MVP’S KIM CLAVEL BECOMES NEW IBF MINI FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION

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  Credit: Harry Aaron/Most Valuable Promotions 

  Press Release: September 29, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions MONTREAL, CANADA – Friday, September 27, 2025 – MVP’s new signee and Canadian boxing star Kim Clavel (22-2, 3 KOs) became a two-time world champion tonight with a unanimous decision win (99-91, 98-92 x2) over Argentina’s Sol Cudos (10-1-2, 3 KOs) to become the new IBF mini flyweight world champion at 105lbs in the main event of Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition at Theatre St-Denis in Montreal, Canada, promoted by GYM, live on DAZN. Clavel tested Cudos from the opening bell, trading jabs and combinations in the early rounds before gradually asserting control with precise body and head attacks. A cut near Clavel’s right eye in the fifth round did not slow her relentless pace, as she landed multiple two- and three-punch combinations and a powerful left hook that repeatedly breached Cudos’ defense. Despite Cudos connecting with solid shots, including a devastating hook in the seventh round, Clavel’s consistent offense prevented her opponent from gaining momentum. Encouraged by chants of “Let’s go Kim!” from the home crowd, Clavel finished strong through the later rounds, capturing the IBF strawweight world title at 105lbs becoming MVP’s newest female world champion. Following the bout, an ecstatic Clavel acknowledged the dedication, sweat and tears of her training camp to prepare for this moment and gave credit to her opponent for a tremendous performance. 

In the co-main event, MVP’s undefeated two-time Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and #1 IBF and WBA middleweight contender Tamm Thibeault (4-0, 3 KOs) proved why she is one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars against Italy’s Cristina Mazzotta (1-1). Thibeault electrified her home Quebec fans, in her first professional home province fight, with a first-round TKO at just 0:54, landing a devastating right-left combination that sent Mazzotta to the canvas. A dazed Mazzotta struggled to rise before her corner waved off the bout, marking another dominant performance in Thibeault’s unstoppable rise toward the top of the division. In her post-fight interview with renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, Thibeault admitted she wished the fight had lasted longer but applauded Mazzotta’s courage for stepping into the ring.

On the main card, Montreal’s undefeated 28-year-old Mazlum Akdeniz (22-0, 9 KOs) earned a dominant fourth-round TKO over Pueblo, Colorado’s 24-year-old Anthony Soto (13-1-1, 8 KOs). Fighting in front of his home fans, Akdeniz showcased his trademark high-pressure style, dictating the action from the opening bell. He floored Soto twice with a blistering barrage before Soto’s corner threw in the towel at 2:26 of the fourth round, cementing Akdeniz’s status as a top division contender.

In the main card opener, MVP’s newest signee, German Olympian Nelvie Tiafack (2-0, 2 KOs) obliterated San Diego’s Ramiro Robles (5-1, 3 KOs) in an action-packed heavyweight clash. The 26-year-old Olympic bronze medalist entered the ring with commanding confidence, slipping under Robles’ guard to unload massive left hooks, uppercuts, and crisp combinations from the opening bell. Robles showed toughness by staying on his feet and pressing forward, but posed little resistance to Tiafack’s relentless assault. After four punishing rounds, Robles retired on his stool, giving Tiafack his second straight professional victory by TKO.

In the preliminary card headliner, MVP’s multi-talented global star Javon “Wanna” Walton (3-0-1, 1 KO) returned to the ring against his most experienced opponent to date, New Brittain, Connecticut’s Anthony Mora (7-5-1, 4 KOs). The 19-year-old Walton relied on his dangerous left hook to steadily wear Mora down in the early rounds. Despite a low blow in the fourth and relentless pressure from Mora, Walton regained his rhythm, setting up power shots behind his right jab and showcasing slick footwork to evade the worst of Mora’s offense. After six rounds, the bout went to the scorecards, where Walton earned a unanimous decision victory (60-54 x3).

Also on the preliminary card, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada’s bantamweight Amanda Galle (12-0-1, 1 KO) showcased her star potential in her MVP debut, delivering a ferocious 8-round technical performance against Mexico City’s Alondra Hernandez (8-2). Galle consistently picked apart Hernandez’s defense, landing sharp combinations and a powerful left hook that wore down the resilient Mexican before securing a unanimous decision victory (80-72x2, 79-73). In the 108lb light flyweight division, Italy’s Federica Macrí (7-0-1, 1 KO) earned a unanimous decision win (80-71, 76-75, 78-73) over MVP’s Costa Rican standout Naomy Valle (14-1, 9 KOs). Macrí came out aggressive from the opening bell, using combinations to push inside, while Valle countered effectively but was hampered by a point deduction in the middle rounds. Kicking off the night, Sherbrooke, Quebec’s 23-year-old Loick Lahaie (3-0, 1 KO) extended his undefeated streak with a second-round TKO over Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico’s Jose Madrigal (7-8, 6 KOs).

Most Valuable Prospects 15 was promoted by GYM and distributed globally by DAZN. The 15th event in the series continued 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 / Photo Courtesy of: Harry Aaron/Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission. 

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

Fundora Holds Onto Undisputed Flyweight Crown, Jr. Bantamweight Or Bantamweight Next?

Women’s Boxing is still experiencing the high of the first all women's Boxing card to be held inside the historic Madison Square Garden this past July, which was headlined by the third encounter between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, two undisputed world champions in the Jr. Welterweight and Featherweight divisions respectively, who along with current Undisputed Heavyweight world champion Claressa Shields, have served as cornerstones of the sport in the most recent era of Women’s Boxing.  As great and groundbreaking as that trilogy was for the sport overall, as what will likely be the final encounter and quite possibly, the final fight in each future Hall of Famer’s respective career, inevitably the question that should be asked is what fighter or fighters might be able to move into the role of helping to advance the sport further as the next star in the sport. Enter Gabriela Fundora.

Fundora, who comes from a fighting family and is the sister of current Men's WBC Jr Middleweight world champion Sebastian Fundora, has established herself as a world champion in her own right as the current Women’s Undisputed Flyweight world champion. Fundora first became a world champion in October 2023 with a fifth round knockout of IBF champion Arely Mucino, and quickly went on to fully unify the Flyweight division, becoming Undisputed world champion one year later after two successful defenses of her IBF crown  by knocking out unified WBC/WBA/WBO world champion Gabriela Alaniz in seven rounds. 

Following a successful defense of her undisputed crown in April of this year with a seventh round stoppage of Marilyn Amaya, Fundora, 16-0, with 8 Knockouts entered the ring for her next title defense on September 20th at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, CA. Originally, Fundora was to defend against South American Flyweight champion Ayelen Granadino of Argentina, but she was denied entry into the United States for the bout due to undisclosed reasons.  In stepped current North American Boxing Federation Flyweight champion Alexas Kubicki from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on short notice and the fight went on as scheduled. 

A recurring theme of not only Gabriela Fundora's fights, but also those of her brother's is that both are blessed with height and reach advantages that give them an advantage for the weight classes they are in over most of their opposition. In this case, Fundora used her 5’9 frame to keep Kubicki, who entered the bout with a record of 13-1, with 2 Knockouts, on the outside where Kubicki simply could not avoid Fundora’s frequent straight left, right hook combinations from the southpaw stance. Whenever Kubicki was able to close the distance and get on the inside of Fundora's reach, she was ineffective as the champion was able to tie her up in a clinch before she could get any significant offense off.

Despite being very “Game” and stepping into a world championship bout on short notice, Kubicki simply had no answers or head movement to be able to avoid Fundora's offense as the combat became increasingly one-sided as the bout went on. Seeing the effects of the punishment she was sustaining over most of the fight, Referee Ray Corona mercifully stopped the bout at :43 of the seventh round. Although Kubicki was not knocked down, the stoppage was appropriate. No one can take anything away from Alexas Kubicki and the heart she showed in this fight. All too often, however, fighters tend to be too brave for their own good and if a fighter's corner is not proactive in not only seeing the signs that their charge is out gunned, but also recognizing that they are taking too much punishment with no answer to turn things around, it is the referee's responsibility to protect the fighter from themselves.

