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.

Former World Champion Kim Clavel Signs With Most Valuable Promotions

Press Release: August 26, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- Former WBC light flyweight world champion and Montreal, Quebec standout Kim Clavel set to make her MVP debut in Fall 2025

MONTREAL, CANADA – August 26, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the signing of former WBC light flyweight world champion at 108lbs and one of Canada’s most decorated female boxers, Kim Clavel (21-2, 3 KOs). The Montreal resident, celebrated for her accomplishments both inside and outside the ring, will make her highly anticipated MVP debut this fall. Clavel joins MVP’s growing roster of Canadian talent, including top-ranked lightweight “Prince” Lucas Bahdi known for the most-awarded knockout of 2024, and Tamm Thibeault a two-time Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and the current #1 IBF and WBA middleweight contender.

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 has inspired a wide audience through her courage and talent. Crowned WBC light flyweight world champion in 2022, she is recognized for her fighting spirit, resilience, and charisma that resonate far beyond the ring. Before shining as a professional, Clavel enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, climbing to fifth place in the world rankings across 85 amateur bouts and capturing a gold medal at the 2017 Continental Games. Turning to the professional ranks in 2017, she added the WBC Silver and NABF titles to her record while earning 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, Kim Clavel is a trained nurse who distinguished herself during the pandemic by returning to the front lines 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 joining the Most Valuable Promotions roster, Kim 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. 

“A new chapter begins with MVP: pride, motivation, and the honor of joining a team that’s redefining women’s boxing,” said Kim Clavel. “I am grateful to Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and the whole organization for their trust. I also want to thank the GYM team for helping me get to this point. We have come a long way but we still have far to go!”

“Kim Clavel is the definition of a champion, not just in the ring, but in life,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of MVP. “From stepping away from boxing at the height of her career to return to nursing during the pandemic, to earning the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY awards, Kim has shown the kind of courage, selflessness, and commitment that inspires millions. She’s also a world-class athlete, a former world champion whose talent and work ethic have made her a fan favorite in Canada. At MVP, we’re honored to welcome Kim to the family and to help her write the next chapter of her career. Attache ta tuque—because the next chapter is going to be big and we will start it with an event in Quebec soon.”

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

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.

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

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

BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing and Telemundo Strike Multi-Fight Deal to Broadcast Live Bare Knuckle Boxing

Press Release: August 26, 2025 By BKB Bareknuckle Boxing -MIAMI, FLORIDA – BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing CEO David Tetreault announced today that the Miami-based and Hispanic-owned company has signed a multi-fight partnership with Telemundo, a division of NBCUniversal, to air the company’s live Spanish-language broadcast on the recently-launched Telemundo Deportes Ahora. The partnership kicked off this live from Denver at August 16’s BKB 44 Denver Brawl V, headlined by Mexico’s Paty Juarez successfully defending her BKB Lightweight championship in a rematch with Khortni Kamyron. The partnership announcement comes on the heels of BKB’s recent exclusive deal to broadcast live in the UK and Ireland on News UK’s talkSPORT, and months after announcing a deal with VICE to carry the [English language] shows in the US and Canada.  Said BKB Chairman Mike Vazquez, “For years, BKB has grown and sustained a loyal audience of Spanishspeaking fight fans throughout the US and in Latin and South America, as evidenced by our online viewership, brand partnerships and the fans who attend our live shows.  We have worked diligently to build a global product, at the heart of which is our Spanish broadcast. We have built a library of past events led by acclaimed play-by-play announcer Claudia Trejos and color commentator Benny Ricardo, along with the respected likes of Ricardo Celis and Rodolfo Roman. Now, having a massive platform like Telemundo broadcast our live events is a natural and overdue evolution of our company and the overall sport of bare knuckle boxing.”   Said Tetreault, “The growth, ratings success and mainstream acceptance of bare knuckle boxing has made BKB a hot property as outlets vie for live sports to attract the coveted male 18-54-year-old demographic. Fight fans have grown weary of long, boring boxing matches and ground-centric MMA fights. BKB is built for the modern era with high-intensity matches and fast-paced action. Broadcasters and sponsors have finally begun to recognized that.” He added, “Mike and I look forward to moving the partnership forward and are excited to join the NBCUniversal team this week at their LA Upfronts.” “Telemundo Deportes Ahora was built to deliver high-energy, culturally relevant sports content for today’s digitally driven Hispanic audiences. Partnering with BKB allows us to expand that promise by offering an electrifying, fast-paced combat sport that’s capturing the attention of a new generation of fans,” said Joaquín Duro, Executive Vice President of Sports, Telemundo. “We’re excited to elevate BKB as a key content pillar on our new 24/7 FAST channel, and to continue pushing the boundaries of what sports storytelling looks like for the Latino community.” 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 live bare knuckle boxing to lineal television.  For more information visit bkbbareknuckle.com and follow us on social @bkbbareknuckle. About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises leads the media industry in the production and distribution of Spanish-language content for U.S. Hispanics and audiences around the world. The company serves U.S. Hispanics through its national broadcast network, the cable network Universo, and digital platforms including the Telemundo app, a suite of FAST channels, and streaming services, such as Peacock, among others. The Telemundo Network offers Spanish-language entertainment, news, and sports content reaching 95% of U.S. Hispanic TV households in 210 markets through 30 owned stations and 91 affiliate stations. Telemundo also owns an independent station serving Puerto Rico. Anchored on Telemundo Studios, the network is the #1 producer of scripted Spanish-language content in the U.S., and the only network to produce original content specifically for US Hispanic audiences. Offering over 600 hours of reality TV shows a year, and top-rated live specials such as the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Miss Universe, Telemundo is considered the undisputed Home of Live TV in Hispanic media. The network is also the exclusive Spanish-language home of the world’s two most popular sporting events, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. 

