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

Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) has unveiled MVPW, a new women’s boxing league highlighting 43 signed fighters among them several world title holders and top contenders. The inaugural event, MVPW1, happens on April 5 in London with a lightweight unification bout headlined by UK-based fighters Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. The organization marks a major commitment in female boxing and boasts a broadcasting agreement with ESPN in the US and Sky Sports in the UK. The statement follows 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 against Bo Mi Re Shin on April 17 in New York as section of the inaugural series.

A New Period for Professional Women’s Boxing

The introduction of MVPW represents a watershed moment for women’s boxing, signaling unparalleled support from major organizations to female athletes at the highest levels of the sport. Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, founding partners of MVP, underscored their five-year history of financial backing in women boxers, delivering what they call unprecedented and groundbreaking competitions. This fresh competitive framework provides a centralized platform for female fighters to compete on major stages, addressing persistent inequalities in marketing backing and media visibility that have historically benefited male boxers. The collaboration with ESPN and Sky Sports secures these athletes will gain significant broadcast visibility, a vital component in creating supporter communities and creating financial prospects.

While MVPW marks a important progression, uncertainty lingers about how the promotion will eventually evolve and grow. Bidarian clarified that the organization prioritizes competitor well-being and attractive fights over launching a restrictive framework that would restrict fighters to dedicated involvement within MVP. He indicated openness to working alongside major sanctioning authorities like the major boxing sanctioning bodies rather than introducing a rival championship structure. This approach implies MVP intends to work within boxing’s existing regulatory framework while advocating for changes that enable more flexible matchmaking and standardized marketing efforts to strengthen the sport and increase fan engagement.

• MVPW1 showcases Caroline Dubois versus Terri Harper in London
• Alycia Baumgardner protects three championship belts on April 17 in New York
• Amanda Serrano functions as MVP’s marquee seven-division champion
• League comprises 43 signed fighters across multiple weight classes

Opening Events and Title Matchups

MVPW’s debut schedule highlights the league’s dedication to featuring top-tier championship bouts across various weight divisions. The early weekends of April and May will establish MVPW as a legitimate 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 hardcore boxing enthusiasts and recreational sports fans seeking quality competition.

The inaugural events cover three continents, demonstrating MVPW’s worldwide goals and the universal appeal of women’s professional boxing. From London to New York to Texas, the league is establishing itself as an international powerhouse equipped to provide high-quality programming across different territories. Each card presents fighters at the prime of their careers, many possessing championship belts or chasing championship bouts, ensuring that every bout has serious consequences for rankings and subsequent opponent pairings.

The April Opening Weekend

MVPW1 launches on April 5 in London with a lightweight title unification bout between British rivals Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. This British showdown anchors the inaugural event, leveraging robust local appeal and establishing MVPW’s credentials in a boxing-obsessed country. The winner will consolidate lightweight supremacy and become a marquee attraction for the fledgling league, setting the tone for subsequent events.

Just twelve days later, April 17 brings MVPW’s second major event to New York, where super-featherweight titleholder Alycia Baumgardner puts on the line her WBO, WBA, and IBF titles versus Bo Mi Re Shin. This three-title defense showcases the level of competition MVPW is providing from its first month, establishing the league as a destination for championship boxing competition and attracting significant media coverage and viewership.

The May Texas Showdown

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

Navigating Sanctioning Bodies and Competitive Framework

While MVPW represents a major achievement for women’s boxing, concerns persist about how the league will function within boxing’s established sanctioning structure. MVP co-established leader Nakisa Bidarian emphasized that the organization places emphasis on fighter welfare and strategic matchmaking over strict sanctioning requirements. He noted the league is “not really about sanctioning bodies” but rather about the athletes themselves, indicating a willingness to work alongside established organizations like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF rather than against them. This partnership strategy sets apart MVPW from other promotional ventures that have clashed with boxing’s governing bodies.

The league’s framework remains deliberately adaptable, with Bidarian indicating MVP’s willingness to introducing its own belt in the future while maintaining collaborations with current sanctioning bodies. Unlike traditional UFC exclusive formats where fighters compete exclusively within one entity, MVPW seems designed to enable champions to defend titles across multiple platforms. This hybrid model may transform the women’s boxing landscape by combining the marketing power and global platform of a consolidated organization with the legitimacy and standing of traditional world championships, potentially offering female fighters unmatched chances for prominent fights and professional growth.

• MVP respects sanctioning bodies but focuses on strategic fighter pairings and brand growth
• MVPW may launch its own championship belt while partnering with established bodies
• League structure permits fighters to compete across multiple platforms and sanctioning bodies

Celebrity Appeal and Financial Investment

MVP’s investment in 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 marquee attraction is seven-time division champion Amanda Serrano, whose presence alongside other elite athletes at the launch news conference underscored MVP’s commitment to featuring the sport’s most accomplished female boxers. This concentration of talent signals MVP is willing to deploy significant financial resources to establish MVPW as a legitimate and compelling alternative to traditional boxing promotion models, placing women’s boxing at the forefront of their strategic expansion.

The monetary investment is further evidenced by the broadcast partnerships secured with ESPN in the United States and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, offering MVPW with premium distribution channels that ensure visibility for participating athletes. Co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian indicated they have “committed significant resources to female athletes” over the past five years and delivered “landmark and unprecedented events,” showcasing a track record of supporting women’s boxing at the elite level. These collaborations and funding represent a watershed moment for female boxers, offering exceptional prospects for global exposure and financial compensation that conventional promotion models have traditionally withheld from them.

The Road Ahead for MVPW

MVPW’s inaugural schedule shows ambition across multiple continents, with MVPW1 taking place 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 feature WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han against Holly Holm in a highly anticipated rematch, indicating MVP’s intention to build compelling narratives and recurring matchups that maintain fan engagement throughout the inaugural season.

However, significant structural questions persist without clear answers 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 introduced uncertainty about the organization’s ultimate vision. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian has suggested MVP acknowledges current sanctioning bodies like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF, suggesting MVPW will operate as a promotional vehicle rather than a closed UFC-style system limiting athlete mobility. This approach emphasizes matchmaking flexibility and maximizing world champions within the MVPW brand, though it leaves unresolved whether the organization will eventually pursue its own championship belts.