With her latest title defense behind her, the obvious question is what's next for Gabriela Fundora? Outside of a possible fight against Ayelen Granadino, who was supposed to challenge her in this fight, assuming Granadino can either resolve her visa issues to gain entry into the United States or potentially have the bout staged at another location outside of the U.S., this observer believes the now 17-0, with 9 Knockouts Fundora should consider moving up to either the 115lb. Jr. Bantamweight or 118lb. Bantamweight divisions to seek to unify a second division as many female fighters past and present have done in moving up and down in weight based largely on what opportunities might be available both in terms of financially as well as for world championships.  Fundora is only twenty-three years of age and it did not take her long to essentially clean out the 112lb. Flyweight division. Based on her natural advantages physically as well as her skillset, it is hard to envision her being challenged at this point in the Flyweight division, but her status as not only an undisputed world champion, but also one of the sport’s rising stars will likely open opportunities for her as she moves up in weight. 

As has been the case with many great fighters both male and female, this may only be chapter one of what has all the potential of a great career. It may not be long where like Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor before her, Gabriela Fundora, is viewed as a cornerstone of Women’s Boxing. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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There Was Only One: Remembering Ricky Hatton

The Boxing world was hit with a significant blow on Sunday, September 14th when it was revealed that former two-division world champion and Hall of Famer Ricky Hatton had passed away at the age of 46. For those who followed the Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight divisions in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was hard to not notice and like a fighter like Ricky Hatton.

A fighter with an aggressive, yet tactical style with an emphasis on applying constant pressure and often overwhelming his opponents with volume punching, it did not take long for Hatton to not only make a name for himself, but also develop a fan following that was truly unique. In an era that predated the advent of global digital streaming that we all enjoy today, this observer first became aware of Hatton thanks to the now defunct ShoBox: The New Generation Boxing series that was a cornerstone of United States premium cable network Showtime for many years before the network opted to exit the sport and shutter its sports division at the end of 2023. 

It was on the ShoBox series, which was developed to be and quickly became a proving ground for prospects on the rise, however, that Hatton was able to make his presence known to American Boxing fans. It was during this period, which was around the same time as the legendary trilogy of fights between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward, that Hatton impressed me as having a similar style as those legends, a come forward fighter that did not take a backwards step and was more than willing to walk through whatever an opponent was able to dish out. After watching his fight against Eamonn Magee in 2002, my first time seeing Hatton in action, a fight that he won in an eighth round stoppage, I immediately began dreaming up a scenario where Hatton would potentially face either Ward or Gatti seeing as not only all three having similar styles, but also all three coincidentally being in the same 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. As mouth watering as those potential fights were, unfortunately they were not to be as Ward retired after the conclusion of the three fights with Gatti, and Gatti though going onto win a world title in the division chose to go in a different direction in the final years of his career rather than face a fighter like Hatton.

Hatton would prove to be the fighter that would become the central figure of the Jr. Welterweight division a few years later. It was on June 4, 2005 before a sold out crowd at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, England, Hatton’s hometown, where the unbeaten star, who was viewed as an underdog, forced the legendary longtime Jr. Welterweight world champion Kostya Tszyu into quitting on his stool prior to the twelfth and final round of a grueling back and forth battle, which were the type of fights that Hatton specialized in. 

As one who covered that fight for a now defunct outlet twenty years ago, I remember how those I spoke about the fight with did not view it with much interest, primarily with regard to the casual sports fan here in the United States. From my perspective, as great a fighter as Kostya Tszyu had proven to be throughout his career, he was at a point going into that fight where both injuries and inactivity seemed to be catching up with him and I openly questioned whether or not at that stage, he could physically deal with a younger, more aggressive fighter who set a non-stop pace. It would be that pace that broke the great champion down not just into retiring on his stool, but retiring from the sport as well. What I will always remember about that fight other than how classy Tszyu was in defeat was essentially passing the torch to Hatton as the number one fighter in the Jr. Welterweight division, but the eruption of the crowd in attendance when the fight was stopped in what was an emotional scene as Hatton, who won the IBF and Ring Magazine World Jr. Welterweight titles from Tszyu, celebrated his triumph with his corner and his family who were sitting ringside. It truly gave one an appreciation for the atmosphere that can be felt in combat sports and remains one of my favorite fights that I have covered in my 30 years writing about combat sports with Boxing as my primary sport.

The atmosphere that made a Ricky Hatton fight unique was not just the energy in knowing that regardless of who he was fighting, it would likely be fan-friendly, but Hatton’s following, which would eventually follow him here to the United States in the thousands for his fights here, would often include a band that would play and chant “There's Only One Ricky Hatton!" not just before a fight,but during the entire pre-fight build up, during the undercard bouts and finally during his bout. A uniqueness that I cannot recall seeing before I began covering Hatton’s fights or since. Perhaps what drew fans in beyond an entertaining crowd pleasing style was Hatton, was also one of the most classy individuals in the entire sport and the friendly demeanor he had along with that class was very endearing and in my view, a throwback to many of the great fighters of previous eras in the way he represented the sport.

Despite a lengthy reign atop the Jr. Welterweight division in which he fought and defeated several of the top fighters of his era, Hatton will be remembered by some for being on the losing end of two fights in which he came up against the best pound for pound fighters of his era in Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, despite being stopped by both, it did not diminish a Hall of Fame career where he also went on to win a world title in the Welterweight division as well. 

It would be those losses, however, that would send Hatton into a three year retirement in which he struggled with his mental health. A subject that in addition to other struggles he faced outside the ring, he spoke openly about.In what would prove to be his final fight in November 2012, Hatton put forth a valiant effort in losing via stoppage to former Welterweight world champion Vyacheslav Senchenko, bringing an illustrious career to a close having only lost three of forty-eight professional fights with thirty-two knockouts registering a career knockout percentage of over 71%.

Earlier this year when I was informed that Hatton would be looking to get in the ring one more time, I was naturally curious, but at the same time not surprised because there have been many fighters that have reentered the sport in recent years, and, despite how long it had been since he last competed, I was nonetheless intrigued, as I was always appreciative of that relentless pressure style, that had an emphasis on both attacking an opponent's body as well as volume punching. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. As disappointing as the prospect of a comeback that will not happen might be for some fans, the loss of not only a great fighter and champion, but also a man who was a credit to a sport that needs to be represented well hurts even more.

I join the rest of the Boxing community in mourning the loss of Ricky “Hitman" Hatton. There truly was only one. God bless you.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Alvarez-Crawford: A Long Overdue Win For Boxing

All too often, the phrase “The Biggest Fight of the Year" is an overused cliche. It is a good sales hook and a way to draw interest in a Boxing match, but also in other combat disciplines as well including the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). As effective as the phrase is as a promotional tool, whether the fight in question deserves such a label attached to it or not, if the fight doesn't deliver when all the promotion, hype, press obligations, and weigh-ins have run their course, once two fighters get into the ring, it can and often does leave a feeling of dissatisfaction and a bad taste in the mouths of Boxing fans, even when such an occasion has been made consumer-friendly by removing the expensive price tag that often accompanies such events.

There are times, however, when the aforementioned hype tactics, promotion,and general anticipation results in a great fight that serves as a way to elevate Boxing as a whole. The once fantasy matchup,turned legitimate “SuperFight" between Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo" Alvarez and undefeated former four-division world champion Terence Crawford proved to be such an occasion. A fight that was simply about two future Hall of Famers, who are legitimately among the best fighters in the world competing against each other and not one that was surrounded by personal animosity or “Bad Blood," whether legitimate or manufactured as a promotional tool to draw interest in the encounter.

