Cotto, Shawn Porter, Adrian Broner, Ricky Hatton and Zab Judah.


 


He notes that while it would be easy to leverage his name for an immediate shot at a BKB Bare Knuckle title (currently held by Wales’ Liam Rees), his desire is to first fight a contender and work his way to a shot at the title rather than leapfrogging fighters who have put in their time into the sport.


 


Said Malignaggi, “ I could easily use my position to jump right back into a title fight. But you know what? That's not what I'm going to do. I respect the fighters too much. Here at BKB, there's really good contenders in the super welterweight division. I know that I when this announcement gets around to the contenders, they're all going to want a piece of me. I want to fight one of those top contenders and earn my spot. I don't want to jump the line.  I still got what got the goods and I'm chasing that title.”


 


BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing consists of 5 3-minute rounds (6x3 for title fights) and is fought in the patented triangular ring, the Mighty Trigon - the smallest fighting surface in combat sports. Malignaggi feels that both the Trigon and the number of rounds best suit him at this stage of his career, and that his experience will be advantageous to his success. 


 


“Having sat ringside at BKB for three years, taking in these amazing fights, I'm always thinking, ‘These guys are impressive, but you know what? I think I can still do that.’ I used to fight 10, 12 rounds. I can still do 5 or 6 rounds.


 


“Ultimately, I want to prove something to myself.  I’m in the best shape I’ve been in in years, and being able to say I’ve been at the top of the game in two sports would just solidify my legacy in fighting. I don’t know who my first opponent will be yet, but I am confident that BKB will give me someone I can really test myself against.”


 


BKB’s next event will be this Saturday at 6 CT when Bare Knuckle Boxing makes its Tennessee debut at The Pinnacle in Nashville for BKB 42 Musich City Brawl. BKB then returns to the UK July 5 for BKB 43 in Bristol, England.  BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing airs live exclusively on VICE TV in the US and Canada and on talkSPORT in the UK and Ireland.  Visit bkbbareknuckle.com for tickets, information and all ways to watch.


 


About Paulie Malignaggi


 


One of the biggest personalities in combat sports, Paulie Malignaggi, a former 2-division boxing champion (having held the IBF junior welterweight and WBA welterweight titles), currently serves as BKB’s lead color commentator.  In addition to BKB, Malignaggi calls fights for ProBox TV and hosts his on YouTube show, Paulie TV.  Previously, he was part of Showtime’s boxing broadcast team. He has appeared in numerous television programs and movies including Gravesend, Bluebloods, and Undefeated, and had a feature documentary on his life leading up to his fight with Miguel Cotto, entitled Magic Man, which later aired on Showtime.


 


About BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing


 


In the past two years, BKB (originally BYB) has purchased the UK-based BKB, the world’s oldest professional bare knuckle boxing company, and in doing so merged the organizations to create the largest bare knuckle boxing company in the world in terms of roster, library and distribution; ushered in ethical and legalized gambling to the sport; acquired the rights to the historic and prestigious Police Gazette Diamond Belt which now serves as the Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship; and brought bare knuckle boxing to lineal television in the United States with the recent deal with VICE TV, and to mainstream in the UK with a recent partnership with News UK’s talkSPORT.  For more information, visit bkbbareknuckle.com or follow @bkbbareknuckle on all social media platforms.


 


Material and Photo Courtesy of: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing  Used with permission.


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





Friday, June 13, 2025

Champion Unites with Boxing Icon Katie Taylor in a Bold, Multi-Year Partnership

 

Credit: Champion Brand 



Press Release: June 13, 2025 By Champion Brand- The global sportswear brand Champion has announced a new multi-year deal with the iconic Irish fighter Katie Taylor ahead of her trilogy fight against Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden, airing live on Netflix July 11th. A force in the ring, Katie has become synonymous with grit, greatness, and unshakable belief and is considered by many to be the greatest female fighter of all-time.



The partnership includes a limited-edition KT Reverse Weave t-shirt which pays tribute to her extraordinary career, as well as a bespoke fight kit and team gear for the Serrano encounter and will lead to the launch later this year of a next-generation combat sports range, shaped by deep collaboration and insights from Taylor. Following the signing in May of UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall, this collaboration supercharges Champion’s commitment to the world of combat sports, a space defined by discipline, intensity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.


From the invention of the hooded sweatshirt, created to keep athletes warm, to pioneering mesh nylon jerseys for football players, Champion has consistently delivered functional, performance-driven gear rooted in athlete insight. Many of these innovations have transcended sport to become cultural icons.



“Every boxer dreams of being a Champion and I was no different as a child. I've been lucky enough to realise those dreams over the years in the amateurs at world level and the Olympics and now as a professional boxer in becoming a two weight Undisputed Champion so to partner with Champion just seems like the perfect fit,” said Taylor.



She continued, “Champion is such an iconic brand and known around the world. It has such a rich history in sport going back over one hundred years so it's fantastic to partner with them. I'm really excited to be hands-on in helping to develop Champion's boxing range by drawing on my own experience in the sport and helping to create a product range that lives up to the Champion name and our shared values.”


Lorenzo Moretti, President of Champion EMEA, said: “This is a proud moment for our brand as we align with a sporting pioneer, and a fighter who’s done more than anyone as a role model for female boxers around the world. She’s not just a great female fighter; she’s a great fighter, full stop. Katie’s incredible will to prevail, her incredible grace and pure boxing ability are remarkable, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue her journey, as she helps us move forward too with our combat sports proposition.”


