Belated Most Valuable Prospects 12 Results From Orlando, FL

Credit: Harry Aaron/Most Valuable Promotions 

Press Release: May 12, 2025  By Most Valuable Promotions - ORLANDO, FL – Friday, May 9, 2025 – Undefeated Cuban Olympian Dainier “The Fear” Pero (11-0, 8 KOs) retained his WBA Continental USA heavyweight title with a hard-earned unanimous decision win (96-92 x3) over Mexico’s Cesar “Chaka” Navarro (13-3, 11 KOs) in the main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 12 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The 10-round bout aired live and free globally on DAZN.com and the DAZN app. Navarro started fast, setting the tone early with sharp uppercuts and relentless pressure. In a dramatic third round, Navarro knocked Pero down twice—first with a clean overhand right and then again with a right uppercut. Pero, showing incredible heart and composure under pressure, rose both times and managed to survive the round. From that point forward, the 25-year-old Cuban took control of the fight, using his size, conditioning, and bodywork to dictate the pace and wear Navarro down over the final seven rounds. All three judges scored the contest 96-92 in favor of Pero, who overcame adversity to remain undefeated and continue establishing himself as a legitimate contender in the heavyweight division. 

In the co-main event, Orlando’s undefeated Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (11-0-1, 8 KOs) delivered a commanding performance against fellow rising contender Tayden “The Butcher” Beltran (10-1-1, 5 KOs) of Huntington Beach, California, in a scheduled 8-round lightweight showdown packed with nonstop action. From the opening bell, Marksman controlled the pace, dazzling the crowd with his trademark flair, unloading crisp, powerful combinations that repeatedly backed Beltran into the ropes. Beltran impressively absorbed Marksman’s shots and answered back with some of his own explosive exchanges, briefly gaining momentum in the later rounds. But Marksman’s pressure proved overwhelming, culminating in a seventh-round barrage that forced the referee to step in. The bout was waved off to thunderous applause from the hometown fans, as Marksman celebrated a well-earned TKO victory and continued his ascent in the lightweight ranks. 

On the main card, 19-year-old 18x national champion Kaipo Gallegos (9-0-1, 7 KOs) faced 23-year-old Chihuahua, Mexico native Pedro Castaneda  (8-1-1, 5 KOs) in a scheduled 8-round lightweight bout. Las Vegas native Gallegos opened the bout with a showcase of patience, power, and precision, employing his right jab to pick apart Castaneda’s defense across the early rounds. Castaneda made a strong showing in the fifth round but ultimately was outmatched until he retired, and Gallegos extended his undefeated record with a win by technical knockout. 

Opening the main card, MVP’s 23-year-old standout Nat “No Love” Dove (5-0-1, 1 KO) took on El Paso, Texas native Nayeli Rodriguez (4-0-1), becoming MVP’s latest women’s athlete to make a statement for equality by fighting in a 4-round super flyweight bout with equal rules to men, three-minute rounds. Dove, a 15x national amateur champion, displayed composure in the opening rounds, setting up powerful combos, while Rodriguez continued to work through Dove’s defense with her powerful jab. The bout went the distance over four evenly matched rounds and ended in a draw (38-38x3).  

In the preliminary card headliner, Tampa, Florida’s undefeated Ariel “The Golden Hulk” Perez (7-0, 4 KOs) made his highly-anticipated series return to face Michoacan, Mexico’s 26-year-old Mario Bedolla (4-4, 3 KOs) in a 6-round light heavyweight bout. “The Golden Hulk” took control early, hammering Bedolla with punishing body shots and maintaining pressure throughout the fight. Despite Perez’s dominance, Bedolla showed toughness and refused to go down, exchanging heavy blows as the bout wore on. Perez closed strong with a commanding sixth round, earning a decisive unanimous decision victory (60-54 x3).

Also in the preliminary rounds, 24-year-old Jeremy Adorno (10-1, 6 KOs) from Kissimmee, Florida by way of San Juan, Puerto Rico dominated Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Jonathan Pachado (6-2, 2 KOs), securing two first-round knockdowns before being awarded a TKO victory at 2:58 in round one. Carolina, Puerto Rico’s 19-year-old Elise Soto (7-0, 7 KOs) battled Pittsburgh’s Colleen Davis (4-2-1, 1 KO) in a blood-soaked war. Soto appeared to establish early dominance, but the bout was declared a no contest after the second round as an accidental head butt left Davis with an open head wound. Kicking off the preliminary card, 21-year-old Quincey Williams (5-0, 5 KOs) defeated Uruguay’s Jose Perdomo (6-7, 3 KOs) by fourth-round knockout. 