Material Courtesy of: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing Used with permission.

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

MVP’S YANKIEL RIVERA VS ANGELINO CORDOVA ENDS IN CONTENTIOUS MAJORITY DRAW

Press Release: August 25, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions -ORLANDO, FL – August 23, 2025 – MVP’s Puerto Rican Olympian and #1 WBA contender Yankiel “El Doctorcito” Rivera (7-0-1, 3 KOs) made his MVP debut against #2 WBA flyweight titleholder Angelino “Huracan” Cordova (19-0-2, 12 KOs) in the first-ever MVP Fight Night, live on DAZN from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The bout turned into an intense, back-and-forth battle, with Rivera scoring a fourth-round knockdown to gain early momentum. Cordova clawed his way back, though a sixth-round point deduction for a shot to the back of Rivera’s head proved costly. After 12 chaotic, action-packed rounds, the bout went to the judges’ scorecards and was ruled a majority draw (115-111 Cordova, 113-113 x2). After the fight, Rivera acknowledged Cordova’s awkward style made the bout a unique and complicated test.

MVP Fight Night, promoted by MVP in association with Boxlab Promotions, saw a star-studded crowd in attendance including Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, the most dominant two-sport athlete in combat sports history Holly Holm, bare knuckle boxer and UFC veteran Mike Perry, WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero, boxing’s youngest current world champion and current WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas, WBA light flyweight champion Sara Bailey, 4-division former world champion boxer Nonito Donaire, former world champion boxer Kim Clavel, and MVP’s Jan Paul Rivera, Jahmal Harvey, Javon “Wanna” Walton, and Alexis “Chop Chop” Chaparro.

In the co-main event, former WBA interim super welterweight champion Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (10-1, 7 KOs) faced then-#1 WBA contender and European champion Abass Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs) in his first title defense. From the opening bell, Baraou’s high guard and relentless pressure kept Tellez on the defensive, controlling the action blow-for-blow. Tellez fought back with sharp counters, but Baraou systematically broke him down, finally scoring a knockdown in the final seconds of the 12th round. Baraou secured a unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 117-110) to claim the WBA interim title at 154 lbs. After the fight, an emotional Baraou celebrated proving the strength of German boxing on a global stage, before facing off with WBO champion Xander Zayas. The thrilling showdown earned Baraou the MVP Performance of the Night bonus, presented by Caribe Royale.