Taylor (24–1, 6 KOs) fights Serrano on July 11 at Madison Square Garden, eight months after the pair’s second clash, at Paul vs. Tyson, which Taylor won. The rematch wasn’t just a fight, it was a global moment, drawing 74 million viewers, rewriting the narrative of what women’s sports can achieve, and becoming the most watched professional women’s sports event in US history.


Taylor, from Bray, Co Wicklow, was the undisputed and undefeated world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024 and has held the undisputed and world super lightweight championship since 2023. A former Ireland international soccer player, Taylor won five consecutive gold medals at the Women's World Championships, gold six times at the European Championships, and gold five times at the European Union Championships. She was the flag bearer for Ireland at the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony before going on to win the gold medal in the lightweight division. Katie is widely credited with being the driving force behind getting women’s boxing added into the Olympics and unlocking the commercial viability for professional women’s boxing globally.


About Champion


Since 1919, Champion has offered a full line of innovative athletic apparel for men and women, including activewear, sweats, tees, sports bras, team uniforms, footwear and accessories. Today, as a lifestyle brand born from sport, Champion uses innovative design and state-of-the-art product testing to ensure uncompromised quality and innovative apparel for consumers. Beyond its products, the brand’s mission is to provide every Champion a canvas to live their true purpose; rooted in the belief that Champions are defined not by what they make, but by what they do with it. Champion wants to inspire others to not just win, but to Champion a better tomorrow, and is dedicated to supporting creators by giving them a platform to tell their stories, support their values, and communities.


Learn more at championstore.com.




Material, Photo, and Trailer Courtesy of: Champion Brand Used with permission.


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






Wednesday, June 11, 2025

talkSPORT Becomes Exclusive Home of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Press Release: June 11, 2025 By BKB Bareknuckle Boxing -

Credit: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing


Partnership to include live streaming of BKB events, and features, promotion and coverage across talkSPORT’s diverse media platforms.
 

MIAMI, FLORIDA –
BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing CEO Greg Bloom announced today that the world’s leading bare knuckle boxing company has signed an exclusive broadcast partnership with talkSPORT to air BKB live bare knuckle boxing events on talkSPORT Boxing.

talkSPORT is part of News UK, one of the leading media businesses in the UK and Ireland whose newsbrands include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Sun on Sunday and The TLS, and national broadcast brands including Times Radio, Talk and Virgin Radio UK.

Said Bloom, “talkSPORT is a globally recognized leader in boxing coverage, analysis and opinion, not to mention having a massive sport footprint with more exclusive English football than any other UK broadcaster.  As one of the world’s preeminent voices in boxing, its commitment to BKB and the sport of bare knuckle is a testament to the sport’s growing mainstream popularity across the world.”

Bloom added, “From our acquisition of the London-based BKB promotion in 2024 to hosting shows in and opening new regions across England in 2025, BKB has made a strategic commitment and investment in growing bare knuckle in Europe.  We view its fans and athletes among the most passionate in combat sports. Now, with this partnership with talkSPORT, we are able to further bolster our presence, provide more exposure to our athletes, and build a sustainable model to expand around the continent and beyond.”

Dennie Morris, Director of Audio, News Broadcasting, said, “I’m delighted to welcome BKB to the home of sport broadcasting in the UK. talkSPORT’s Boxing channel is one of the fastest-growing sports YouTube channels in the UK and will continue to go from strength to strength with this new partnership.”

In the past two years, BKB (originally BYB) has purchased the UK-based BKB, the world’s oldest professional bare knuckle boxing company, and in doing so merged the organizations to create the largest bare knuckle boxing company in the world in terms of roster, library and distribution; ushered in ethical and legalized gambling to the sport; acquired the rights to the historic and prestigious Police Gazette Diamond Belt which now serves as the Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship; brought bare knuckle boxing to lineal television in the United States with the recent deal with VICE TV; and launched its gloved developmental league Trigon Combat.

In addition to the largest roster of fighters across the globe, BKB boasts a who’s who of broadcast talent on both sides of the Atlantic including Mike Goldberg, recognized as the golden voice of combat sports, Paulie Malignaggi, one of the biggest personalities in combat sports and a former IBF junior welterweight and WBA welterweight champion, Gareth A. Davies, one of the leading global voices in boxing with 30 years with The Telegraph, 20 years on radio with talkSPORT, as well as two decades working on television with BBC iPlayer, BT Sport, FOX, ESPN and Setanta Sports, veteran Midlands-based writer and commentator Tom Ross, Danielle Moinet, the former "Summer Rae" in the WWE, and one of the top ring announcers in boxing, Kody "Big Mo" Mommaerts.

To learn more about BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing visit bkbbareknuckle.com.  For more information on Trigon Combat, visit trigoncombat.com.

UPCOMING BKB SCHEDULE
Broadcast on VICE TV and talkSPORT

BKB 42: Music City Brawl, Nashville, TN, USA, June 21
BKB 43: Bolton Brawl, Bolton, UK, July 5
BKB 44: Denver Brawl V, Denver, CO, USA, August 16


About talkSPORT
talkSPORT, part of News Broadcasting, is the UK's leading sports radio network and the Global Audio Partner of the Premier League.