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP. Boxlab Promotions served as the official licensed promoter of Most Valuable Prospects 12. The 12th 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. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2025. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. TorkLaw, Event Tickets Center, and Fansly 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 and Trailers 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.

 

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

Press Release: May 9, 2025  By MeritTV -  DALLAS (May 9, 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 9, at 9 PM ET and Saturday, May 10 at 8 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 9th, at Worldwide Stages, Nashville:

9 PM ET – Nashville Smash vs. Miami Assassins

Immediately following – Atlanta Attack vs. Dallas Enforcers

Saturday, May 10th at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, South Carolina:

8 PM ET – Houston Hitmen vs. LA Elite

Immediately following – Phoenix Fury vs. Las Vegas Hustle

The following weekend features San Antonio vs. Dallas, Houston vs. Atlanta, New York City vs. Las Vegas, and Boston vs. Philadelphia. 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.

Quickly gaining fans and respect from boxing professionals, Connecticut-based referee Johnny Callas told BoxingTalk.com, “I think TCL checks all those boxes and is an entertaining concept to a younger and varied audience. Attempting to take the individual sport of boxing and presenting it in team format is incredibly creative and entertaining.” 

“I like this Team Combat League,” added New York-based referee Arthur Mercante Jr. “It just keeps the action going in one three-minute round. Whoever started this was brilliant.”

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.

 

Cinco De Mayo Weekend Boxing Marathon 2025 Thoughts

One of the biggest events on the Boxing calendar year to year is Cinco De Mayo weekend. Traditionally, this period is reserved for a marquee event in the sport as a launching point of sorts into the second half of a calendar year. 2025, however, saw three marquee events spread over three straight days as opposed to one major event that usually occurs over the weekend. 

The 2025 edition of Cinco De Mayo weekend in Boxing kicked off on Friday, May 2nd with a tripleheader featuring three of the sport’s biggest stars in New York City, NY. Normally when a marquee event takes place in New York City, it is a given that the venue will be the legendary Madison Square Garden. This time, however, the sport broke new ground as this event was held outdoors in the middle of Times Square, known worldwide as the epicenter of the city. As a born and bred New Yorker, this observer was looking forward to this event. Not only because of the history attached to it in being the first sporting event to ever be held in Times Square, not only because the event saw the long awaited return of Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley after an eight year absence following HBO’s exit from the sport in 2018, but the fights themselves looked intriguing on paper.

With such a unique atmosphere in something that had never been attempted before in place and offering spectacular visuals, the first encounter of this tripleheader, which was seen globally on DAZN Pay-Per-View saw two-division world champion Teofimo Lopez defend his WBO Jr. Welterweight world championship against undefeated WBO number one rated contender Arnold Barboza. Despite looking as though it would be the most competitive and potentially entertaining fight of the entire card, Lopez showed his intelligence in Boxing his way to a wide twelve round unanimous decision to retain his world title in a fight that did not have much in the way of highlights.

In similar fashion, two-division world champion Devin Haney scored a forgettable twelve round unanimous decision over former unified Jr. Welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez in a Welterweight bout. This led to the main event of the first sporting event ever to be staged in Times Square as Ryan Garcia met Rolando Romero in a fight also scheduled for twelve rounds and also in the Welterweight division. 

This fight started out looking as though it would be competitive, but following the one highlight of the bout, Romero scoring a knockdown of Garcia with a counter double left hook to the head in the second round, the bout resembled the previous two bouts on the card. A formulaic type of experience void of highlights and competitive drama, as Garcia seemed unwilling to engage following getting up from the knockdown, as Romero outworked and out maneuvered him the rest of the way to an easy twelve round unanimous decision victory.

Ultimately, what looked as an intriguing set of bouts on paper, did not live up to the occasion and atmosphere of such a unique event. Whether it was a case of the atmosphere somehow getting to the fighters or not being used to competing outdoors in New York City,  the feeling coming out of this event was one that was underwhelming,  but having seen Boxing successfully staged in Times Square,  I openly wonder when the next event will be and who might participate next time around. 

The second event of the weekend brought the Boxing spotlight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 3rd where Super-Middleweight world champions Saul “Canelo“ Alvarez and William Scull met to determine the Undisputed Super-Middleweight championship of the world.  An attraction, which was also shown globally on DAZN Pay-Per-View, offered Alvarez, the division's previous undisputed champion an opportunity to reclaim that status following being stripped of the IBF world championship when a conflict saw Alvarez choose to face the WBO's number one contender Edgar Berlanga than the IBF's mandatory challenger Scull, which then saw the unbeaten Scull win the vacant IBF crown. 