This was simply about two of the best fighters of their era showing why they are held in such regard. As often happens prior to great fights, there was also the element of the unknown. Crawford, who had held world titles ranging from the 135lb. Lightweight division to the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division, becoming an undisputed world champion in both the Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight divisions, was moving up fourteen pounds, bypassing the 160lb. Middleweight division,to challenge the long-reigning Super-Middleweight king at 168lbs. Despite the illogical scenario, Crawford had proven long before this challenge to be a generational fighter and the significant jump in weight did not intimidate him, nor did facing a fighter in Alvarez, who like himself had proven to be a generational fighter.

What also added intrigue to this was the perception that, despite his long reign atop the Super-Middleweight division, to some, Alvarez had shown signs of decline in recent fights. Not surprisingly given each fighter’s skillset, what took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV on September 13th was a tactical Boxing chess match at the highest possible level. 

A tactical battle between two tacticians where there was not much to separate the two in the early rounds. Crawford generally being the fighter getting his punches off first, Alvarez looking to apply consistent pressure and focusing his offense on Crawford's body. With both fighters having periods of success in several rounds, it was difficult to discern who had an edge. 

Over time, however, there began to be subtle separation, despite applying consistent pressure from the outside, at no sustainable point, was Alvarez able to successfully trap Crawford and nullify his movement. This in addition to being consistently beaten to the punch and outworked gave Crawford an edge in what remained a competitive fight round by round for the full duration of the twelve round world championship bout. It was also noticeable that whenever Alvarez landed solidly either to the body or head, Crawford would immediately return offense to such degree that it would effectively steal those moments from the champion and likely change what were close rounds that might have been swaying in Alvarez’ direction, the opposite way. 

At the conclusion of nine rounds, I had Crawford up five rounds to four. Despite the perceptions of some going in that Alvarez may have been on the decline, it was not so much an issue of decline in a fighter as Alvarez performed well throughout the fight and remained competitive, as it was him coming up against a fighter in Terence Crawford that much like Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol, the only two fighters to had scored victories over him prior to this fight, is a master boxer with no visible flaws that opponents have been able to take advantage of. The same would be true for Alvarez as he, though competitive and having his moments throughout the fight, was simply unable to solve the puzzle Terence Crawford presented, in losing a close, but unanimous decision. 

The official scorecards of 116-112 (Eight rounds to four), and 115-113 (Seven rounds to five) on the remaining two cards was not surprising. Round by round it proved to be competitive and a healthy debate is likely to occur when you consider individual rounds as to who had the upper hand amongst fans and experts. 

At the end of the twelve round world championship bout I arrived with an eight rounds to four scorecard or 116-112 in points in favor of Crawford. From this observer’s perspective, Crawford not only dictated how the fight was fought, but he was able to sustain that pace throughout. Even as successful as Alvarez was in spots periodically throughout the fight, whatever he was able to do, Crawford had an immediate answer for and this in addition to his being able to outwork Alvarez is what I based my score on.

The victory for Terence Crawford was not only a vindication for him in the sense of seemingly being denied opportunities to face the fellow stars of his era either for business reasons or for other aspects having to do with the politics of Boxing, but it was also a historic one making him the first fighter in Boxing history to become an undisputed world champion in three separate weight divisions.

From a business perspective, the Alvarez-Crawford bout proved to be a massive success drawing over 70,000 spectators to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as well as over forty-one million viewers on digital subscription streaming entertainment network Netflix, which should provide further evidence that Boxing has a bright future away from the outdated model of pay-per-view and those types of numbers should convince the holdouts that remain that the time has come to change course and embrace subscription-based streaming with open arms. Alvarez-Crawford truly delivered on being the biggest fight of 2025 and for a sport that will unfortunately always have its flaws and criticisms, it was a long overdue win for the sport. How the sport reacts to that win and how those in it both who were involved in the promotion of this fight and outside of it look to build off of it, remains to be seen. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Alvarez-Crawford The Biggest Fight of 2025

On September 13th the Boxing world will converge on Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas,NV for the biggest event in the sport of Boxing in 2025 as two-time Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo" Alvarez will make the first defense of his crown since regaining undisputed champion status in May of this year against undefeated multi-division world champion Terence Crawford. An encounter eagerly anticipated and in some ways mythical in the sense of it being a mythical fantasy fight in the minds of fans and experts alike not long ago.

The reason for that is largely rooted in the fact that Crawford, a former four-division world champion, who became undisputed world champion in both the Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight divisions, has only competed as high as the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division. While he most recently won the WBO Jr. Middleweight world championship in August of last year with a twelve round decision over previously unbeaten Israel Madrimov, Crawford is at a unique stage in his career that few fighters can claim.

For Crawford is a true rarity in that he has spent his entire career virtually cleaning out every division he has competed in with little resistance from his opposition. This has put him in rarified air as a fighter that feels there is not much more he could accomplish and rightly has earned the right to pick a marquee fight in what could be his final bout of a Hall of Fame career. The choice is arguably the most challenging option, moving up in weight one more time to challenge Alvarez for his undisputed crown.  

What makes this unique and potentially a historic occasion is Crawford, who has only fought as high as the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division only once,  will be moving up fourteen pounds  and two divisions to make the attempt to become the first fighter to become an undisputed world champion in three separate weight classes. When one considers that Cranford began his career as an 135lb. Lightweight, it puts such an attempt in perspective as he will now be competing in a fight thirty-three pounds up the scale from where he began his career. While some may not appreciate that figure, there have only been a few fighters throughout history that have been able to defy conventional wisdom by going up significantly in weight over time and do so successfully. 

The most prominent example in terms of modern times outside of Crawford is the recently returned and also recent inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao, a man who began his career as a 105lb. Strawweight, moved up through multiple divisions becoming Boxing's only eight-division world champion, coincidentally like Crawford, winning a world championship as high as the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division. While the styles of Crawford and Pacquiao are different, the similarity between the two is both were and are generational talents that have elevated Boxing. 

As for the man who will be standing in Crawford's way on September 13th, Saul “Canelo" Alvarez has also cemented his legacy as a future Hall of Famer having won world titles in four weight classes and becoming the first fighter in history to fully unify the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division, a distinction that due to the politics that be in the sport, he has accomplished twice.

Despite his accomplishments and being arguably still at the top of his game, some have suggested that Alvarez has shown some signs of decline in recent fights. The basis for this is likely rooted in the fact that Alvarez has not stopped an opponent inside the distance since November 2021 when he knocked out then IBF Super-Middleweight world champion Caleb Plant in the first fight where he became Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion. Outside of a defeat in a failed bid to regain a portion of the World Light-Heavyweight championship to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022, Alvarez has remained atop the Super-Middleweight division. In his last fight, Alvarez regained his undisputed status by scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten IBF world champion William Scull. Although a lopsided victory over an opponent with an amateur style that did not press Alvarez, criticism has remained.

Whether or not the fact that Alvarez, who has gone seven bouts since his last stoppage victory, is a sign of decline is for now a matter of debate. The fact that outside of his loss to a master boxer in Bivol, Alvarez has been able to retain his position atop the Super-Middleweight division by scoring convincing victories that though not ending in knockouts, have been no less convincing is something to also take into consideration. While one would have to go back to his first two fights against Gennady Golovkin in the 160lb. Middleweight division to find fights outside of his most recent loss to Bivol, to find a significant debate over the outcome, (This observer is on record in his stance that Golovkin won both of those bouts that ended in a draw in the first fight and a win for Alvarez in the second encounter) Alvarez’ two losses have all come to fighters regarded as master boxers, Floyd Mayweather and the aforementioned Bivol. 