We don’t just cover sport. We live, breathe, love and talk all about it. The build up, the anticipation and the excitement, with more football on radio than anywhere else.

So far in 2025, talkSPORT’s unrivalled output has already taken home two Sports Journalism Awards, winning gold for its coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics, beating the BBC, and another gold for White & Jordan. talkSPORT was honoured with the Judge’s Award at the ARIAs, and was nominated for its first-ever Sports Industry award.

talkSPORT Boxing is one of the fastest-growing sports YouTube channels, with close to a quarter of a million subscribers.

You can tune in to talkSPORT and talkSPORT2 via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com talkSPORT is widely available across the UK via DAB digital radio and on 1089 or 1053 AM. You can also download the talkSPORT app, or ask your smart speaker to play talkSPORT.

talkSPORT is now available on the big screen, on your Smart TV. Go to talksport.com/watch for more details.


Material and Photo Courtesy of: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing Used with permission.


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




Monday, June 9, 2025

Belated Most Valuable Prospects 13 Results From Orlando, FL


Credit: Joseph Correa/Most Valuable Promotions 

Press Release: June 9, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions-


ORLANDO, FL – June 7, 2025 – Brazil’s IBF lightweight world champion Beatriz “The Beast” Ferreira (6-0, 2 KOs) defended her title and lived up to her fearsome nickname in a clinical, dominant performance against 28-year-old Buenos Aires challenger Maria Ines “Dinamita” Ferreyra (11-1-1, 6 KOs) in the main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 13 Championship Edition, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy. The 10-round women’s world title bout at 135 lbs aired free globally on DAZN.com, the DAZN app, and Whindersson Nunes’ YouTube channel live from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. From the opening bell, Ferreira overwhelmed Ferreyra with elite footwork, pinpoint accuracy, and relentless pressure, showcasing her class and control over every round. Ferreyra showed heart but struggled to find any consistent rhythm as Ferreira methodically picked her apart en route to a unanimous decision win (99-91 x2, 98-92). After the final bell, Ferreira seized the spotlight by calling out WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han, who was seated ringside. Han climbed into the ring, accepted the challenge on the spot, and the two champions squared off in a charged face-to-face moment, setting the stage for a massive unification clash.


In the co-main event, Luan Medeiros (6-0, 4 KOs), the Brazilian national champion, successfully defended his unblemished record against Tony Aguilar (13-2-1, 4 KOs) of Crescent City, Florida, in an 8-round lightweight clash at 135 lbs. Medeiros took control early, pressing the action with heavy, precise shots that kept Aguilar on the back foot. Aguilar showed resilience and composure, hanging tough into the later rounds and trying to mount a comeback. Medeiros was deducted a point in round 6 after repeated warnings, but the penalty didn’t slow his momentum. He continued to dominate exchanges, earning a unanimous decision win (77-74, 78-73 x2). In his post-fight interview with Sibley Scoles, Medeiros proudly spoke about his championship ambitions and representing Brazil on the world stage.


On the main card, Bree “Bam Bam” Howling (8-1, 2 KOs), the WBA’s #5-ranked bantamweight, went toe-to-toe with fellow undefeated prospect Naomy “Kusa” Cardenas (9-0, 2 KOs) in an explosive 8-round bout at 118 lbs. Both fighters came out firing from the opening bell, engaging in a slugfest that had the crowd on its feet as they traded heavy shots in a thrilling first round. Howling stood her ground and looked to dictate the tempo, but Cardenas’ sharper combinations and ring control ultimately gave her the edge. After eight hard-fought rounds, Cardenas remained unbeaten, earning a split decision victory (79-73, 77-75, and 77-75 for Howling).


Opening the main card, Kissimmee’s own Antraveous Ingram (11-0, 5 KOs) thrilled the hometown crowd with a commanding performance against Saint Paul’s Sona Akale (9-3, 4 KOs) in a 6-round super welterweight clash at 154 lbs. The 26-year-old local standout used his 6′1″ frame and reach advantage to dictate the pace from the opening bell, consistently breaking through Akale’s guard and landing the cleaner, more effective shots. Ingram controlled the action from start to finish, earning a unanimous decision victory (60-54 x2, 58-56) to remain unbeaten.


In the preliminary card headliner, undefeated 22-year-old Reina Tellez (12-0-1, 5 KOs) faced off against Saltillo, Mexico’s veteran warrior Maria “Polvorita” Salinas (27-12-6, 7 KOs) in an 8-round super bantamweight bout at 124 lbs. The early rounds were closely contested, with Salinas showing grit as she absorbed heavy combinations from Tellez. But as the fight wore on, Tellez’s relentless pace and sharp offense overwhelmed the seasoned Salinas. After eight rounds of high-tempo action, Tellez earned a clear unanimous decision win (80-72 x2, 79-73), further cementing her status as one of boxing’s most promising young super bantamweight talents.


MVP’s 3x U.S. National Boxing Champion and high-fashion model Alexis “Chop Chop” Chaparro (5-0, 5 KOs) made a commanding return to the Most Valuable Prospects series, delivering another spectacular performance against Davenport, Iowa’s Daijohn Gonzalez (12-7, 6 KOs) in a scheduled 6-round middleweight bout at 163 lbs. From the opening bell, Chaparro controlled the pace with precision and poise, breaking down Gonzalez with sharp combinations and relentless pressure. His dominance culminated in the fourth round, when he unleashed a vicious and explosive barrage of punches that dropped Gonzalez and sealed a highlight-reel KO at 1:39. The statement win underscored Chaparro’s superstar potential and perfect knockout record.