While Scull's victory over Vladimir Shishkin in October of last year,  made this fight with Alvarez more interesting in the sense of reunifying the division than had Alvarez faced Scull as a mandatory challenger, it is a reflection of the flaws of the politics that be in the sport in full display in that Alvarez was not allowed to defend against Berlanga and Scull in succession without losing one of the championships that made up the undisputed championship.  Whether it was a case of bad timing or perhaps a more cynical approach by the IBF to build more interest in the fight between Alvarez and Scull is something the reader can decide for themselves. 

What cannot be debated, however,  is in a scenario quite similar to what had taken place on the other side of the world in New York City the previous evening,  the unification bout between Alvarez and Scull was one that was formulaic. It was also a contest that saw one consistent pattern from start to finish. Alvarez coming forward, trying to bring the fight to Scull, landing body punches, Scull a technical boxer constantly looking to evade Alvarez with his lateral movement and landing sporadic counter punches.

While Scull, a Germany-based boxer is originally from Cuba and was raised in the sport with the Cuban amateur style, which at times has more emphasis on technique and defense rather than consistent offense,  there are times where that style, as effective and dominant as it has proven to be in amateur competition, does not always translate to consistent success in the professional ranks, nor is it the most entertaining style to watch.

In this case, though he clearly succeeded in frustrating Alvarez and did manage to win rounds by limiting Alvarez’ activity,  he was not aggressive and that choice to not let his hands go ultimately proved to be his demise as Alvarez became a two-time Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion by convincing twelve round unanimous decision. Although not the most exciting performance,  Alvarez simply did what he needed to do and this victory will ultimately lead to a much anticipated encounter between Alvarez and current WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion and a former two-division undisputed world champion Terence Crawford in September in Las Vegas. 

While much like the previous evening,  Alvarez-Scull left an underwhelming feeling for this observer, it would be the traditional Cinco De Mayo location of Las Vegas where the 2025 edition would come to a close with another undisputed world championship bout.  This observer is referring to the Undisputed Jr. Featherweight world championship bout between undefeated champion Naoya Inoue and WBA number one contender Ramon Cardenas, which took place on May 4th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

On the surface, this fight, which was broadcast by digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ here in the United States, represented little more than the Japanese superstar Inoue's return to the United States for the first time in nearly five years when the then unified Bantamweight world champion scored a seventh round knockout of Jason Moloney behind closed doors in the convention center of the MGM Grand during the global COVID-19 epidemic where fans were not permitted to attend. 

As the years have gone on Inoue has evolved into one of the biggest stars in the sport albeit away from the United States where his fights thanks to ESPN+ have been made accessible here stateside, but have taken place in the early morning hours as he has opted to compete in his native Japan, where he not only routinely draws massive crowds, but can also get top dollar whenever he competes. While this fight represented a return to America, few gave it more thought than an appearance by one of the biggest stars in the sport, who has consistently been at or near the top of Boxing's mythical pound for pound debates as he has continued going through divisions and becoming a multi-division undisputed world champion in the process. 

Despite entering the fight with a 26-1, with 14 Knockouts record and being ranked number one by the World Boxing Association, not much was known about Roman Cardenas and even though he had been unbeaten since 2017 as well as never being stopped his career, few regarded him as a legitimate threat to Inoue. This perception would prove to be an example of why an opponent should never be underestimated.  

In the second round, Cardenas made himself known by suddenly dropping the champion with a flush counter left hook to the jaw that sent Inoue down to the canvas for only the second time in his career. A scenario that looked eerily similar to the one Inoue found himself in against Luis Nery in May of last year where also in the second round,  he was dropped by a counter left hook after he had thrown a punch and dropped his arm leaving an opening for the left,  this time the fighter known as “The Monster” appeared legitimately stunned. 

To his credit, Cardenas proceeded with caution and did not recklessly approach Inoue, a fighter who had twenty-six knockouts in twenty-nine professional fights coming into this title defense, but nevertheless stood his ground by continuing to apply pressure, continuing to land hard shots when given the opportunity and appearing to hurt the champion whenever he landed punches to the body. Although after four rounds the momentum appeared to clearly be in favor of the challenger, Inoue would show once again why he is regarded as not only one of the best fighters in the entire sport, but a future Hall of Famer. 