Also on the main card, MVP’s newest signee, WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han (11-0, 3 KOs) successfully defended her title in her MVP debut, battling Medellin, Colombia’s Paulina Angel (7-2-2, 3 KOs) in a thrilling 10-round war at 135 lbs. Angel came forward relentlessly from the opening bell, even dropping Han in the first round, but Han stayed composed under pressure, answering with sharp combinations and high-volume counters that steadily broke through Angel’s guard. After 10 high-paced rounds, Han secured a unanimous decision victory (98-91 x3) to remain the WBA lightweight world champion. After the fight, Han praised Angel’s toughness and reiterated her desire to defend her title next against MVP’s Holly Holm, whether in El Paso, Texas, or Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On the main card, MVP’s undefeated lightweight contender “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs)—ranked #5 WBA, #6 IBF, #12 WBC, and #14 WBO, and owner of 2024’s most-awarded knockout—took on former WBA world champion Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (29-7-1, 22 KOs) in a high-stakes 12-round WBA elimination bout to determine the mandatory challenger for Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Bahdi started sharp, controlling the early rounds before the experienced Gutierrez ramped up his offense in the third, using his reach and left hook to apply pressure. Bahdi answered back, flooring Gutierrez with a massive overhand right at the end of Round 6, then punishing him with heavy shots through the late rounds. The fight went to the cards, where Bahdi won a unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 115-112), preserving his perfect record and securing his spot as Tank’s next mandatory challenger. Post-fight, Bahdi celebrated his first 12-round victory and called out Tank ahead of his Friday, November 14 clash with Jake Paul.

Opening the main card, Stockton’s combat sports icon and Real Fight Inc/Team Nate Diaz mainstay Chris Avila (6-2) squared off against Tampa’s undefeated Ariel “Golden Hulk” Perez (8-0, 4 KOs) in a 175-lb light heavyweight bout. Perez controlled the early rounds, exploiting openings in Avila’s guard with sharp uppercuts and right hooks. Avila rallied, landing heavy overhand rights while absorbing Perez’s biggest shots in a tightly contested round. But the late surge wasn’t enough, as Perez earned a unanimous decision (58-56x2, 59-55) after six rounds. Post-fight, Avila showed respect, while Perez used the moment to call out UFC veteran Nate Diaz for his next fight.

In the preliminary card headliner, MVP’s newest signee, WBA super flyweight world champion Jasmine “Animal” Artiga (14-0-1, 7 KOs), delivered a statement performance in her first title defense against Swedish-Australian challenger and WBA #1 contender Linn Sandstrom (10-4-3, 2 KOs). Tampa’s first homegrown world champion came out firing from the opening bell, overwhelming Sandstrom — the WBA Gold champion — with a relentless barrage of blistering combinations. Artiga dictated every second of the fight, dismantling Sandstrom with ease before ending the fight with a dominant TKO at 1:01 of the third round to remain undefeated and retain her title. After the fight, Artiga thanked MVP, her Tampa community, and her grandmother, and made it clear she’s coming for unification next, calling out the IBF, WBO, and WBC champions.

Also on the preliminary card, Boxlab Promotions’ #8-ranked IBF, #10 WBO, #11 WBA, and #11 WBC super lightweight contender Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) delivered a flawless, one-sided dismantling of the Dominican Republic’s Ambiorix Bautista (19-3, 11 KOs). From the opening bell, Ortiz dictated every exchange, slicing through Bautista’s defense with precision combinations and relentless pressure. The bout was never in doubt, as Ortiz finished with a TKO at 1:32 of the third round.

MVP’s 15-time U.S. national amateur champion Nat “No Love” Dove (6-0-1, 2 KOs) continued to showcase her star potential in a 6-round super flyweight bout at 115 lbs against Rio Rancho, New Mexico’s Randee Lynn Morales (5-6, 3 KOs). Dove took early command of the fight, systematically breaking down Morales until the bout was stopped at 1:50 in the fifth round, adding a TKO win to her undefeated record. After the fight, MVP’s Jake Paul and Wanna Walton joined Dove in the ring, where Paul praised her rapid progression and called her a “star on the rise.” Opening the night in a 4-round light flyweight bout, Indio, California’s Jocelyn Camarillo (5-0) defeated Argentina’s Agustina Vazquez (4-5-2) by unanimous decision (40-36, 39-37 x2).

MVP Fight Night followed MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14 as part of the first-ever MVP back-2-back weekend. The event was promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions and distributed globally by DAZN. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP. Fansly, TORKLAW, and Event Ticket Center also sponsored the event.