Also on the preliminary card, undefeated 20-year-old middleweight Sebastian Juarez (8-0, 6 KOs) overwhelmed Gadsden, Alabama’s Shaquille Cameron (7-5, 6 KOs) from the opening bell, delivering a relentless early assault that led to a third-round TKO and preserved his perfect record. Kicking off the night, Boxlab Promotions’ unbeaten super bantamweight Chavez Barrientes (11-0, 6 KOs) earned a dominant unanimous decision victory (80-71x2, 79-72) over Saint Louis’ Sharone “Smoke” Carter (14-12-1, 3 KOs) in their 122-pound, 8-round bout.


The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP, promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions, and distributed globally by DAZN. The 13th event in the series, hosted by the Caribe Royale Resort, will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly, TorkLaw and Event Ticket Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects series.



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




About MVP


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



About DAZN


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



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


 Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions / Photo Courtesy of: Joseph Correa/ Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission. 


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

Friday, June 6, 2025

Dr. Phil’s MeritTV™ Delivers Back-to-Back Nights of Live TCL Team Boxing

Press Release: June 6, 2025 By MeritTV -


DALLAS (June 6, 2025) — Dr. Phil’s MeritTV, the multiplatform TV network founded by Dr. Phil McGraw, is set to air a double-header of live matches for the TCL Team Boxing League this Friday, June 6, at 9 PM ET and Saturday, June 7 at 7 PM ET across broadcast, cable, streaming, FAST platforms, and the network’s free app, MeritTV.




The TCL Team Boxing League’s third season continues with high-energy matchups as teams composed of rising stars and veteran athletes go head-to-head in 12 different weight classes. With a team-based ownership model, every punch counts towards the team’s total performance, adding an exciting new dynamic to the world of professional boxing.




Live Matches on MeritTV:


Friday, June 6th, at Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio:


9 PM ET –Dallas Enforcers vs. Philadelphia Smoke

Immediately following – San Antonio Snipers vs. Houston Hitmen



Saturday, June 7th at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach:


7:30 PM ET –Phoenix Fury vs. Miami Assassins

Immediately following – Los Angeles Elite vs. Las Vegas Hustle



The following weekend features NYC vs. Boston and Philadelphia vs. Miami, then Philadelphia vs. Las Vegas and Miami vs. Boston. As part of a global media partnership announced earlier this year, approximately 20 weekends of TCL Boxing will air exclusively on MeritTV. The culmination of play-off rounds and final battles takes place throughout July and August.




More than just a sporting event, TCL Team Boxing League is helping define MeritTV’s unique programming direction. As Forbes recently reported, the league “satisfies that hunger for sports-related content,” offering opportunities for both competition and storytelling. Through its distinctive format and compelling backstories, TCL is attracting a new audience segment, including a younger, more male-skewing demographic, while delivering the kind of emotionally resonant, personality-driven narratives that fit seamlessly with MeritTV’s brand. With 3.5 million viewers tuning in across the first five weeks, TCL is gaining momentum as a fan favorite.




About Dr. Phil’s MeritTV


Launched in April 2024 under the Merit Street Media banner, Dr. Phil’s MeritTV is a premier multiplatform television network spearheaded by Dr. Phil McGraw, the esteemed best-selling author and award-winning television host. MeritTV creates and distributes compelling content across diverse platforms, reaching audiences nationwide. This fully distributed cable, satellite, streaming, FAST TV (free ad-supported streaming TV channels), and free over-the-air broadcast media Network is also available via the free app MeritTV.


MeritTV boasts a rich tapestry of original and acquired programming, anchored by the nightly talk show “Dr. Phil Primetime.” Situated in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the expansive Merit studios span five acres and serve as the dynamic hub for the brand. Here, daily morning and evening live news broadcasts unfold, plus live breaking news, embodying MeritTV’s commitment to delivering engaging and informative content. Viewers can access the channel-finder link by entering ZIP codes at MeritTV.com.


 Material Courtesy of: MeritTV Used with permission. 


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

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Thunderdome 50 Results From Metro City, Perth, Australia

Credit:Mike O'Hara/ Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: June 3, 2024 By Dragon Fire Boxing Story By Lewis Moss - Perth boxing fans were treated to another thrilling night of fights as Dragon Fire Promotions celebrated their 50th Thunderdome event at the Metro City Nightclub on Friday night (May 30th).


 


The main event saw Francis “The Removalist” Chua capture the WBC Australasia Silver Lightweight Championship, after a hard-fought win over China’s fourth ranked Lightweight Xiaotao Su.


 


The card also saw The Isle of Man’s Sam Rennie capture WBC gold of his own, as well as other exciting fights.


 


Francis Chua defeated Xiaotao Su 


In the main event of the evening, Francis Chua defeated Xiaotao Su by Unanimous Decision to win the WBC Australasia Silver Lightweight Championship.


 


The fight for Chua was his first in three years since losing to Hironori Mishiro in May 2022.