In showing the ability to adapt under fire from his opposition, Inoue gradually worked his way back into the fight and by round six had started to turn the ebb and flow his way as his own power punches began to affect Cardenas. The accumulation of blows from Inoue eventually broke the challenger down in scoring a knockdown of Cardenas late in the round. While this knockdown was from the accumulation of punches Inoue was dishing out, the pace of the fight also seemed to show on the challenger, who despite getting up from the knockdown and surviving the round, looked utterly exhausted. 

Sensing that the tide had turned and his opponent was compromised, Inoue forced the issue in round eight pressing forward and unleashing a barrage of unanswered punches with Cardenas pressed up against the ropes to force the fight to be stopped. While the result was what many had expected in Inoue getting a victory to retain his undisputed crown in the 122lb. Jr. Featherweight division,  few expected this to be the thrilling back and forth battle that it turned out to be.  It turned out to not only be a great fight,  but from an entertainment standpoint,  it also turned out that the fight that was treated with little regard amongst all the marquee bouts that were staged over Cinco De Mayo weekend, ended up being both the most competitive and entertaining of them all and arguably turned what had been an underwhelming stretch of events to a memorable night that will be remembered along with many other great fights that have taken place during Cinco De Mayo throughout Boxing history. 

While the 2025 edition of Cinco De Mayo weekend in Boxing was a mixed variety,  overall it should be viewed as successful for all the promoters who took part in it and the two networks who broadcast all the events. With the possibility of more Boxing being staged in Times Square as well as continuing to be staged in Boxing hotbeds of Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas,  this observer openly wonders what's next?  It would not be a bad idea if a rematch between Naoya Inoue and Ramon Cardenas were part of those future plans.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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Billy Quinncroft Fired Up For His First State Title Shot

Credit: Mike O'Hara Dragon Fire Boxing 

Press Release: May 5, 2025  By Dragon Fire Boxing - 

On the 30th of May, Dragonfire Promotions hits the Metro City Night Club 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 for the WBC Australasia Silver Lightweight title in his first fight in three years.

 

Before the headliner however, Billy Quinncroft has his first attempt at a state title when he takes on the hard-hitting WA fighter Bilal Seidu.

 

When speaking to the 33-year-old, Quinncroft revealed that he had switched his fight camp to Big Rigs Gym in Malaga as he was taking the sport more seriously.

 

“I've levelled up my training massively” Quinncroft told, “I've just recently changed gyms to Big Rigs gym, I'm going in strong and fit. 

 

“I'm excited and I'm ready to go.” 

 

In his last outing, the Englishman kept his unbeaten record intact when he scored a first-round stoppage victory over Alex Muster back in March this year.

 

Despite claiming the first stoppage win of his career, Quinncroft stated he was slightly disappointed in how the fight turned out.

 

“To be honest, [for the fight] to be done in the first round was a bit disappointing.” Quinncroft revealed.

 

“I know that sounds crazy probably to say, but in the first round you're not even getting going, you're just sort of settling into the fight. 

 

“It was great to have on the record, but I guess it felt a little bit unrewarding that it got done that quick and I didn't get time to fully settle into the fight and have a good clash.”

 

Looking back at Quinncroft’s journey in the sport, it is remarkable to learn that the 33-year-old only made his debut back in November of last year.

 

Fast Forward six months later, Quinncroft is fighting for the State Cruiserweight Championship. 

 

When asked about his overall progression, Quinncroft said that he feels that he is getting better every week.

 

“I'm probably getting better every week, to be honest” Quinncroft said.

 

“I haven't been boxing for too long. I've always played football but as I was getting a bit older, I thought I would try something different and sort of just fell into boxing. 

 

“I have done it on and off over the years to just keep fit so it's crazy when you look at it. I think I jumped in headfirst in November having my first pro fight to now battling for a state title.

 

“So I guess you just take opportunities when they land, I think that's what I've done with this. I'm not one to turn down an opportunity. I'm going to take this with both hands and bring it home.”

 

Standing in his way of a state title is Bilal Seidu. Dubbed “The Black Hulk”, Seidu is known in the WA boxing scene as a power puncher and he also rides an undefeated record with two wins and one draw.

 

Having spared with him in the past, Quinncroft knows that he is expecting his biggest test yet on May 30th.

 

“You can just look at him and see he's a big lump of muscle” Quinncroft joked, “but he was a good lad. 

 

“I've done some rounds with him in the past and he's a tough guy, he's a big, strong boy. I've just got to do what I know I can do and I feel like I will be fine.

 

“I definitely need to be wary and I just can't let myself lapse on the night which I won't, he's a big powerful puncher I know that for sure.”

 

With fast developing skills and motivation for the sport, Billy Quinncroft looks more than ready to claim his first state championship.

 

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.