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

About MVP

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

About DAZN

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

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

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

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

MVP’S JAN PAUL RIVERA DELIVERS VICIOUS SIXTH-ROUND TKO TO STAY UNDEFEATED

Press Release: August 25, 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions- ORLANDO, FL – August 22, 2025 – MVP’s top-15 WBA and WBO contender and Puerto Rican national team star Jan Paul Rivera (13-0, 7 KOs) delivered a commanding performance in the main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14 tonight against Miami, Florida’s Daniel Bailey (15-3, 8 KOs), proving himself again as a star on the rise in the 126lb featherweight division. The bout, which aired globally for free on DAZN.com and the DAZN app, was another clinical showing for the still-undefeated Rivera, who set the tone early with a first-round knockdown, then systematically broke down Bailey over six rounds. In the final seconds of the sixth, Rivera unleashed an unstoppable barrage to score his second knockdown and force the referee’s stoppage at 2:58. Rivera’s win topped a sensational night of boxing from MVP, which saw seven knockouts across nine bouts.

Most Valuable Prospects 14 was the first event of MVP’s back-2-back weekend, to be followed by MVP Fight Night tomorrow, Saturday, August 23 in association with Boxlab Promotions at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, live on DAZN. The event brought out a star-studded crowd including Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, WBA bantamweight world champion Antonio Vargas, WBA super lightweight champion Rolly Romero, former Miami Marlin Nick Gordon, former world champion boxer and commentator Antonio Tarver, former world champion boxer Kim Clavel, 2024 Puerto Rican Olympian Ashleyann Lozada, and MVP’s Javon “Wanna” Walton. 

In the co-main event of the night, returning fan-favorite and Orlando native Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (12-0-1, 9 KOs) lived up to his nickname and put on a show for the hometown crowd against Isabela, Puerto Rico’s Luis Martinez (9-2, 4 KOs). Marksman dominated throughout the bout, landing 57% of his power shots, inflicting heavy damage against Martinez. Marksman’s power proved overwhelming, forcing the referee to step in 19 seconds into the seventh round, declaring Marksman the winner by TKO. In his post-fight interview with Sibley Scoles, Marksman issued a bold callout to MVP’s undefeated #5-ranked WBA, #6-ranked IBF, #12-ranked WBC, and #14-ranked WBO lightweight contender with the most-awarded knockout of 2024, Lucas Bahdi, challenging him to meet in the ring after Bahdi’s upcoming main card WBA eliminator bout against Roger Gutierrez at MVP Fight Night tomorrow Saturday, August 23. 

Also on the main card, MVP’s new signee, U.S. Olympian, amateur world champion, and one of boxing’s most promising young prospects, Jahmal Harvey (1-0, 1 KO) delivered in spectacular fashion in his professional debut against Peru’s Marcelo Del Aguila (5-2, 1 KO). Harvey came out firing in the first round, overwhelming Del Aguila with blistering speed and power, forcing the Peruvian fighter to retire on his stool after just one round. The first-round TKO marked a statement-making debut for the 21-year-old phenom in the super featherweight division. After the bout, MVP co-founder Jake Paul and unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano joined Harvey in the ring, praising his electrifying performance and expressing their excitement for what’s ahead for him with MVP. 

In a hard-fought battle to open the main card tonight, Boxlab Promotions’ Yoelvis Gomez (9-1, 7 KOs) secured a majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 97-93) win over Haiti’s Edwine Humaine Jr. (9-2, 7 KOs) after ten intense rounds. Gomez started strong, using his southpaw stance and sharp body shots to set the tone early, while Humaine rallied in the middle rounds with clean counters and combinations. In the end, Gomez’s late-round adjustments and consistent pressure earned him the victory on two of the three judges’ scorecards, further cementing his status as one of boxing’s rising stars as he became the new WBA Continental Americas champion at 154lbs.

The action-packed preliminary card tonight saw knockout finishes across four of five bouts. In the preliminary card headliner, Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Tayre Jones (13-1, 7 KOs) faced St. Cloud, Florida’s Alex Rios (9-2, 3 KOs) in a contentious 8-round super lightweight bout at 140lbs. Rios, despite coming in as the underdog, showcased energy and precision across the bout, maintaining high pressure into the later rounds to keep Jones on his back foot before winning by unanimous decision (78-74 x3). 