 


Going into this matchup, many fans wondered how the Perth Native would look after his long hiatus from the ring, but Chua proved he could still hang by returning with a huge win.


 


Throughout the fight Chua took the action to his opponent, by landing a mix of uppercuts and hooks while both fighters were in each other's range. Su often found a home for his lead left hook during the exchanges.


 


Mid way into the fight, Chua started to walk down his opponent while ripping to the body.


 


The Aussie continued to press for the finish in the final round, as he landed multiple shots that looked to have his Chinese opponent hurt.


 


However, Su fought back as the fight went the distance and Chua was announced the winner by unanimous decision.


 


At 39-years-old, Francis Chua looks like he hasn't missed a beat in the ring. 


 


Having already been in the ring with top tier fighters like Liam Wilson and Kye Mackenzie, the Perth Native looks to add a few more names to that list before he hangs up the gloves.


 


Sam Rennie defeated Asyer Alumin


 


In the co main event, Sam Rennie defeated Asyer Alumin to win the WBC Australasia Silver Super Featherweight Championship.


 


The win for Rennie makes him the first ever boxer from The Isle of Man to win a regional title.


 


Over the past few months Sam Rennie had been taking the West Australian boxing scene by storm, with flawless victories in his first two fights.


 


It came to nobody's surprise when Rennie was given a WBC title fight this early in his career and when the stakes were high, Rennie delivered another shut out performance.


 


Rennie stayed in control of the fight, using his jab and superior footwork to keep his opponent guessing.


 


In the third round, Rennie was instructed by his corner to be more aggressive. After following his coaches’ instructions, Rennie dropped Alumin with a left hook to the body.


 


The Englishman continued on the front foot in the fourth round, as he knocked his opponent down again with a right hook before the referee waived the fight off.


 


With yet another dominant win from Sam Rennie, it is clear to see that the sky is the limit for this exceptional prospect.


 


Billy Quinncroft defeated Bilal Seidu


Earlier in the night, Billy Quinncroft defeated Bilal Seidu to win the WA State Cruiserweight Championship.


 


The title win for the 33-year-old marks the first in his professional career, as his record improves to three wins and zero losses.


 


The fight started off strategic, as Quinncroft used his jab efficiently in the early rounds.


 


Seidu did his best to turn the fight into a brawl, but the Englishman remained calm throughout his opponent’s onslaught.


 


Later in the fight, Seidu’s power punches started to get through, culminating with a huge right hand in the final round that got a reaction from the audience.


 


Seidu tried to finish his opponent off, but Quinncroft held on for the final bell.


 


Before the scorecards were about to be ready, fans wondered who would be victorious in this fight of two halves.


 


The win however, was Unanimously given to Billy Quinncroft to a roar from the Perth crowd.


 


Quinncroft will most likely defend his State Title against Will Cleggett who won his fight earlier in the night.


 


Owen Corrigan defeated Alex Muster


Ireland's Owen Corrigan delivered a stunning performance as he knocked out Alex Muster in the third round.


 


The victory advances Corrigan’s undefeated record to three wins.


 


Muster approached the fight aggressively with his looping hooks, but the Irishman remained calm and started to land his crisp right hand.


 


Corrigan began landing his jab in the second round, before knocking his opponent down twice just before the bell.


 


The onslaught from Dublin’s “Bomber” resumed in the third, as he dropped Muster with a huge right hand while they were up close. 


 


Muster was able to answer the count, but after one more flurry of punches the referee put a stop to the contest, giving Owen Corrigan the TKO victory.


 


With yet another dominant performance to his name, it is only a matter of time before Owen Corrigan gets the opportunity to fight for a title.


 


Thunderdome 50 Full Card Results


 


WBC Australasia Silver Lightweight Championship


Francis Chua DEFEATED Xiaotao Su by Unanimous Decision


 


WBC Australasia Silver Super Featherweight Championship


Sam Rennie DEFEATED Asyer Alumin by Fourth Round TKO


 


WA State Cruiserweight Championship


Billy Quinncroft DEFEATED Bilal Seidu by Unanimous Decision


 


Owen Corrigan DEFEATED Alex Muster by Third Round TKO


 


WA NITRO Light Heavyweight Championship


Binny Folan DEFEATED Rusty Oates by Third Round TKO


 


Joel Lewis DEFEATED Hongjun Shi by Fourth Round TKO (Retirement)


 


Will Cleggett DEFEATED Cameron Moffat by Unanimous Decision


 


Alan Pond Cup 2025


Beejay Boonket vs Habib Kheriakhah ends in a Majority Draw


 


Bahtiyar Sonyol DEFEATED Jack Thompson by First Round TKO (Shoulder Injury)


 


Tara Enoka DEFEATED Harma Yesti by Unanimous Decision


 


Yousef Radwan DEFEATED Adam Marshall by Split Decision (Exhibition Fight)


 


Rigor Angeles DEFEATED Mitch Arnold by Third Round TKO (Corner Stoppage)


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


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


 

Friday, May 30, 2025

Dr. Phil’s MeritTV™ Delivers Back-to-Back Nights of Live TCL Team Boxing The Action Continues on May 30th and June 1st

Press Release: May 30, 2025 By MeritTV -


DALLAS (May 30, 2025) — Dr. Phil’s MeritTV, the multiplatform TV network founded by Dr. Phil McGraw, is set to air a double-header of live matches for the TCL Team Boxing League this Friday, May 30, at 9 PM ET and Sunday, June 1 at 6 PM ET across broadcast, cable, streaming, FAST platforms, and the network’s free app, MeritTV.