 

BEATRIZ FERREIRA VS. MARIA INES FERREYRA FOR IBF LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 7 ON DAZN

Credit: Most Valuable Promotions 

Press Release: May 1, 2025  By Most Valuable Promotions - ORLANDO, FL – April 30, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions today announced Most Valuable Prospects 13, an MVP Championship Edition on Saturday, June 7 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, live globally on DAZN. Most Valuable Prospects 13, an MVP Event, will be a headlined by a 10-round women’s world championship fight at 135lbs as Brazil’s IBF lightweight world champion Beatriz “The Beast” Ferreira (6-0, 2 KOs) defends her title for the second time against 28-year-old Buenos Aires, Argentina challenger Maria Ines “Dinamita” Ferreyra (11-0-1, 6 KOs). In the co-main event, MVP’s newest signee, 2x Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley will make his highly-anticipated professional debut over 4 rounds at 200lbs in the cruiserweight division against Weslaco, Texas’s undefeated cruiserweight Sean Sparks (2-0, 2 KOs). Also on the main card will be an 8-round 135lb lightweight fight between Brazilian national champion Luan Almeida (5-0, 4 KOs) vs. Crescent City, Florida’s Tony Aguilar (13-1-1, 4 KOs). Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 13 are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. 

Matchroom’s Beatriz “The Beast” Ferreira made her professional debut in Cleveland, Ohio in 2022. Prior to turning pro, Ferreira’s glittering amateur career saw her win lightweight gold at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Russia and silver in the lightweight category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, before returning to compete for Team Brazil at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where she earned the bronze medal. The 31-year-old Ferreira is an aggressive, come-forward fighter who put on a thoroughly impressive display against an unbeaten Taynna Cardoso in her pro debut in 2022, twice dropping her fellow Brazilian en route to a four-round shutout decision victory, which she competed over three-minute rounds. Less than a month later, Ferreira returned for her second pro bout, stopping the 7-2 Carisse Brown inside two rounds on the undercard of Estrada-Chocolatito 3 in December 2022. Ferreira made her third outing as a professional in July 2023 on the undercard of Dalton Smith vs. Sam Maxwell in Sheffield, England, taking another big step up early in her career and delivering an electric decision win over Karla Ramos Zamora. Ferreira followed the win with an eighth round stoppage of Destiny Jones on the undercard of Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis in December 2023. In just her fifth fight, Ferreira earned her first shot at world title honors against Yanina Lescano in April 2024 in Liverpool, England. Ferreira dished out a severe, relentless beating, winning by technical decision and claiming the vacant IBF lightweight world title at 135lbs. Following the bout, Ferreira turned her attention back to her Olympic aspirations, medaling in Paris before returning to the pro ranks in December 2024 to defend her IBF title and winning a dominant 10-round unanimous decision over France's Licia Boudersa in Monte-Carlo. She now will defend her title for the second time against Argentinian challenger Maria Ines Ferreyra. 

"I want to thank Matchroom and Most Valuable Promotions for this opportunity and I am very excited to return to the United States to defend my world title,” said Biatriz Ferreira. “I am expecting a very tough challenge from my opponent, I know she is no joke and is coming to take my title but these are the type of challenges I want. It's exciting times for women’s boxing and I want to be part of these big nights. I am ready for all the big names that people are talking about and I will prove this on Saturday, June 7th."

María Inés “Dinamita” Ferreyra (11-0-1, 6 KOs) is a 28-year-old undefeated Argentine professional boxer from Tres Algarrobos, Buenos Aires, currently living in Villa María, Córdoba. She made her professional debut in March 2021. Following a strong start to her pro career, Ferreyra earned her first regional title shot in September 2024, contesting for the then-vacant South American lightweight title against Johen Paola Gonzalez and earning a first-round TKO win over Gonzalez to claim the title honors. She followed the showing with a title defense in her latest bout in December 2024, winning by unanimous decision against Lizbeth Crespo. Now entering her first world title fight, she will challenge Ferreira for the IBF lightweight world title in a 10-round women’s championship bout on Saturday, June 7.

