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

Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) has launched MVPW, a new women’s boxing league showcasing 43 contracted athletes with numerous world champions and top contenders. The first event, MVPW1, occurs on April 5 in London with a lightweight championship bout featuring UK-based fighters Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. The league represents a major commitment in female boxing and boasts a broadcast partnership with ESPN in the America and Sky Sports in the UK. The announcement comes as MVP advances its development in female 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 component of the new series.

A Modern Period for Women’s Professional The Sport of Boxing

The introduction of MVPW constitutes a significant milestone for women’s boxing, signaling historic backing from established institutions to women competitors at the top tiers of the sport. Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of MVP, emphasized their five-year track record of support in female boxing athletes, delivering what they describe as historic and record-breaking events. This new league structure provides a single stage for female fighters to compete on prominent platforms, tackling long-standing disparities in promotional resources and media visibility that have traditionally favored male boxers. The deal involving ESPN and Sky Sports guarantees these athletes will receive substantial television coverage, a crucial factor in creating supporter communities and creating financial prospects.

While MVPW represents a significant advancement, questions remain about how the league will ultimately operate and develop. Bidarian noted that the organization prioritizes fighter safety and quality competition over creating a exclusive competitive model that would limit fighters to sole participation within MVP. He expressed interest in working alongside major sanctioning authorities like the major boxing sanctioning bodies rather than launching a competing belt system. This approach suggests MVP seeks to work alongside current boxing governance while pushing for changes that permit greater scheduling flexibility and unified promotion approaches to strengthen the sport and expand viewership.

• MVPW1 showcases Caroline Dubois versus Terri Harper in London
• Alycia Baumgardner defends three championship belts April 17 in New York
• Amanda Serrano stands as MVP’s flagship seven-division titleholder
• League comprises 43 contracted fighters throughout multiple weight divisions

First Events and Championship Matchups

MVPW’s initial lineup highlights the league’s commitment to featuring world-class championship bouts across multiple weight divisions. The early weekends of April and May will position MVPW as a legitimate contender in professional boxing, with title matches and high-stakes unification matches drawing international attention. These strategically selected matchups reflect MVP’s strategy of matching elite fighters against formidable challengers, crafting compelling narratives that appeal to both hardcore boxing enthusiasts and casual sports fans looking for quality competition.

The inaugural events extend across three continents, demonstrating 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 worldwide force able to offer elite-level content across different territories. Each card features fighters at the height of their abilities, many possessing championship belts or pursuing championship opportunities, guaranteeing that every bout carries significant implications for rankings and upcoming bout selection.

April’s Opening Weekend

MVPW1 debuts on April 5 in London with a lightweight unification clash between British rivals Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. This domestic clash headlines the inaugural event, leveraging strong domestic interest and establishing MVPW’s credentials in a boxing-mad nation. The winner will consolidate lightweight supremacy and emerge as a marquee name for the emerging league, establishing the standard for subsequent events.

Just a dozen 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 triple-title defense showcases the level of competition MVPW is delivering from its first month, establishing the league as a destination for championship-level boxing action and attracting significant media coverage and viewership.

May’s Texas Showdown

MVPW3 concludes 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 draw, this return bout provides clarity and resolution in a competitive division. The Texas venue broadens MVPW’s geographic reach while delivering another championship-level matchup that strengthens the league’s commitment to elite female boxing talent.

Understanding Regulatory Organizations 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 stressed that the organization prioritizes fighter welfare and matchmaking logic over strict sanctioning requirements. He stated the league is “not really about sanctioning bodies” but rather about the athletes themselves, signaling a openness to collaborate alongside recognized bodies like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF rather than in opposition to them. This partnership strategy distinguishes MVPW from other promotional ventures that have come into conflict with boxing’s regulatory organizations.

The league’s framework stays deliberately adaptable, with Bidarian noting MVP’s willingness to introducing its own belt in the coming years while maintaining collaborations with current regulatory organizations. Unlike UFC-style closed systems where athletes compete exclusively within one organization, MVPW seems designed to allow champions to defend titles across multiple platforms. This hybrid model may revolutionize women’s boxing by combining the marketing power and global platform of a unified league with the credibility and standing of traditional world championships, possibly offering female fighters unprecedented opportunities for high-profile matchups and professional growth.

• MVP respects sanctioning bodies but prioritizes logical matchmaking and expansion objectives
• MVPW may launch its own championship belt while working with existing organizations
• League structure allows fighters to fight on multiple platforms and sanctioning bodies

Star Power and Monetary Commitment

MVP’s investment in women’s boxing goes well past promotional rhetoric, with the organization boasting a roster of 43 signed fighters that includes several world title holders and top contenders. The league’s marquee attraction is seven-time division champion Amanda Serrano, whose presence alongside other top-tier competitors at the launch news conference underscored MVP’s commitment to showcasing the sport’s leading women boxers. This assembly of elite fighters signals MVP is willing to deploy significant financial resources to establish MVPW as a legitimate and compelling alternative to conventional promotional approaches, placing 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 premium distribution channels that guarantee visibility for participating athletes. Co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian stated they have “committed significant resources to female athletes” over the past five years and produced “landmark and unprecedented events,” demonstrating a proven history of backing women’s boxing at the highest level. These collaborations and funding represent a watershed moment for female boxers, offering unprecedented opportunities for global exposure and financial compensation that traditional promotional structures have historically denied them.

The Future Direction for MVPW

MVPW’s first lineup shows ambition spanning multiple continents, with MVPW1 taking place on April 5 in London showcasing a lightweight title fight between British rivals Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. Just 12 days later, super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will protect her WBO, WBA, and IBF titles against Bo Mi Re Shin in New York, solidifying 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 eagerly awaited rematch, signaling MVP’s intention to create engaging storylines and repeat fights that sustain fan interest throughout the inaugural season.

However, significant structural questions persist without clear answers about how MVPW will function over time. While MVP’s initial statement characterized the venture as a “global platform,” later online references to a “league” format created ambiguity 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 function as a promotional vehicle rather than a closed UFC-style system restricting fighter movement. This approach prioritizes matchmaking flexibility and showcasing world champions within the MVPW brand, though it leaves unresolved whether the organization will ultimately establish its own championship belts.