Although one would have a valid argument to suggest that Terence Crawford, like Mayweather and Bivol is a master boxer with seemingly no flaws having been exposed to this point in his career, the question here should be whether the aspect of weight will be the dominant factor rather than overall skillset and execution that will determine who will win this fight. Despite moving up in weight to challenge Alvarez, Crawford does have two physical advantages going into this encounter. A one inch height advantage at 5’8 and nearly four inches in reach with a 74 inch reach compared to Alvarez’ 70 ½ reach. Where things at least in theory, however, begin to tip more in the champion’s favor is Alvarez began his career as a 147lb. Welterweight, twelve pounds higher than where Crawford began his as a Lightweight. Furthermore, Alvarez has routinely fought and dominated naturally bigger opposition, particularly since he moved into the Super-Middleweight division and also briefly held a World Light-Heaweight championship as well along the way, so those physical advantages Crawford has, though legitimate, likely does not concern the champion. 

How does this fight play itself out? This is a case where it's a true unknown in the sense that both Alvarez and Crawford are both well-rounded boxer/punchers that can do a little of everything, but the perception many fans seem to have is that Cranford has more going for him than Alvarez going into this encounter. This perception could likely be due to the idea that Alvarez has had trouble against fighters considered to be master boxers and at least on paper, this looks to be a similar scenario as Alvarez faced against Mayweather and Bivol. Whether that manifests itself in the ring remains to be seen.  Neither fighter has ever been dropped in their careers so it will be interesting to see what happens if there is a heated exchange of punches and it will be of equal interest to see who will have the edge in hand speed.  One aspect that has not been talked much about, however, is unlike his bouts against Mayweather where he had a disadvantage in terms of major fight experience, and Bivol a master boxer who was also naturally bigger, now this is a little of a reversal in that Alvarez has more than enough experience in fights like this and now is the fighter more experienced competing at heavier weights. The question will be how his skillset and fight plan will match up against Crawford at this stage in his career.

An aspect of this event that also adds to it being the biggest fight of the year is most fights that fit that description are usually reserved for the excuse of the pay-per-view model, something that frankly has been detrimental and to be blunt a cancer to the sport as costs have only gone up over time, frequency of pay-per-view being used also having increased, and digital streaming networks like DAZN, once marketed as a viable alternative to the model with the introduction of a subscription-based model, having found themselves dipping their toes more and more into pay-per-view, that has alienated many subscribers, but this event, which is legitimately the biggest fight on the Boxing calendar will not be on pay-per-view either through independent means or through a network like DAZN. Instead, this fight has the potential to achieve the type of viewership promoters could only dream of via the outdated pay-per-view model, by airing on global digital entertainment streaming network Netflix, with no additional fee attached beyond a Netflix subscription to access the event either live or on demand. 

Following the success of the Tyson-Paul event last November and the all women's Boxing card headlined by the third encounter between future Hall of Famers Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano earlier this year in Madison Square Garden, this event will mark Netflix's third Boxing event and like the previous two, has the potential to draw numbers never reached before for Boxing in the streaming era. While Netflix has invested in single events in the sport to this point that they feel are significant rather than seeking output deals with promoters to provide a consistent schedule, the fact that this fight will show once again the viability of subscription-based models over the inflated, overused, and our dated model of pay-per-view, should be viewed as a positive for the sport. Not only because of it being consumer-friendly, but also, it will put other networks involved in the sport as well as promoters who have continued to insist on pay-per-view, despite increasing evidence that it is no longer embraced by consumers, in the position of needing to both step up their game, but also do so with a model that will be consumer-friendly and will thus allow them to remain competitive in the sport. With the recent news that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Mixed Martial Arts promotion, a promotion that has long had its own subscription-based streaming network UFC Fight Pass, which has allowed subscribers access to the promotion's full library as well as content both live and on demand from other promoters throughout combat sports, but one that has remained on pay-per-view for its numbered events as being the only real stronghold outside of Boxing keeping the model alive, recently signed a $7.7 Billion deal with digital entertainment streaming network Paramount+ to carry all upcoming UFC events including numbered events, which will all be included with a subscription to Paramount+ beginning in 2026 with no additional pay-per-view fees attached, thus moving the promotion fully away from the pay-per-view model, which was in response to its own declining pay-per-view numbers,while also maintaining its own streaming network, hopefully, this along with Netflix's involvement in Boxing, will finally break the wall of resistance of those promoters and network that have continued to insist on pay-per-view that Boxing is officially out of excuses and the time has finally come for change. If Alvarez-Crawford turns in solid numbers in terms of viewership as expected and draws additional subscribers, with Netflix looking to continue their involvement in the sport, even better. 

If the fight turns out to be the true 50/50 encounter it appears to be on paper, ultimately this will likely be remembered akin to some of the classic encounters of the 1980’s where fights like this were regarded as true special occasions in the sport and the fights themselves are regarded and remembered fondly as all-time classics, which elevated Boxing to higher levels and drew interest from not only casual fans, but also folks who had never seen the sport before, which thus created new fans and helped grow the sport. As one who does not make predictions, this is a rare instance where I can not offer even a suggestion as to where things are leaning. For the first time in a good while, the aspect of the unknown that surrounds this fight has me excited to cover it and I cannot wait for round 1 to begin. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Alvarez vs. Crawford takes place on Saturday, September 13th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas,NV. The bout can be seen globally on digital subscription general entertainment network Netflix beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT and will be available to all Netflix subscribers at no additional cost. At 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT preliminary bouts will be streamed on both the UFC and WWE YouTube channels before the main card gets underway on Netflix at the aforementioned start times. (*North American Start Times Only*)

(" On Demand replay of full event will be available shortly after live broadcast.*

For more information about Netflix subscription pricing information in your region of the world and local start times for this special event in your area please visit: www.Netflix.com. 

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Three World Championships to Headline BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing’s Return to South Florida November 22

Credit: BKB

Press Release: September 10, 2025 By BKB Bareknuckle Boxing - MIAMI, FL, USA – BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing - the world’s largest and oldest bare knuckle fighting promotion - announced today that it returns to South Florida on November 22 at the Charles F. Dodge Center in Pembroke Pines for BKB 48 Brawl in the Pines V, a card stacked with the best pound-for-pound bare knuckle fighters from around the world.

In the main event, undefeated Heavyweight champion Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo will face Bellator MMA and ONE Fighting Championship veteran and former King of the Cage champion Tony “Hulk” Johnson Jr. The 32-year-old Trujillo (Miami, Florida by way of Moron Ciego de Ávila, Cuba) has been unstoppable in the sport, boasting a 7-0 record with seven first-round knockouts, including stoppages over bare knuckle world champions Lorenzo Hunt, Ike Villanueva, and Richie Leak. 

In the night’s co-main event, BoxRec’s #1 pound-for-pound bare knuckle fighter in the world LT "Smash" Nelson (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma by way of Petermeritzburg, South Africa) will once again face "The Welsh Wrecking Machine" Barrie Jones (Pontygwaith, Wales) in a rematch of their BYB 30 title fight in which Nelson finished Jones by third-round knockout. Coming into that fight, Jones boasted a perfect 10-0 (9 KOs) record. With the win, Nelson, who was the then-current BYB 2-division champion (Middleweight and Super Middleweight), took home Jones' BYB Police Gazette World Middleweight title, and cemented himself as one the best fighters in all of combat sports. Since that match, Jones has gone on to capture the BKB Light Heavyweight championship against Gregoris Cisneros and is currently ranked the pound-for-pound #5 bare knuckle fighter in the world.

The third title fight on the card will pit BKB Lightweight champion Jarod “Kid Gatti” Grant (Hollywood, Florida) against #1 contender Jon “Untameable” Barnard (Makaha, Hawaii). Grant won the BKB Interim Lightweight championship on May 31 against Jorge Bargallo. Grant has been elevated to full champion after Lightweight champion Julio Tanori was stripped of his title due to inactivity defending it. Barnard defeated BKB Featherweight champion Harold McQueen in a Lightweight eliminator match to solidify his #1 contender status. 

In a matchup of top undefeated Super Cruiserweights, 4-0 Yordan Fuentes (Miami, Florida by way of Isla de Juventud, Cuba) will take on 2-0 Julian Fernandez (Tijuana, Mexico).