MVP’s Keno Marley is a 24-year-old 6’3” boxer born in Sapeaçu, Bahia, Brazil. He first began boxing at age 11 before moving to São Paulo alone to pursue his boxing training at age 13, joining the Brazilian national team to launch a standout amateur career. He first made a name for himself at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, taking home the gold medal and becoming the first Brazilian boxer to achieve this feat. The next year, Marley earned silver at the 2019 Pan American championships. He earned a place on Brazil’s Olympic team, qualifying to compete in the men's light heavyweight event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and finishing as a quarter-finalist in a narrow 3-2 defeat to Britain’s Benjamin Whittaker, the eventual silver medalist. At the 2021 amateur world championships, Marley fought in the IBA cruiserweight division and earned the silver medal, before becoming the 2022 Brazilian national amateur champion. In 2023, Marley won the prestigious Strandja Tournament, the biggest championship on the European circuit, becoming the first Brazilian man to reach the final and win the title before winning silver at the 2023 Pan American Games. He continued his amateur sprint as he returned to represent Brazil again at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the men’s heavyweight division, defeating Team Great Britain powerhouse Pat Brown to reach the quarter finals. Outside boxing, Marley faced two difficult losses in 2021, losing his older brother to murder and his cousin to suicide. He now actively serves as a third sergeant in the Brazilian Army, holds a university degree in physical education, and is currently completing a law degree. He trains out of the Brazilian Olympic Training Center and is co-managed by Brazil’s biggest influencer, multi-talented superstar Whindersson Nunes, who faced MVP’s Neeraj Goyat on the main card of MVP’s record-shattering Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson in November 2024. Marley currently resides in São Paulo, Brazil. On Saturday, June 7, Marley will make his professional debut over 4 rounds at 200lbs in the cruiserweight division against Sean Sparks (2-0, 2 KOs). The 33-year-old Sparks comes to the ring from Weslaco, Texas by way of Palm Desert, California, boasting a perfect record so far in his pro career. Sparks, an orthodox fighter standing at 6’2”, most recently earned a third-round KO over Enrique Rodriguez in March 2025, following his outstanding first round KO of Edmilson Freitas in his pro debut in October 2024. He is managed by Felix Piedra.

“I’ve been boxing for 11 years now. To finally get to the point where I’m about to make my pro debut after all I’ve done so far feels surreal,” said Keno Marley. “I’m really excited and thankful that MVP is the stage where I’m starting my boxing career. I’m doing exactly what I wanted, when I wanted, and where I wanted, so I can’t be anything but thankful about my life right now! Saturday, June 7 can’t get here soon enough.”

Luan Medeiros (5-0, 4 KOs) is an undefeated professional lightweight boxer and the current CNB Super Lightweight Brazilian National Champion. As an amateur, he built an extensive career with close to 150 fights, boasting over 114 wins and becoming a Brazilian National Champion, Copa del Pacífico winner in Ecuador, and a Cheo Aponte Tournament runner-up in Puerto Rico. Domestically, he won multiple regional titles, including 4x Rio de Janeiro state champion, 3x São Paulo state champion, Paraná state champion, Sul-Sudeste champion, and Centro-Oeste champion. He also represented Brazil internationally, winning team challenges against Italy and Argentina. Outside the ring, the 30-year-old Luan is known for his relationship with Brazilian A-list actress Mel Maia, who has over 21 million followers. Facing him will be one of boxing’s most exciting up-and-coming lightweight prospects, Tony Aguilar (13-1-1, 4 KOs). The 26-year-old Aguilar, a Crescent City, FL native, returns to the ring following four thrilling fights across MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects series and Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry in July 2024 and his latest UD win over Marcello Williams in December 2024. He proudly represents his Mexican heritage in the ring and is a relentlessly hard-working fighter who will look to keep the action high over 8 rounds against Medeiros.

“On Saturday, June 7, our newest signee and two-time Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley will be making his pro debut as part of a card that uniquely celebrates the tremendous talent and achievements of Brazilian boxing,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “This event also marks the return of MVP’s Championship Edition, which first featured Amanda Serrano’s historic 12x3:00 unified women’s world championship bout against Danila Ramos in October 2023. We are proud to now spotlight two more world-class women’s fighters as Brazil’s Olympic silver medalist Beatriz Ferreira defends her IBF world title against a difficult challenger in Maria Ines Ferreyra. Most Valuable Prospects 13 continues to showcase some of the most exciting women’s fighters and rising prospects in the sport—both core tenets of our MVP mission–in partnership with DAZN and Boxlab Promotions.”

“On behalf of the entire team at Caribe Royale and Boxlab Promotions we’re proud to be partnering with MVP on what should be a great night of action,” said Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions and Managing Director of the Caribe Royale Resort. “Central Florida’s Brazilian community will be out supporting their champion and their Olympian! This is part of Caribe Royale’s commitment of bringing world class events to Orlando. Sports fans in Central Florida should be excited about the headliners and the soon to be announced undercard!”