The TCL Team Boxing League’s third season continues with high-energy matchups as teams composed of rising stars and veteran athletes go head-to-head in 12 different weight classes. With a team-based ownership model, every punch counts towards the team’s total performance, adding an exciting new dynamic to the world of professional boxing.




Live Matches on MeritTV:


Friday, May 30th, at The Pinnacle, Nashville:


9 PM ET –San Antonio Snipers vs. Atlanta Attack

Immediately following – Nashville Smash vs. NYC Attitude



Sunday, June 1st at Arizona Athletic Grounds, Mesa:


7 PM ET – Los Angeles Elite vs. Las Vegas Hustle

Immediately following – Phoenix Fury vs. Boston Butchers



The following weekend features Dallas vs. Philadelphia and San Antonio vs. Houston, then Los Angeles vs. Las Vegas and Phoenix vs. Miami. As part of a global media partnership announced earlier this year, approximately 20 weekends of TCL Boxing will air exclusively on MeritTV. The culmination of play-off rounds and final battles takes place throughout July and August.




More than just a sporting event, TCL Team Boxing League is helping define MeritTV’s unique programming direction. As Forbes recently reported, the league “satisfies that hunger for sports-related content,” offering opportunities for both competition and storytelling. Through its distinctive format and compelling backstories, TCL is attracting a new audience segment, including a younger, more male-skewing demographic, while delivering the kind of emotionally resonant, personality-driven narratives that fit seamlessly with MeritTV’s brand. With 3.5 million viewers tuning in across the first five weeks, TCL is gaining momentum as a fan favorite.




About Dr. Phil’s MeritTV


Launched in April 2024 under the Merit Street Media banner, Dr. Phil’s MeritTV is a premier multiplatform television network spearheaded by Dr. Phil McGraw, the esteemed best-selling author and award-winning television host. MeritTV creates and distributes compelling content across diverse platforms, reaching audiences nationwide. This fully distributed cable, satellite, streaming, FAST TV (free ad-supported streaming TV channels), and free over-the-air broadcast media Network is also available via the free app MeritTV.


MeritTV boasts a rich tapestry of original and acquired programming, anchored by the nightly talk show “Dr. Phil Primetime.” Situated in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the expansive Merit studios span five acres and serve as the dynamic hub for the brand. Here, daily morning and evening live news broadcasts unfold, plus live breaking news, embodying MeritTV’s commitment to delivering engaging and informative content. Viewers can access the channel-finder link by entering ZIP codes at MeritTV.com.



Material Courtesy of Material Courtesy of: MeritTV Used with permission. 


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

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Veteran Media and Entertainment Executive David Tetreault Named President of Lights Out Productions, Parent Company of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing and Trigon Combat

Credit: BKB

Press Release: May 23, 2025 By BKB: Bare Knuckle Boxing - MIAMI, FLORIDA – Mike Vazquez, owner of Lights Out Productions, parent company of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing and its developmental league Trigon Combat, announced today the hiring of David Tetreault, a 30-veteran of the media, sports and entertainment industry, as company President.




Previously, Tetreault held executive positions at Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, FOX, Clear TV, Golden Boy Productions and Triller.  At FOX, he served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and developed award-winning campaigns for The Simpson’s, American Idol, 24, The X Files and many others. At Golden Boy, serving as the Chief Business Officer, he struck multimillion dollar network deals with Facebook Watch, ESPN and HBO. Tetreault led and negotiated the $600 million deal with DAZN as it became the exclusive home of Canelo Alverez. Tetreault most recently served as President of Triller Fight Club and Chief Business Officer of Triller-owned Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), where he oversaw content strategy, global television rights deals, and integrated sponsorship and marketing initiatives. He also served as Executive Producer for all live sporting events, televised programming, and short-form digital content. Under his leadership, Triller Fight Club produced the historic exhibition bout between eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and South Korean martial artist DK Yoo, held on December 11, 2022, at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Seoul.




In addition to his executive leadership in combat sports and media, Tetreault serves as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco and California State University, Los Angeles, where he teaches graduate-level courses in Strategic Management, Sports Business, and Entertainment Marketing. His dual roles in academia and industry reflect a commitment to both innovation and mentorship across the next generation of sports and media professionals.




Said Vazquez, “Lights Out has seen accelerated, strategic growth this past year, with the acquisition of the UK-based BKB to become the largest bare knuckle boxing company in the world, the acquisition of the historic and prestigious Police Gazette Diamond Belt which now serves as the Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship, securing multiple live television and streaming deals on both sides of the Atlantic, and now the creation of Trigon Combat.




“As we look ahead, having a leader with David at the helm will only make BKB and Trigon Combat better, as we look to go from being the world’s preeminent bare knuckle boxing company to a complete combat sports and entertainment property. From his experience securing massive media rights deals and integrated partnerships, his understanding of ever-evolving media platforms and consumer habits, and his success in live sports, including bare knuckle boxing, our potential in the coming months to redefine the combat sports landscape is exponential and he’s uniquely qualified to lead us on that journey.”