Also on the card:

Former Bare Knuckle champions, #2 ranked Jarome Hatch (Lehi, Utah) and #3 ranked Ike Villanueva (Houston, Texas) face off in a Bridgerweight showdown. #2 ranked Cruiserweight Yunieski “The Monster” Gonzalez (Miami, Florida by way of Ciego de Avila, Cuba) takes on #5 ranked Zion Tomlinson (Richmond, Virginia).  

Jorge Bargallo (Cape Coral, Florida by way of Nuevitas, Camagüey, Cuba) and Ash “Bash” Williams (Swansea, Wales) will face off in a matchup of two of BKB top young international fighters. Bare Knuckle veteran Brandon "The Shredder" Shavers will make his Trigon debut against British boxing star “Dangerous” Dan Catlin (Fleetwood, England). Miami’s Jose “Little Prince” Malespin makes his Trigon debut against Nate “Teddy Bear” Williams (Waterloo, Iowa). In a matchup of undefeated women, Angel “Da Killa” Keihl will face off against Katherine Connor.

Tickets are on-sale now at Ticketmaster or via bkbtickets.com/bkb48. Media credentialing application form is now available at bkbbareknuckle.com/credentials. Card subject to change.

BKB is broadcast live in English in the US on VICE and in Spanish on Telemundo Desportes Ahora, and in the UK and Ireland on TalkSPORT. Visit bkbbareknuckle.com  and follow on social @bkbbareknuckle for tickets, information and all ways to watch. 

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 on both sides of the Atlantic, including the recent deal with VICE TV and Telemundo Desportes in the US, and in the UK with TalkSport. 

Material And Graphic Courtesy of: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing Used with permission. 

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

BKB 45 Bristol Brawl Results

Credit: BKB

Press Release: September 9, 2025 By BKB Bareknuckle Boxing - BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing made its Bristol, England debut September 6 at the Planet Ice Arena in a night featuring highlight reel knockouts, some of the sports' top stars, and an impressive bare knuckle debut by former WBA Regular Heavyweight Champion Lucas "Big Daddy" Brown.

Two of BKB's top-ranked and most experienced super middleweights went the distance in a fight of the night performance in the BKB 45 main event with James Connelly besting Martin Reffell by unanimous decision.

Swansea's Dan Lerwell picked up his eleventh bare knuckle vistory with a quick first-round knockout of fellow Welshman, UFC veteran Jack Marshman.

Simey Doherty scored his first win in the Tirgon, beating Joe Smith by split decision.

Veteran Paul Hilz earned his tenth bare knuckle victory and second in a row over hometown Dean Paterson by second-round TKO.

Former WBA Regular Heavyweight Champion says he's found a home in bare knuckle with a dominating doctor's stoppage at the start of the second round over Corey Harrison.

Rob Boardman earned co-knockout of the night honors (with Dan Lerwell) with a devastating first-round KO of Volodymyr Skurtu.

Former WBC International Bantamweight and EBU European Super Flyweight champion Ashley Brace picked up her first bare knuckle victory over Hatice Ozyurt by thrid-round doctor's stoppage. 

Will Dermietzel improves to 2-0 with first-round TKO over Jordan Tompkins.

In the prelims, Carl Hobley-Ant Scotford ended in no contest in the first when Hobley went headfirst out of the Trigon.

Corey Healey got  back in the win column with a second-round TKO over Craig Harrison. 

Matty Moore kicked off the evening with a dominating first-round TKO over Danny Worsfold. 

QUICK RESULTS:

James Connelly Def. Martin Reffel by UD5

Dan Lerwell Def. Jack Marshman by KO1

Simey Doherty Def. Joe Smith by SD5

Paul Hill Def. Dean Paterson by TKO2

Lucas Browne Def. Corey Harrison by DS2

Rob Boardman Def. Volodymyr Skurtu by KO1

Ashley Brace Def. Hatice Ozyurt by DS3

Will Dermietzel Def. Jordan Tompkins by TKO1

Hobley vs Scotford ended in NC1

Corey Healey Def. Craig Harrison by TKO2

Matty Moore Def. Danny Worsfold by TKO1

 

BKB returns to action September 27th in Salamanca, New York for BKB 46. Visit https://www.bkbbareknuckle.com   for tickets and information.

Material And Graphic Courtesy of: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing Used with permission. 

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

Conlan Shines As Rebuild Continues

The story going into the Featherweight bout between former two-time Olympian and world title challenger Michael Conlan and rising contender Jake Bateson was whether he could continue building momentum in his second fight since returning from a lengthy hiatus following three knockout losses in a relatively short timeframe. In previewing this bout, this observer stated that this fight was part of a rebuilding process for Conlan and that a win here would not necessarily indicate whether he would be back to a point where he was three years ago when he was ahead on the scorecards in his world title challenge of then WBA World Featherweight champion Leigh Wood going into the final round of a grueling and competitive fight and being literally minutes away from becoming world champion, before suffering a brutal knockout loss, which seemed to start a slide for him in the wrong direction as a fighter. 

Despite yours truly saying prior to his encounter with Bateson that there would likely not be a conclusive answer as to whether Conlan, who had one win in his comeback coming into this bout, would be back to the point he was going into the Wood fight where frankly, he was simply caught in a fight he was winning, but a victory against Bateson would serve as a way to gauge how many more steps might be needed as part of a long-term rebuilding process, particularly if he performed well against a well skilled boxer in Bateson, who was likely to provide a test. The two fighters would meet before an enthusiastic crowd at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

What stood out almost immediately was Conlan’s timing and ability to use angles, traits of his skillset that have been known to frustrate opponents and signs of when he is at his best. In addition to his ability to use angles, Conlan routinely switched between the southpaw and orthodox stances, which in addition to attacking Bateson in spurts, kept Bateson from being able to find a consistent rhythm. Conlan was also able to keep the combat at a measured, tactical pace where he had the advantage.

In round three, Conlan scored a knockdown of Bateson with a short left hook from the southpaw stance that grazed the top of the head that caused Bateson to momentarily fall forward where his gloves touched the canvas resulting in the knockdown. This would be followed by a second knockdown in round four when Conlan connected with an overhand right that sent Bateson down awkwardly on the canvas. Bateson showed his mettle by getting up from the knockdown, but the combination of being on unsteady legs as well as an apparent injury to his right ankle resulted in the fight being stopped with eleven seconds remaining in the round. 

The second straight win for Conlan on his comeback trail as well as his tenth knockout in his twenty-three bout professional career ultimately served as another building block towards the long-term goal of getting back into contention for another opportunity at a world championship. With the win, Conlan also won the vacant WBC International Featherweight championship, which ultimately means a chance to elevate himself into the world rankings further towards that goal. 

What will be interesting now, however, will be whether Conlan will attempt to jump further up in the rankings in his next fight or potentially take a more conservative approach in potentially taking another fight or two to continue to build momentum so at least in theory from an old school perspective, he can be as ready as possible both physically and mentally before trying to get into a fight, which if he is successful could lead to another world title opportunity. Ultimately, he got a win here in this fight and did so impressively. Whether or not he or his team feel that performance is enough to attempt to move further up the ladder or if he needs a bit more time to keep building momentum remains to be seen. If he were to take another fight against someone on a similar level as Jack Bateson, a good fighter, but one that may not be considered a world rated contender, and turn in a similar clinical performance, it will be clear that Michael Conlan is ready to take the next step.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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

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Boxing: The 100 Greatest Fighters New Book Celebrates the Best to Step Inside the Ring and Into History

Credit: Insight Editions 

Press Release: September 4, 2025 By Insight Editions - In his new book Boxing: The 100 Greatest Fighters (Insight Editions, September 9, $34.99) renowned author Tom Gerbasi combines his vast knowledge of combat-sport history with his deep connections to the fighting community to compile the most complete and definitive list of boxing greats to date. From the selfproclaimed (and rarely disputed) “Greatest” Muhammad Ali, to storied fighters such as Sugar Ray Robinson, and Joe Louis, to current greats who are still defining their legacies such as Terrance Crawford and Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, each fighter’s entry brims with revealing anecdotes, defining stats and achievements, as well as exciting photography.  Discover inside:  • Profiles of 100 boxers from the history of the sport, including 45 world champions • Fully illustrated with historical photographs of these greats in action • Eight female fighters who have redefined the sport  • Compelling lists sure to inspire: the ten Greatest Fights, ten Greatest Knockouts, the best fighters from great boxing nations/regions With full-color photography of the highest caliber and a design firmly entrenched in the boxing tradition, this gorgeous coffee-table book is a unanimous decision. Boxing fans will find much to enthuse about in this book which Gerbasi calls, “My love letter to boxing.” As he says in the introduction, “It’s not a perfect sport, but when it’s done right, there’s nothing like it.” 