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 drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly 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 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 and Photo Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission 

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

 

35 Years Later: Eubank And Benn Pick Up Where Their Fathers Left Off

In previewing the non-title Middleweight bout between IBO World Middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, which took place on April 26th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, much was discussed regarding the rivalry between the two famous bloodlines. A rivalry that began thirty-five years ago when their fathers Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, two fighters who fought over two world championships in two divisions in two separate and hotly fought battles in what were two of the best fights of the 1990's as each went on to not only hold world championships, but ultimately Hall of Fame careers.

While the rivalry between the two legends indisputably was passed down to their respective sons, which made this encounter intriguing in addition to the clash of styles between the two fighters in their own right, it was still a curiosity.  A curiosity not only in the sense of Conor Benn essentially moving up two divisions from the 147lb. Welterweight division to face Eubank, but also a curiosity in terms of the event.  After all, part of the appeal here was the resumption of one of Boxing's great rivalries. There have been times when the offsprings of great fighters both men and women have been matched against each other. More often than not, the fights do not live up to what are often unrealistic expectations and end up not being significant in the book of Boxing history. 

Yet with the rivalry going into and the occasional history of offspring of great fighters being pitted against each other, somehow there was also room for controversy before the fighters got in the ring as Eubank came in over the 160lb. Middleweight limit and was fined $500,000 by the British Boxing Board of Control, (BBBofC) adding yet another twist to things after the first attempt to get this fight in the ring three years ago ended up being cancelled days before it was to take place due to Benn testing positive for a banned substance. 

Although the idea of a fighter missing a weight limit is certainly not new in combat sports, after Eubank missed weight, I frankly wondered if there would be another cancellation. It would not be surprising given how the build-up to this fight at times resembled more of a reality TV show than a fight between a world champion and a rising star, to question whether the fight would indeed move forward after the first cancellation and the already deeply rooted bad blood between the families. Fortunately,  there would be no more grandstanding and the sons of legends finally squared off inside the ring. 

The pace of this fight was one that was high from the outset. What stood out to this observer was, despite being the fighter who was moving up in weight, Benn seemed to be landing the harder punches of the two. Although both fighters had periods of success early, I felt Benn won three of the first four rounds based largely on whenever he landed, the punches were often landing flush and did damage. 

As the fight progressed and moved into the second half, however, Eubank managed to make up ground by gaining some distance between himself and Benn, working behind his jab and seeming to outwork him during much of this period. While this description of the action might give the impression that this was a straightforward fight, many of the rounds were close and that can be attributed to the pace that did not seem to let up as the fight went on. It seemed as though fatigue would become a factor late in the bout as Eubank showed signs of exhaustion in the tenth round and appeared to be running out of steam where if Benn were able to press the action, a potential late round stoppage seemed possible.

At the conclusion of ten rounds, I had Benn ahead six rounds to four. Despite looking as though he was on the verge of going down, Eubank came on strong at the very end of the tenth round and continued the rally in rounds eleven and twelve. It was his performance in the twelfth and final round where though he did not score a knockdown of Benn, I felt he dominated it to such a degree that scoring the round 10-8, which is standard in rounds where a knockdown is scored against a fighter was justified. Frankly, Eubank did everything in that final round with the exception of scoring a knockdown.

This created a unique scorecard for this observer in that the fight was even in rounds on my scorecard at 6-6, but in points,Eubank had pulled ahead 114-112 largely on the strength of what he was able to do in the twelfth round. Although I felt Eubank had done enough to edge Benn, I felt it was a close fight and depending on how the three official judges scored rounds that were very close, the result could be subject for debate. The ultimate result, a unanimous decision for Eubank might give an impression of a lopsided fight.

In reality, this fight exceeded every possible expectation that was placed before it and offered both action and highly skilled Boxing as well. The obvious question now is when is the rematch?’Yours truly cannot answer that question, however, based on both the success  in drawing over 67,000 spectators as well as a highly competitive encounter inside the ring, it would not surprise me to see a rematch sooner than later.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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35 Years Later: Sons of Legends To Resume Rivalry In The Ring

In the 1990’s in the Middleweight and Super-Middleweight divisions, there was perhaps no more bitter rivalry than the one between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr., two world champions, who would go on to become legends, Hall of Famers and in terms of the Boxing hotbed of the United Kingdom, two of the most dominating British fighters of their era. Like many great rivalries, there was demand for the two to meet and once they did, no shortage of debate as to who had the upper hand. 

In their first fight in November 1990, Eubank became a world champion by stopping Benn in nine rounds to win the WBO World Middleweight championship in a fight where the fighters were separated by only one point on all three official scorecards. A classic encounter in every sense of the term. Three years later, the two would meet again in October 1993, this time in the Super-Middleweight division where the two, at the time both world champions holding the WBO and WBC world titles respectively, fought to a hotly disputed split decision draw in front of over 47,000 spectators in Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England.

