Jake Paul’s MVP Launches First Women’s Boxing League with Star Roster

Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) has introduced MVPW, a novel women’s boxing promotion highlighting 43 roster members among them numerous world champions and leading challengers. The opening showcase, MVPW1, occurs on April 5 in London with a lightweight title unification match headlined by UK-based fighters Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. The organization marks a major commitment in women’s boxing and includes a media partnership with ESPN in the America and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. The announcement comes as MVP pursues further growth in women’s boxing, with super-featherweight title holder Alycia Baumgardner set to defend her WBO, WBA, and IBF belts versus Bo Mi Re Shin on April 17 in New York as component of the new series.

A Modern Period for Professional Women’s Boxing

The establishment of MVPW represents a watershed moment for women’s boxing, signaling historic backing from established institutions to women competitors at the elite echelons of the sport. Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of MVP, emphasized their five-year history of financial backing in women boxers, providing what they describe as historic and record-breaking events. This newly established organizational format provides a single stage for female competitors to perform on major stages, addressing long-standing disparities in promotional resources and broadcast coverage that have traditionally favored male boxers. The partnership with ESPN and Sky Sports secures these athletes will gain significant broadcast visibility, a vital component in creating supporter communities and generating revenue opportunities.

While MVPW marks a significant advancement, uncertainty lingers about how the league will ultimately operate and grow. Bidarian noted that the organization places a premium on competitor well-being and compelling matchups over establishing a restrictive framework that would limit fighters to dedicated involvement within MVP. He indicated openness to partnering with major sanctioning authorities like the major boxing sanctioning bodies rather than introducing a competing belt system. This approach indicates MVP intends to work inside the sport’s established structure while advocating for improvements that allow greater scheduling flexibility and unified promotion approaches to enhance the industry and expand viewership.

• MVPW1 features Caroline Dubois versus Terri Harper across London
• Alycia Baumgardner protects three titles April 17 across New York
• Amanda Serrano functions as MVP’s flagship seven-division champion
• League includes 43 signed fighters throughout multiple weight divisions

Initial Events and Title Matchups

MVPW’s debut schedule showcases the league’s commitment to presenting world-class championship bouts across multiple weight divisions. The opening weekends of April and May will establish MVPW as a serious contender in professional boxing, with title defenses and high-stakes unification matches drawing international attention. These strategically selected matchups reflect MVP’s strategy of pairing elite fighters against worthy challengers, creating compelling narratives that appeal to both devoted boxing enthusiasts and casual sports fans seeking quality competition.

The opening events cover three continents, highlighting MVPW’s global ambitions and the universal appeal of women’s professional boxing. From London to New York to Texas, the league is establishing itself as an global leader able to offer premium content across varied regions. Each card features fighters at the prime of their careers, many holding world titles or seeking title shots, guaranteeing that every bout has serious consequences for rankings and upcoming bout selection.

April’s Opening Weekend

MVPW1 launches on April 5 in London with a lightweight unification clash between British rivals Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. This domestic clash anchors the inaugural event, capitalizing on strong domestic interest and establishing MVPW’s credentials in a boxing-obsessed country. The victor will secure lightweight dominance and emerge as a marquee attraction for the emerging league, setting the tone for subsequent events.

Just twelve days after, April 17 brings MVPW’s second significant event to New York, where super-featherweight titleholder Alycia Baumgardner puts on the line her WBO, WBA, and IBF titles against Bo Mi Re Shin. This three-title defense demonstrates the caliber of competition MVPW is delivering from its opening month, positioning the league as a destination for championship-level boxing action and drawing significant media coverage and viewership.

The May Texas Showdown

MVPW3 wraps up the opening month of events on May 30 in El Paso, Texas, showcasing a highly anticipated rematch between WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han and Holly Holm. After their January technical decision, this return bout offers clarity and resolution in a tough division. The Texas venue expands MVPW’s geographic footprint while providing another championship-level matchup that reinforces the league’s commitment to elite female boxing talent.

Working with Sanctioning Bodies and League Structure

While MVPW constitutes a significant milestone for women’s boxing, questions remain about how the league will function within boxing’s established sanctioning structure. MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian emphasized that the organization prioritizes athlete well-being and matchmaking logic over strict sanctioning requirements. He noted the league is “not really about sanctioning bodies” but rather about the fighters involved, signaling a willingness to work alongside established organizations like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF rather than against them. This collaborative approach sets apart MVPW from competing promotions that have come into conflict with boxing’s regulatory organizations.

The league’s structure remains deliberately flexible, with Bidarian indicating MVP’s openness to launching its own belt in the coming years while maintaining partnerships with existing sanctioning bodies. Unlike UFC-style exclusive formats where fighters compete exclusively within one organization, MVPW seems designed to allow champions to defend titles across multiple platforms. This hybrid model could revolutionize women’s boxing by merging the marketing power and global platform of a consolidated organization with the credibility and standing of traditional world championships, potentially providing female fighters unmatched chances for prominent fights and professional growth.

• MVP respects sanctioning bodies but focuses on logical matchmaking and expansion objectives
• MVPW may launch its own championship belt while partnering with existing organizations
• League structure allows fighters to compete across various venues and sanctioning bodies

Celebrity Appeal and Financial Commitment

MVP’s commitment to women’s boxing goes well past promotional rhetoric, with the organization boasting a roster of 43 signed fighters that includes multiple world champions and top contenders. The league’s flagship fighter is seven-division champion Amanda Serrano, whose presence alongside other elite athletes at the debut press conference underscored MVP’s commitment to featuring the sport’s most accomplished female boxers. This concentration of talent signals MVP is willing to invest substantial capital to establish MVPW as a credible and attractive alternative to traditional boxing promotion models, positioning women’s boxing at the forefront of their growth strategy.

The monetary investment is additionally demonstrated by the broadcast partnerships secured with ESPN in the United States and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, offering MVPW with high-quality broadcast platforms that ensure visibility for competing athletes. Co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian stated they have “invested heavily in female athletes” over the past five years and produced “landmark and unprecedented events,” showcasing a proven history of supporting women’s boxing at the highest level. These collaborations and funding constitute a pivotal turning point for female boxers, providing unprecedented opportunities for worldwide visibility and monetary rewards that conventional promotion models have historically denied them.

The Road Ahead for MVPW

MVPW’s first lineup demonstrates ambition spanning multiple continents, with MVPW1 launching on April 5 in London featuring a lightweight unification clash between British rivals Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. Just 12 days later, super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will defend her WBO, WBA, and IBF titles against Bo Mi Re Shin in New York, establishing MVPW’s presence in the United States market. The third event on May 30 in El Paso, Texas will showcase WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han against Holly Holm in a highly anticipated rematch, signaling MVP’s intention to create engaging storylines and repeat fights that maintain fan engagement throughout the inaugural season.

However, key organizational questions remain unanswered about how MVPW will function over time. While MVP’s initial statement described the series as a “global platform,” later online references to a “league” format created ambiguity about the organization’s long-term direction. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian has suggested MVP respects existing sanctioning bodies like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF, implying MVPW will operate as a promotional vehicle rather than a closed UFC-style system restricting fighter movement. This approach emphasizes matchmaking flexibility and showcasing world champions within the MVPW brand, though it leaves unresolved whether the organization will ultimately establish its own championship belts.