About the Author Currently the Editorial Director for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Thomas Gerbasi has covered combat sports for various publications for over 15 years. An award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, his work has also appeared in The Independent, Yahoo Sports, The Daily Beast, The Ring and ESPN. In addition, Mr. Gerbasi is the author of three boxing books, and his amateur boxing record was 0-1. 

 Material and Graphic Courtesy of: Insight Editions Used with permission.

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

MVP’S QUEBEC STANDOUT TAMMARA THIBEAULT SET TO FACE ITALIAN RISING STAR CRISTINA MAZZOTTA

Press Release: September 3, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- MONTREAL, CANADA – September 2, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that MVP’s 2x Canadian Olympian and #1 IBF and WBA middleweight Tammara Thibeault (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Italy’s rising star Cristina Mazzotta (1-0) in the co-main event of Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition, live from Théâtre St-Denis in Montreal, Quebec, on Saturday, September 27. Thibeault vs. Mazzotta will be a 6 round Middleweight bout contested at 160lbs with 2 minute rounds. The event will stream globally for free on DAZN.com and the DAZN app for DAZN subscribers. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition are on sale now HERE.

MVP’s standout Tammara Thibeault is currently the #1-ranked WBA, #1 IBF, #4 WBO, and #8 WBC 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, 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, recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Concordia University in 2023, which she earned over seven years while competing. She currently lives in Sheffield, England, where she is earning 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 both the IBF and WBA following the bout—one of the fastest-rising world title contenders in history.

“Cristina Mazzotta is incredibly talented, and I’m looking forward to a competitive fight that will push me to perform at my very best,” said Tammara Thibeault.“This co-main event is a chance to represent Quebec with pride and take another step toward a world title. The support from my hometown is incredibly meaningful, and I want to deliver a performance that the fans will never forget on Saturday, September 27.”

Cristina Mazzotta, from Mesagne, Italy, represents the storied Pugilistica Rodio Brindisi gym, a boxing institution since 1938. She burst onto the pro scene in July 2025, defeating seasoned Czech boxer Ester Konecna in a thrilling six-round debut that captivated over 2,000 fans in Mesagne’s Villa Comunale. Her amateur career is equally decorated, with a silver medal at the 2018 Italian National Championships in Pescara and a collection of national medals, establishing her as one of Italy’s brightest boxing prospects.

"I’ve been training long and hard to display my skills on a big platform,” said Cristina Mazzotta. “MVP is doing big things in women's boxing and I’m happy to get this opportunity on their event. My opponent is very good but I am confident in what i bring to the table."

“Tamm Thibeault is a phenomenal athlete whose meteoric rise and world-class talent set the standard for the next generation of boxing,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of MVP. “Her co-main event against Cristina Mazzotta is an important step in her rapid rise, pitting one of Quebec’s finest athletes against one of Italy’s most promising talents. On Saturday, September 27, Montreal’s Théâtre St-Denis will provide the perfect stage for Tamm to perform for her hometown fans, delivering a memorable night demonstrating MVP’s commitment to developing top talent on a global scale, live on DAZN.”

Most Valuable Prospects 15 will also feature an IBF world title headliner as undefeated champion Sol Cudos (10-0-2, 3 KOs) defends her strawweight belt against MVP’s Kim Clavel (21-2, 3 KOs). The stacked card also includes Montreal’s undefeated Mazlum Akdeniz (21-0, 8 KOs), MVP’s global star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO), Ontario standout Amanda Galle (11-0-1, 1 KO), Costa Rica’s rising contender Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), and local prospects Omar Alieh (2-0, 2 KOs) and Loick Lahaie (2-0). Montreal native and renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani is set to join the broadcast team as ringside reporter on fight night, marking Helwani’s first time part of an official team calling an event in Montreal. 

Most Valuable Prospects 15 is promoted by GYM and distributed globally by DAZN. The 15th event in the series 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.

Belated Thunderdome 51 Results From Perth, Metro City Australia

Credit: Mike O'Hara Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: September 3, 2025 By Dragon Fire Boxing - Friday night,(August 29th) Dragonfire Promotions returned to the Metro City Night Club for another exciting display of young talent.

 

The main event saw “Lethal” Joel Lewis capture his second state title with a knockout win over Fano Kori.

 

The card also saw WBA Oceania Super Bantamweight Champion “Fist of Fury” Runqi Zhou with a 99 second KO, the return of “The African Dream” Kazeem Soyoye & The Isle of Man’s Sam Rennie continue his undefeated streak, along with other exciting prospects on display.

 

Joel Lewis Captures WA State Super Welterweight Title with Win Over Fano Kori

 

Joel Lewis claimed the WA State Super Welterweight title, defeating Fano Kori by a sixth-round KO in the evening’s main event. The victory marks the second state title of his professional career.

 

The Perth fighter has been on the comeback trail since suffering his first defeat overseas in June 2024. He responded with two straight wins before meeting Kori, who had originally been scheduled to face him earlier this year.

 

The bout was Lewis’ first since relocating to Queensland to train under Angelo Hyder, a respected coach with multiple world champions to his name.

 

The change in camp paid off as Lewis produced a composed and clinical performance to secure the belt.

 

The fight started fast, with both men chasing a quick stoppage.

 

In the second round, Lewis caught Kori coming in with a quick uppercut that sent him to the canvas. Kori was able to answer the count, but Lewis remained in control throughout the rest of the round.

 

Lewis continued to lure Kori into his uppercut to counter the aggression of his opponent.

 

Midway into the fourth round, Lewis landed a perfect left cross that sent Kori to the canvas yet again. Kori chased the finish for the next two rounds and it ultimately cost him, as he got clipped in the final round by yet another uppercut that sent him crashing to the ground.

 

Kori got to his feet before being dropped by a vicious left hand, giving Joel Lewis the victory with three seconds left in the fight.

 

After yet another amazing performance to make it three wins in a row, the sky is the limit for Joel Lewis.

 

Runqi Zhou steamrolls Asyer Aluman in 99 seconds

 

Runqi Zhou defeated Asyer Aluman by first-round TKO to score his second straight victory since his appearance at the WBC Grand Prix.

 

The fight started with Zhou immediately putting pressure on his opponent. He continued roughing Aluman up against the ropes before landing a short-left hook to the body that knocked him to his knees.

 

Aluman was able to get to his feet before Zhou fired off one more flurry that prompted the referee to stop the fight after 99 seconds of action.

 

 

Lewis Clarke defeats Bilal Seidu to become the top contender for State Title

In the co-main event of the evening, Lewis Clarke defeated Bilal Seidu by a controversial split decision.

 

The win for Clarke sets him up for a potential fight with current WA State Cruiserweight Champion Billy Quinncroft.

 

After coming up short in the WBC Heavyweight Grand Prix, Lewis Clarke looked to put his career back on track.

 

After winning his last fight in Thailand, Clarke fought in Perth for the first time in almost a year against Bilal Seidu. 

 

When the bout was announced, it was classed as a WA State Cruiserweight title Eliminator, an accolade that Seidu had come up short in achieving only months prior.