Also returning to the Most Valuable Prospects series, Damazion Van Houter (9-0, 6 KOs) showcased his rising potential as a heavyweight contender as he earned a ferocious KO of the 45lbs heavier Colby Madison (11-9-3, 7 KOs) at 2:48 in the first round. In a scheduled featherweight bout, Cupey Alto, Puerto Rican talent Carlos De Leon (5-0, 4 KOs) continued to showcase his potential in the featherweight division against Nicaraguan Haminton Blandon (3-2-1, 1 KO) with a second round TKO at 1:47 in the round. Also on the preliminary card, rising super welterweight prospect Sebastian Juarez (9-0, 7 KOs) defeated Forrest, Mississippi’s Louis Hernandez (11-4-1, 9 KOs) by TKO at 1:19 in the fourth round.

Opening the night, Brazil’s Pedro Da Silva Conceica (5-0, 3 KOs) delivered a highlight-reel knockout of Renny Viamonte (4-3-1, 2 KOs) at 1:59 in the second round of their welterweight bout, earning instant recognition as a potential contender for Knockout of the Year. The showing earned Conceica the MVP Performance of the Night bonus presented by Caribe Royale.

The Most Valuable Prospects series is promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions and distributed globally by DAZN. The 14th event in the series, hosted by the Caribe Royale Resort, 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 drinks, 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 return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last six global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Perry match. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. MVP made history again in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson streamed live globally on Netflix and shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of Paul vs. Tyson and the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

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

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

Material Courtesy of: Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.

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

Billy “Big Bosh” Quinncroft is back. Friday August 29, Perth – Thunderdome 51

Press Release: August 12, 2025 By Lewis Moss and Dragon Fire Boxing - ‘When I look back from my first pro debut to now, I feel like a totally different fighter’ State Champion Billy Quinncroft talks moving gyms and upcoming title defence

 

Credit: Mike O'Hara/Dragon Fire Boxing 

On August 29, Metro City Night Club sees the return of Dragonfire Promotions for their third event of the year.

 

Early in the night, undefeated WA State Cruiserweight Champion Billy Quinncroft makes his first title defence when he steps into the ring against former training partner Will Cleggett.

 

When catching up with the defending Brit he stated that he was fit and ready to go, having started his camp straight after his previous outing.

 

“I’ve just gone straight into another camp after the last fight” Quinncroft said, “I'm feeling fit, strong and ready to defend my title.

 

Quinncroft won the state title in his last fight against Bilal Seidu last May. Throughout the encounter, Quinncroft showed superior technique with his footwork and use of the jab, but there were some moments where Seidu was able to catch him.

 

When reflecting, Quinncroft said that he was happy with his performance that night.

 

“I watched [the fight] back, I was definitely the more technical boxer” Quinncroft felt. “He threw some big shots, but not a lot of them hit me.

 

“He did catch me once in the third and again in the fifth when he caught me straight on the chin. 

 

“But after watching it back multiple times, I was very comfortable and felt in control of the fight.”

 

The Englishman’s upcoming fight will be his second under the coaching of Big Rig’s gym, which has produced some of Perth’s best prospects such as Jude Grant, Joel Lewis and Jordan LaRuccia.

 

Throughout his time in camp, Quinncroft has admitted to being surprised at his rapid progress as a fighter.

 

“The training is a lot more intense and I’ve just been levelling up” Quinncroft said.

 

“When I look back from my pro debut to now, I feel like a totally different fighter.

 

“I'm excited to put in a good performance for this one and see the difference to where I'm at now after changing gyms.

 

“I’ve come so far in such a short time.”

 

Standing in his way this time is former training partner Will Cleggett. On the same card Quinncroft won the state title, Cleggett won his fight against Cameron Moffat which was said to be a title eliminator.

 

Having trained with him in the past, the state champion feels that he knows what to expect from his worthy opponent.    

 

“I've sparred Will a lot and I've watched his fight back” Quinncroft said.

“Will is very technical and has a very tight guard.

 

“He's a bit of a counterpuncher but I should be able to manage that with my reach and distance.

 

“The fight will be more of a technical battle compared to my fight with Bilal [Seidu], so I'm hoping it should be a decent chess match.”