Said Tetreault, “From the very top down, Lights Out/BKB is one of the most professionally-run, creative and strategic combat sports properties in the world.  It owns all of its intellectual property, is one of two organizations to hold a patent on its ring, and has made substantive moves that have positioned BKB as a breakout platform. It is the next investable format in global combat sports. It has one of the largest fighter rosters in combat sports, has global scalability, event flexibility, and is syndication-ready.  I’m excited to be on the team and look forward to making an immediate impact.”




To learn more about BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing visit bkbbareknuckle.com.  For more information on Trigon Combat, visit trigoncombat.com.




UPCOMING BKB SCHEDULE


Broadcast on VICE TV and TalkSPORT


 


BKB 41: Brawl in Duval II, Jacksonville, FL, May 31


BKB 42: Music City Brawl, Nashville, TN, June 21


BKB 43: Bolton Brawl, Bolton, UK, July 5


BKB 44: Denver Brawl V, Denver, CO, August 16




UPCOMING TRIGON COMBAT SCHEDULE




TRYOUTS: San Antonio, TX, May 31


FIGHT: Myrtle Beach, SC, June 12


TRYOUTS: Fayetteville, NC, July 12


TRYOUTS: San Diego, CA, July 26


Material and Photo Courtesy of: BKB: Bare Knuckle Boxing Used with permission.


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


Wednesday, May 21, 2025

MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS SIGNS UNDEFEATED POWERHOUSE AVIOUS “THA UNDERDOG” GRIFFIN

Press Release: May 21, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- MVP bolsters its roster with the signing of Griffin, a rising star with a 17-0 record and 94% knockout rate, further solidifying its commitment to showcasing boxing’s most compelling rising stars



LAS VEGAS, NV – May 20, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the signing of Avious “Tha Underdog” Griffin (17-0, 16 KOs), one of boxing’s most electrifying rising stars in the 147lb division. Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and now based in Las Vegas, Nevada, the 31-year-old welterweight sensation joins MVP’s elite roster, bringing his devastating 94% knockout rate, ten-fight knockout streak, and an inspiring story of resilience that has captivated the boxing world. Griffin’s addition underscores MVP’s mission to identify and elevate young prospects and contenders with star potential.



Avious Griffin has quickly emerged as a force in the 147-pound division, boasting an unblemished 17-0 record with 16 knockouts. With a relentless style and staggering 94% stoppage rate, the Las Vegas-based fighter originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee continues to prove why he's one of the most dangerous and exciting welterweights in the sport today. 



Since early 2024, Griffin has trained under the esteemed Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, widely recognized for guiding Terence Crawford’s rise to championship status. He also works closely with Esau DiĂ©guez and renowned strength and conditioning coach Larry Wade, who joined his team in October 2023. Together, this elite team has helped transform Griffin into one of the sport’s most dangerous and disciplined rising contenders. On February 20, 2025, Griffin captured the vacant WBC USA Welterweight Title by stopping Jose Luis Sanchez in the eighth round at Sony Hall in New York City. 



Griffin’s rise has been shaped by extraordinary personal resilience. Introduced to boxing at age eight by his father, Alvin, the sport quickly became both a passion and a powerful bond between them. In 2016, just weeks before Griffin’s professional debut, Alvin passed away unexpectedly from a brain hemorrhage  as Avious frantically rushed his dad to the hospital—a devastating loss that Griffin continues to honor through his career. The following year brought another life-altering setback: a wrongful murder conviction that led to 11 months of incarceration before his exoneration. These hardships forged Griffin’s “TTD” (To The Death) mentality—an ethos that powers his performance in the ring and his commitment to breaking generational cycles of poverty, while advocating for mental health and addiction recovery. With a compelling personal story and elite performance inside the ropes, Avious Griffin represents one of the most promising new faces in professional boxing.



“I’m thrilled to join Most Valuable Promotions, a team that truly values fighters and their stories,” said Avious Griffin. “Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian are building something special, giving athletes like me a platform to shine. My journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s made me who I am—a fighter in and out of the ring. With MVP behind me, I’m ready to chase world titles, while being a motivational, inspirational vessel of God, and show the world what Tha Underdog is all about.”



“Avious Griffin is an exceptional talent whose combination of elite power, mental toughness, and personal resilience positions him for long-term success in the sport,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “His compelling backstory and knockout ability make him one of the most exciting rising contenders in boxing, and we believe he has the potential to become a global star. We’re proud to welcome Avious to the MVP family and give him the platform he deserves to reach the top of the sport and inspire the world in the process.”