 

With plenty at stake for both men, the bout promised to be an intriguing contest. Ultimately, it was Clarke who emerged victorious.

 

Seidu started the fight aggressively by roughing his opponent up against the ropes. Clarke stayed composed and timed his uppercut well.

 

The onslaught from Seidu continued in the middle rounds, as he was able to catch Clarke in the centre of the ring before following him to the ropes to unload a barrage of punches. 

 

In the final round, both men were clearly fatigued. Clarke was able to rip combinations to the body while Seidu landed massive power punches that got a big reaction from the crowd.

 

Both men gave it everything they had before the final bell sounded.

 

Many in attendance on the night believed Bilal Seidu had done enough to be victorious. However, the judges saw it differently with Lewis Clarke being awarded a split decision win.

 

Sam Rennie remains undefeated against George Lumoly

Earlier in the night, Sam Rennie kept his undefeated record alive with a comfortable third-round stoppage victory over George Lumoly.

 

Coming off his historic regional title win, The Isle of Man’s Sam Rennie looked to continue his dominance in the Perth Boxing Scene.

  

His opponent George Lumoly seemed to be a tough test on paper, but the Brit breezed through him to deliver another smooth performance.

 

The fight started with Rennie being in complete control of the range, keeping Lumoly on the end of his jab.

 

In the second round, the Brit started to unload more power shots to the body before dropping Lumoly with a right hook before the bell.

 

Rennie cornered Lumoly throughout the third round before knocking his opponent down yet again with a body shot.

 

Lumoly recovered before being finished off with an uppercut, giving the referee no choice but to stop the fight.

 

With yet another impressive victory under his belt, Rennie has set his sights on a WA State Title fight in the future.

 

 

FULL CARD RESULTS

Joel Lewis DEFEATED Fano Kori by 6th Round KO

 

Lewis Clarke DEFEATED Bilal Seidu by Split Decision

 

Kazeem Soyoye DEFEATED Reynold Kunaming by 3rd Round KO

 

Sam Rennie DEFEATED George Lumoly by 3rd Round TKO

 

Gareth Hilton DEFEATED Bahtiyar Sonyol by Unanimous Decision

 

Devon Kelly DEFEATED Beejay Boonket by 3rd Round TKO

 

Runqi Zhou DEFEATED Asyer Aluman by 1st Round TKO

 

Luke Dowsett DEFEATED Mitch Arnold by Unanimous Decision

 

Craig O Sullivan DEFEATED Ryan Stokoe by 4th Round TKO

 

Ryan Daye DEFEATED Turahman by 2nd Round KO

 

Nathan Lingois DEFEATED Daniel Kent (Exhibition Fight)

Material Courtesy of: 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.

Conlan Looks To Build Momentum

It can be a cliche, but those who are familiar with the sport of Boxing and really combat sports as a whole, know that there are several stages throughout a fighter's career. Such stages have been chronicled numerous times by this observer in covering countless fighters over the last three decades that I have covered combat sports, and have been discussed as a focal point when a fighter either prepares to enter a new phase or as that fighter is on the rise up the ranks.

One such fighter that saw such a rise is Featherweight contender Michael Conlan. Conlan, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland is a two-time Olympian and former Olympic Bronze Medalist. Upon turning professional in 2017, Conlan went on to win sixteen straight bouts leading to a world championship bout when he challenged then WBA World Featherweight champion Leigh Wood in March 2022. In a grueling back and forth fight where he was ahead on all three judges scorecards, Conlan would find himself on the receiving end of a brutal knockout at the hands of Wood where he was knocked out of the ring in what was frankly a scary scene for all who witnessed it. 

Despite the knockout loss and the severity of it, Conlan would rebound to win two fights before suffering two more knockout losses in 2023. Following those setbacks in being stopped in three of four bouts, a layoff took place to allow Conlan to recover and likely time to process what had been a rough period in his career. This resulted in Conlan not competing in 2024.

From an old school standpoint, there are those, and this observer often finds himself in this category as well, who feel that often the worst thing for a fighter is inactivity, which over time can prove to be a silent killer of a fighter’s ability, and ultimately negatively affect the fighter’s career. There are times, however, where a lengthy absence can be and should be a necessity. Circumstances where a fighter finds themselves on a bad slide when it comes to wins and losses, and particularly when a fighter suffers more than one knockout loss in a relatively short period of time, would be an exception to the wisdom of inactivity doing more harm than good as it allows the fighter time to recover both physically as well as mentally. 

The rebuilding process for Conlan began in March of this year when he scored an eight round decision over Asad Khan. Now, Conlan looks to continue to build momentum as he will return to the ring on Friday, September 5th against twenty-two fight veteran Jake Bateson in a scheduled ten round bout at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland in a fight that can be seen globally on digital combat sports and entertainment streaming platform Triller TV. 

This fight, which will be for the vacant WBC International Featherweight championship figures to be a test for Conlan in his second fight back from that hiatus. Bateson, who will come into this bout off of a technical draw in his last bout against Danny Quartermaine, who currently holds the WBO and WBA versions of the European Featherweight championship in December of last year, will come into the fight with a respectable record of 20-1-1, with 6 Knockouts. While not known for his punching power, Bateson does have the type of Boxing skills that will likely put Conlan, who will enter with a record of 19-3, with 9 Knockouts, under some degree of stress at some point in this bout.

At his best, Conlan is a highly-regarded world-class boxer, who has a good mix of hand speed and power, despite only having nine knockouts in his nineteen wins. The question here will be whether Bateson can put Conlan under the type of stress and pressure where he will be tested and more specifically, how his punch resistance is following those three stoppage losses.

Boxing is and will always be a sport where the rise of a fighter will always get more attention than the stories of fighters looking to rebuild their careers. Whether Michael Conlan will be back in the position he was in three short years ago in fighting for and literally being minutes away from becoming a world champion remains to be seen and short of another setback where he might be stopped again inside the distance, we are likely not going to get a conclusive answer from this fight, assuming he wins and regardless of the method of victory if that indeed happens. This is more likely going to be another step towards the long-term goal of getting back into contention. If Conlan is successful and performs well, however, this could at minimum provide a gauge as to how many more steps might be needed in that process. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Conlan vs. Bateson takes place on Friday, September 5th at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The fight as well as it's full undercard can be seen globally on digital combat sports and entertainment streaming network Triller TV under its Triller TV+ subscription tier beginning at 12PM ET/9AM PT with preliminary bouts followed by the main card beginning at 2PM ET/11AM PT. (*North American Times Only.*) For More information about Triller TV including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, Local start times in your area, and region-specific pricing and Triller TV+ subscription availability please visit: www.TrillerTV.com. 

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MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS FIRST EVER EVENT IN QUEBEC SEPTEMBER 27TH ON DAZN

Press Release: August 29, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- MVP’s 2x Canadian Olympian and #1 IBF and WBA middleweight Tamm Thibeault set for co-main event; Montreal’s undefeated Mazlum Akdeniz also joins main card

MVP’s global star Javon “Wanna” Walton returns in preliminary card headliner; Ontario’s Amanda Galle and Naomy Valle make promotional debuts under MVP

Montreal prospects Omar Alieh and Loick Lahaie join preliminary card

Montreal native and renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani joins broadcast team

MONTREAL, CANADA – August 28, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the company’s return to Canada for Most Valuable Prospects 15, an MVP Championship Edition on Saturday, September 27 at the Theatre St-Denis in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, available globally for free on both DAZN.com and the DAZN app with no subscription required. Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition will be headlined by IBF world champion Sol Cudos (10-0-2, 3 KOs) vs. MVP’s newest signee, Canadian boxing star Kim Clavel (21-2, 3 KOs) in a 10-round women’s world championship fight at 105lbs for the IBF strawweight world title. The co-main event will feature MVP’s 2x Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and #1 IBF and WBA middleweight contender Tamm Thibeault (3-0, 2 KOs). Also on the main card will be Montreal’s undefeated 28-year-old Mazlum Akdeniz (21-0, 8 KOs).

Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO). Joining Walton on the preliminary card will be MVP’s recent Ontario, Canadian signee Amanda Galle (11-0-1, 1 KO), MVP’s Costa Rican rising contender Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), Montreal super welterweight prospect Omar Alieh (2-0, 2 KOs) and Sherbrooke, Quebec super lightweight prospect Loick Lahaie (2-0). 

MVP will also feature a special addition to Most Valuable Prospects 15. Montreal native and renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani is set to join the broadcast team as ringside reporter on fight night, marking Helwani’s first time part of an official team calling an event in Montreal. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition are on sale now HERE.

Small in stature but giant in her achievements, Kim Clavel has established herself as one of the leading figures in women’s boxing in Canada and around the world. Born in Joliette, a city on the outskirts of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, she is recognized for her fighting spirit, resilience, and charisma that resonate far beyond the ring. Before shining as a professional, Clavel distinguished herself as an amateur, climbing to #5 in the world rankings across 85 amateur bouts and winning gold at the 2017 Continental Games. After turning pro in 2017, she earned prestigious accolades such as WBC Prospect of the Year, ESPY Award, and Time Magazine New Generation Leader. Under the guidance of Groupe Yvon Michel, Kim reached a defining milestone in 2022 by capturing the WBC world title against Yesenia Gomez, a victory witnessed by hundreds of thousands of fans. Beyond the ring, Clavel is a trained nurse who returned to the front lines during the pandemic in a long-term care facility—an act of courage and humanity that earned her the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2020 ESPY Awards. Her warm and genuine personality also led her to participate in Big Brother Célébrités – Québec, where she won over viewers and broadened her popularity with an even wider audience. With the support of her coach Danielle Bouchard and now part of the Most Valuable Promotions roster, Clavel enters the next phase of her career with a clear mission: to reclaim a world title and achieve her dream of unifying the division. She will face IBF 105lb world title holder Sol Cudos on Saturday, September 27. The Argentinian champion comes to the ring from Buenos Aires, having claimed the then-vacant IBF world title by decision in her latest bout against Maria Sol Baumstarh in April 2025. She will defend her title for the first time against Clavel.

“To headline my tenth main event, this time with MVP in an iconic venue like Théâtre St-Denis in Montréal, is an honor and a motivation like no other,” said Kim Clavel. “Being the headliner for MVP’s first event in Québec makes this moment even more special. Under the spotlight, I don’t feel pressure — I feel power. I want all of Montreal to come out and show MVP why we are the best city to host big events. Saturday, September 27th will be unforgettable. See you there.”

MVP’s standout Tamm Thibeault is currently the #1-ranked WBA, #1 IBF, #4 WBO, and #8 WBC 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, 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, recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Concordia University in 2023, which she earned over seven years while competing. She currently lives in Sheffield, England, where she is earning 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 both the IBF and WBA following the bout—one of the fastest-rising world title contenders in history.

"Coming back to Montreal to fight as a professional for the very first time is an incredible moment in my career," said Tamm Thibeault. "Quebec has always been close to my heart, and stepping into the ring here as a pro is nothing less than special. I carry so much pride representing not only Team Canada but also my home province, and I want to give the fans a performance that reflects all the hard work and sacrifices that brought me here. One of my biggest wishes as a professional has always been to fight 3-minute rounds, just like I did with Team Canada. Even though this bout will be under the current 2-minute rule, I truly hope that, in the future, opportunities will open up for equality in women’s boxing. This fight is more than just a debut in Quebec, it’s a homecoming, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone who has supported me along the way.”

Also on the main card will be Mazlum Akdeniz, an undefeated southpaw boxer from Montreal, known for his technique and discipline. At only 28 years old, he holds an impressive professional record of 21-0 with 8 KOs. Before turning professional, he built a strong amateur background with 49 wins and only 4 losses. On the rise, he already holds two prestigious belts, the WBC Continental Americas Champion at super lightweight (140 lbs) and the WBC International Champion at welterweight (147 lbs). Beyond the ring, Mazz is also the owner of AK Boxing & World Fitness. His strong performances, southpaw style, and undefeated record make him one of Canada’s top boxing prospects and an athlete to watch closely on the international stage.

“MVP is returning to Canada for the second time this year, now in one of the world’s great fight cities,” said Jake Paul, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “My partner Nakisa Bidarian is Canadian and has often spoken about Montreal being one of the greatest cities in the world with its renowned arts, culture and festival scene, amazing food and the beauty of a truly bilingual city. I can’t wait for team MVP and our global fans to experience it all. This event is especially meaningful as Kim Clavel headlines a world title fight in her hometown, alongside MVP and Quebec’s own 2x Olympian and #1 contender Tamm Thibeault. With a stacked card featuring Montreal’s top prospects and MVP’s rising global talent, Saturday, September 27 at Théâtre St-Denis will mark another milestone moment for Canadian boxing and a powerful showcase of women’s boxing on an international stage, live for fans worldwide on DAZN.”

Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO). Walton 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.

“Being on the same card as my MVP teammates and local legends like Kim Clavel and Tamm Thibeault is awesome. I spent a lot of time in Canada over the past few years so I’m looking to make a statement in my return to the True North,” said Wanna Walton. “They’ve inspired so many young fighters in Canada, some of which I’ve worked with during my time in Vancouver, and being part of this event in Montreal just pushes me to go even harder for my return. Don’t miss it — I’m coming to make my biggest statement yet on Saturday, September 27.”

Also on the preliminary card will be MVP’s Amanda Galle. Raised in a proud Italian family in Mississauga, Ontario, she began her combat sports journey at six, earning a black belt in karate by 11 before beginning boxing and kickboxing. At 16, she scored a 28-second knockout in her boxing debut and went on to capture three Canadian national titles between 2009 and 2018, persevering through her mother’s battle with breast cancer and her own struggles with depression. Turning professional in 2019, Galle built an undefeated record while balancing her career with family, ultimately delivering the Canadian super bantamweight title to her mother’s hospital bed before her passing in 2022. Galle rebounded with a string of victories, overcoming a broken hand and capturing the IBO bantamweight world championship in December 2023, which she defended successfully in 2024. 

MVP’s 20-year-old undefeated light flyweight Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), from San Jose, Costa Rica, has established herself as one of boxing’s brightest prospects. In her most recent fight in March 2025, Valle maintained her unbeaten streak and earned her first title honors, becoming the WBC Youth world champion at 108 pounds after defeating Mexican fighter Yelmi Sánchez. Outside the ring, she made history by winning the first season of popular dance show Mira Quién Baila Costa Rica on Teletica, securing 34.91% of the public vote. With her victory, she donated the $15,000 prize to the National Children’s Hospital, Fundación para el Desarrollo del Hospital Nacional de Niños. Beyond that, she is also studying aviation and recently completed her first official flight with pilot Alessandro Serrano from Aero Formación. During her preparation for the fight that earned her the WBC world title, she balanced boxing training with theoretical studies and flight simulations, demonstrating her dedication in both fields.

At 21 years old, Omar Alieh, a Quebec boxer of Lebanese heritage, is already one of Canada’s brightest prospects. An eight-time Golden Gloves champion, he holds 44 amateur wins (17 KOs) and an undefeated professional record of 2-0-0, winning both by knockout. A member of the Canadian national team, he aspires to represent his country at the Olympics and become a world champion.

Born in 2002 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, 23-year-old Loick Lahaie completed a high school sports-study boxing program and boasts a record of 77 amateur bouts (49-28) along with an undefeated professional start at 2-0-0. A Canadian national champion and six-time Quebec champion, he competed internationally with Boxing Canada and now contributes to BoxÉduc, bringing boxing’s values to young people.

Most Valuable Prospects 15 is promoted by GYM and distributed globally by DAZN. The 15th event in the series 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.