 

After his upcoming title encounter, Quinncroft is in no rush to get back into the ring.

 

“[After this fight] I'm going to have a short break” Quinncroft told. 

 

“There's potentially talks for a fight either before or after November. If not, then I'll be ready to go again in March.”

Material Courtesy of: Lewis Moss and 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.

The Gamble Pays Off For Itauma, Parker Next?

In May of this year, this observer penned a column here on The Boxing Truth®️ that asked a simple, yet complex question. Is Moses Itauma the future of the Heavyweight division? A question asked in the aftermath of his second round knockout of Mike Balogun in Glasgow, Scotland where the twenty year old “Knockout Artist" moved to 12-0, with 10 Knockouts in defense of regional championships, the WBO Intercontinental and WBA International Heavyweight titles. 

Although only twenty years old with a relatively short resume in the professional ranks, the fact that Itauma had already achieved success in winning regional titles, which is used not only as a theoretical measuring stick for experts to gage the potential of prospects turned contenders as potential world title hopefuls down the line, but more specifically, a caveat to elevating a fighter up the world rankings towards that goal, made the question seem appropriate. As experienced and knowledgeable as yours truly is, having spent most of my life covering Boxing and by extension combat sports, I obviously did not know at the time I wrote that column that Itauma and his promoter Hall of Famer Frank Warren were preparing to roll the dice.

Boxing by its very nature is a sport ideal for taking risks and in taking said risks, those doing so are gambling their standings and potential future positions in their division as well as the sport. The Heavyweight division, perhaps more than most, is one where risks need to be taken and done so regularly if one is serious about challenging for a world championship. In this case, Warren, who has been one of the top promoters in the sport for decades, opted to put his charge in with what was a significant step up in class in the form of former longtime number one Heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Dillian Whyte on August 16th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Such an encounter beyond the obvious angle of youth versus experience was indeed a gamble at this stage in the twenty year old Itauma’s career. Despite having previously faced former world title challenger Mariusz Wach, there was an argument to be made that Wach was not the fighter he had been when he was viewed as a top contender when Itauma fought him in July of last year in stopping him in two rounds. This, however, was a scenario where Whyte was more towards a point where he had challenged for a world title in 2022, and not more than a decade removed from challenging for world title as Wach had been.

The question for Whyte, who had only fought twice since 2022 was what he had left at this stage in his career after a seventh round stoppage of Ebenezer Tetteh in his last outing in December of last year. Although Whyte got the stoppage in that fight, it was a workmanlike performance rather than one that necessarily convinced fans and experts that Whyte was still a player in the division. 

As had been the case in his fight with Mike Balogun earlier this year, Itauma was surgical in both his approach of Whyte and in his temperament in that he was not awed by Whyte’s experience or what the former world title challenger brought to the table. He simply came forward out of the southpaw stance behind a consistent jab and patiently waited for an opportunity to strike. It would not take long. 

A short left hook to the head buckled the legs of Whyte and the follow-up barrage of blows led to a right hand that dropped Whyte in the first round. As he had done throughout his career in situations where he had been hurt or dropped, Whyte was very “Game" and got to his feet. He was on very unsteady legs and stumbled backwards forcing the fight to be stopped at 1:59 of round one. Despite the significant test and roll of the dice this fight appeared to be on paper, Moses Itauma passed it with flying colors. 

The eleventh knockout in thirteen fights for Itauma puts him in prime position for either a world title shot as the current WBO number one Heavyweight contender or potentially a fight against former WBO Heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker, who currently holds interim championship status in the WBO’s Heavyweight ratings. While Parker is in line to face the recently recrowned Undisputed World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, the possibility exists that Usyk, who recently asked for an extension from the WBO before being mandated to face Parker, that Itauma could be moved into a fight against Parker, particularly off of the strength of this latest performance. Whether or not that indeed happens remains to be seen, but even with a limited resume, the idea of giving Moses Itauma more time to gain experience before challenging for a world title has now passed and the reality is after taking what some saw as a gamble, which clearly paid off, the only fighter that might be standing in the way of a world title shot is Joseph Parker. If Usyk is not going to be in the immediate future for Parker, why not make that fight? It is a high risk scenario for both fighters, but Boxing is a sport of risk, but also reward.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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

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