Griffin joins MVP’s powerhouse roster of athletes and up-and-coming talents including international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul, boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, undisputed super featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner, MVP’s first homegrown champion, the new WBO super middleweight champion Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green, reigning unified bantamweight world champion and Boxrec’s #1 pound-for-pound female boxer Dina Thorslund, IBF and Ring Magazine super middleweight world champion at 168lbs Savannah “The Silent Assassin” Marshall, WBC super lightweight interim world champion at 140lbs Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron. English boxing phenom and unified 122lb super bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney, IBF bantamweight world champion at 118lbs Shurretta Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs), Spain’s WBA Interim featherweight world champion at 126lbs Jennifer Miranda (12-0, 1 KO), multi-talented megastar Javon “Wanna” Walton, India’s most successful professional boxer Neeraj Goyat, top-ranked lightweight “Prince” Lucas Bahdi, Puerto Rican sensation Krystal Rosado, three-time US national boxing champion and high-fashion model Alexis “Chop Chop” Chaparro, Puerto Rican National Team star Jan Paul Rivera, 2x Canadian Olympian and amateur world champion Tamm Thibeault, 2x US national amateur champion and rising bantamweight star Alexander “The Alley Cat” Gueche, Nigeria’s 126lb featherweight Elizabeth Oshoba, the multi-talented Somali-British boxer, activist, and high fashion model Ramla Ali, Costa Rica’s 20-year-old undefeated WBC Youth light flyweight world champion Naomy Valle, 15x US national amateur champion Nat “No Love”' Dove, two-time Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley, undefeated Yolanda Vega and Boxrec’s #2 greatest pound-for-pound women’s boxer of all time and former UFC 135lb champion Holly “The Preacher's Daughter” Holm.



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




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.


Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.


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

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Francis Chua Is Fighting For Family In Comeback Fight As He Eyes Future Fight With Harry Garside

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing 


Press Release: May 15, 2025 By Dragon Fire Boxing - On the 30th of May, Dragon Fire Boxing hits the Metro City Arena for the second time this year for Thunderdome 50.


 


The main event features the return of Francis “The Removalist” Chua who takes on China’s 4th ranked lightweight Xiaotao Su 


 


This fight is Chua’s first in three years and it will be for the WBC Australasia Silver Lightweight title. A victory for the Aussie could possibly lead to bigger opportunities over east, more specifically in the form of Harry Garside.


 


When speaking to the 39-year-old, Chua said that he was excited to fight for a WBC title in his first outing after his hiatus.


 


“This is what gives me drive to go to training” Chua told, “This will boost me right back


into the rankings and this guy is [ranked] number four in China.


 


“It’s going to be a hard fight coming back but it's what I want, I don't want to just come back for easy fights.


 


“It's been over three years now since the last time I fought in Sydney against a highly rated Japanese opponent. I didn’t go into that with the best preparation, so I want to try to redeem myself on this one”.


 


When his fight was announced Chua made an Instagram post to his followers, revealing that the fight was about more than just a championship, it was “deeply personal to him”.


 


When asked about this statement, Chua revealed that he has been through some devastating times in his personal life, with the passing of a long-time friend as well as his father.


  


“[One of my friends] was so happy to see me fighting again he always wanted to watch me fight, but he ended up taking his own life, that really hit me.


 


“My father passed away three years ago as well, around the same time I separated that was also hard. It's just me and my daughter Ariani.


 


“My current fiancĂ© holds the family together while I work hard, without her looking after my daughter training would be impossible. 


 


“It's sad but I always know that even though they're not here they're still watching from the heavens, that's what gives me a lot of drive to perform.”


 


Despite these heartbreaks, the Perth fighter is desperate to make his last run, one for the Australian Boxing history books, as well as making his daughter proud through his hard work and commitment to the sport.


 


“[My daughter] really wants this” Chua revealed “she knows it makes me happy when I go training even though it's been hard especially with my age, I like trying to keep up with the young boys.


 


“[I want to send her a message that if] you’re focused on something you can do it, I'm just hoping that she can see how hard I work and really appreciate it. I want her to be proud of me, that's what gives me a bit more drive as well, because I don't want to let anyone down.


 


“Things are coming together, I'm starting to feel good now, I think it'll be exciting when 30th of May arrives. This guy's going to be 10 years younger than me, let's see if I have still got it.”


 


This upcoming run will most likely be the last of Chua’s career. Although he is not looking past his Chinese foe, he does have some goals that he wants to accomplish before he retires.


 


“[I would like to fight for] an Australian title” Chua revealed.


 


“The opportunities for [No Limit] Boxing will come up because when I win this title other


Aussies will want it, they'll come knocking and they'll be asking.”


 


“Opportunities will come and I just want to be ready for them.”


 


Throughout his career Chua has fought top tier fighters such as Liam Wilson and Kye Mackenzie, the latter being ranked second in the WBO at the time of his victory. 


 


Before Francis Chua hangs up the gloves he wants one more fight against a big name in Australian boxing, one name that stands out is Harry Garside.


 


“I’d love to fight [Garside] but one fight at a time” Chua said, “We fought on the same card on my last fight and I met him there, I would love to fight an Olympian. “I would love to test myself against him one day, I hear he’s fighting soon so he’s getting back into it.”


 


“I’m very grateful for Tony [Tolj] and DragonFire Promotions for giving me this opportunity as well as everyone who supports me along the way.


 


“I want to be the best I can be for my loved ones, boxing helps me do that.”


 


Standing in his way however is Xiaotao Su, Su is ranked as the fourth best Lightweight in China and could prove to be a tough task for Chua.


 


With a record of fourteen wins and seven losses, Su is a very credible opponent for Chua to add to his resume.


 


Regarding the style of fight he expects, Chua thinks that the fight is going to be an all-out war.


 


“It's going to be toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring.” Chua told.


 


“It's going to be a really exciting fight, we are both aggressive fighters but I'm hoping to land the cleaner and harder shots.”


 


With clear ambitions and motivation for what is left of his fighting career, it will be interesting to see where Francis Chua’s journey takes him.


Material and Photo Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.


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