Despite the close competition in two fights and seemingly the ideal conditions for a third encounter given the draw and the public support for a third bout between the two, it was not to be, but the rivalry has remained all these years. Fast forward thirty-five years from their first encounter and the names Eubank and Benn are as much a focal point today in 2025 as they were back then in the sport. Only now the rivalry and hostiles have spread to the offspring of those legends.

Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn. Like his father before him, Chris Eubank Jr. has become a two-division world champion in both the Middleweight and Super-Middleweight divisions. Conor Benn meanwhile appeared to be on a fast track towards a world title shot in the 147lb. Welterweight division. Originally, the two were to meet in 2022, but the fight was cancelled following Benn testing positive for a banned substance, which ultimately resulted in a lengthy legal battle between the undefeated fighter and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), who suspended him, which in turn led to a lengthy absence from in ring competition. All the while, both hostiles and accusations between the two fighters and their camps have only continued.

Benn  was able to return to the ring in 2023 and 2024 in two fights held in the United States while he fought for his license to be reinstated in the United Kingdom. With that license officially reinstated, both fighters are now able to renew their focus as they will finally meet on Saturday, April 26th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a fight that can be seen globally on DAZN Pay-Per-View.

Without getting into the issue of what led to the fight between these two fighters falling apart just days before it was to take place three years ago, a subject that has been discussed seemingly everyday since throughout the sport and something which Benn has always maintained his innocence, this fight brings together a unique scenario, assuming that it will take place this time. 

What makes this particular fight unique? It is not the first time that offsprings of great fighters have met in the ring, both male and female, but what makes this a bit different is unlike their fathers before them who were competing in the same divisions when they fought those two fights, Conor Benn will be moving up two weight divisions to the 160lb. Middleweight division and Chris Eubank Jr. will be coming down eight pounds from the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division to make this fight a reality.

While the undefeated Benn fought his last two bouts technically as a 154lb. Jr. Middleweight, this is a circumstance where he will be moving up again to face not only a naturally bigger opponent, but also one with more experience. Although Eubank is the current International Boxing Organization (IBO) World Middleweight champion, he has gone between both Middleweight and Super-Middleweight throughout his career and will have both natural size and height to his advantage. 

Despite Eubank’s status as a current world champion, the twelve round Middleweight bout will not be for the IBO world championship as of this writing. What are we likely to see on fight night? The question here will center on whether Benn will be able to compete effectively as a Middleweight having now jumped up two divisions from where all signs of him challenging for a world championship as a Welterweight.  It was as a Welterweight that Benn scored several highlight reel type of knockouts as he gradually climbed the ranks. While that reputation now has some skepticism attached to it due to the circumstances, which led to the cancellation of this fight the first time it was made three years ago, Benn, like his father before him, has the ability to end a fight with either hand, often in sudden and brutal fashion. Skepticism aside, nearly every non-Heavyweight that is known for their punching power, will eventually have to answer whether that punching power will be as effective and devastating as they move up in weight as it was at a lighter weight. He will be facing a naturally bigger opponent in Chris Eubank Jr. and it will be interesting to see what impact the punching power Benn has will have if he can connect both cleanly and , more than occasionally.

This certainly could prove to be easier said than done given Eubank’s ability to be elusive, attack at varying angles, and his attribute of being able to throw in volume. While a style that may not always be entertaining to watch, it has won Eubank two world championships in his career. 

Given the long history of animosity between the two fighters that goes back to their fathers, the possibility exists that styles of the two fighters will not be part of the equation here and that animosity will lead to both fighters being willing to stand and trade shot for shot with each other. If that were indeed to happen, it could be a toss up as to who will emerge victorious. While such a scenario would be ideal for those who want to see an all-action fight, there is a lot on the line for both Eubank and Benn and it would be wise for both fighters to approach things strategically rather than looking to go toe to toe. Who will win is anyone's guess, but for a fierce rivalry between two Hall of Fame fighters, who were among the best of their era to now see that rivalry continue through their offspring, this observer is looking forward to seeing how this chapter will be written.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Eubank Jr. vs. Benn takes place on Saturday, April 26th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. The fight as well as it's full undercard can be seen globally on DAZN Pay-Per-View for $24.99 beginning at 12PM ET/9AM PT (*U.S. Pricing and Times only.*) 

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, to subscribe, local start times in your area, and for region-specific pricing and to order this pay-per-view event please visit: www.DAZN.com.

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