NEW YORK, NY – June 18, 2026 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that MVP’s and Australia’s unified IBF and WBO middleweight world champion Desley Robinson (12-3, 4 KOs) will make her next 10-round title defense against MVP’s #1 WBA, IBF, WBC and #2 WBO contender, 2x Canadian Olympian, and amateur world champion Tamm Thibeault (4-0, 3 KOs) in the co-main event of MVPW-05 on Saturday, August 8 at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, live on ESPN and the ESPN App. Robinson joins fellow Australian champion Cherneka Johnson as co-headliner, as Thibeault, one of the fastest-rising boxers in history from pro debut to #1 contender, now readies for her first world title challenge in just her fifth professional fight. Also joining the main card, MVP and Dallas, Texas’s former world champion and current WBO, IBF, and WBA #4 contender Shurretta Metcalf (15-5-1, 2 KOs) will face off with MVP and Ontario, Canada’s #7 IBF and #8 WBA contender Amanda Galle (12-1-1, 1 KO) in an 8-round super flyweight battle at 115lbs. Metcalf and Galle each look to prove themselves as top contender in the new weight division following their recent challenges against Cherneka Johnson for the undisputed bantamweight title. The fifth installment of MVP’s new year-round global platform for women’s boxing is headlined by MVP’s and Australia’s undisputed bantamweight world champion Cherneka Johnson (19-2, 8 KOs) vs. MVP’s and Denmark’s former unified champion and Boxrec’s #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world Dina Thorslund (24-0, 9 KOs) in a potential Fight of the Year contender. MVPW on ESPN showcases the sport’s most elite female fighters with championship bouts on every card and will always feature a main card composed entirely of female fighters, with an undercard including a mix of female and male bouts. Tickets for MVPW-05 are on sale today at 11am ET on Ticketmaster. All media wishing to be credentialed for MVPW-05 must apply HERE.

Unified middleweight world champion Desley “Destroyer” Robinson has emerged as one of Australia’s top boxing talents. Originally stepping into the ring to improve her fitness, Robinson quickly proved she belonged at the elite level. Following over 50 amateur fights that saw her capture multiple Queensland and Australian titles, Robinson turned pro and earned her first title shot in just her seventh pro fight, resulting in a narrow majority decision loss against Lani Daniels in December 2023. Just one year later, Robinson rebounded in heroic fashion, fighting through a fractured foot to capture the vacant IBF female middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Kaye Scott in December 2024. She returned to the ring in April 2025 to unify the division, successfully defending her IBF belt and winning the vacant WBO title with a dominant performance against Chloe Chaos. Robinson, who fights out of Logan City, Queensland by way of Maranbah, Queensland, Australia, defeated challenger Logan Holler by second round TKO in her promotional debut on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 16 in October 2025, before returning with an emphatic win over Canada’s Mary Spencer on the main card of MVPW-03 live on ESPN in May 2026, earning the $20,000 Performance of the Night bonus for her outstanding victory. She is also a single mother of three children. 

“This is the best fight that can be made in the middleweight division right now,” said Desley Robinson. “Tamm Thibeault is a two-time Olympian, an amateur world champion, and the number one contender for a reason. I’ve been waiting for a challenge like this. The best should fight the best, and on Saturday August 8 I’ll be ready to defend my unified world titles live on ESPN.”

MVP’s standout Tamm Thibeault is currently the #1-ranked WBA, #1 IBF, #1 WBO, and #4 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, 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 earned 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. She most recently defeated Italy’s Christina Mazzotta by first-round TKO in September 2025.

“Saturday, August 8th can’t come soon enough. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, but more than anything, I feel ready. I’m so grateful to MVP for giving me this opportunity on my fifth fight to show what I’m truly capable of, and to become a unified world champion,” said Tamm Thibeault. “I’m preparing mentally and physically for a tough, experienced opponent, someone who knows what championship boxing looks like. I’m ready to go to war if that’s what it takes. This is not an opportunity I will let slip away.”

MVP’s Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs). Metcalf has had to fight—both inside and outside the ring—all of her life. Born in Oak Cliff in Dallas, Texas, Shurretta grew up in a low-income area with her two younger siblings and hard-working single mom. A talented student, she was a standout basketball player and also excelled at track and field. She had her first son at 20 years old and her second son two years later. The single mom did a variety of jobs to survive and raise her two boys, the oldest of whom is autistic. To make money, Shurretta turned to underground boxing in 2012 and fought over 100 fights, sometimes fighting as often as twice a week. In 2016 she turned pro and hasn’t stopped moving forward since—winning her first world title in October 2024 at Madison Square Garden with a unanimous decision against then-IBF champion Miyo Yoshida. Metcalf returned to MSG to compete for the undisputed bantamweight world title against Cherneka Johnson in the preliminary card headliner of MVP and Netflix’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 all-women’s mega-event in July 2025 and most recently defeated fellow top 118lb contender Krystal Rosado on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 16 in October 2025. Outside her boxing career, the industrious Metcalf owns and runs a boutique and salon, works as a personal trainer, and has a mobile bartending business. She is also launching her own line of workout clothes called Elite Essence.

“Champions don’t get built by taking easy fights. They get built by beating the best,” said Shurretta Metcalf. “Amanda Galle is a former world champion coming off the biggest fight of her career, and I respect what she brings to the ring. But I’ve already beaten undefeated fighters, world champions, and former world champions throughout my career, and after I beat her live on ESPN, the road to my second world title gets even clearer.”

MVP’s Amanda Galle was raised in a proud Italian family in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. 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. She signed with MVP in June 2025, and earned a unanimous decision win over Mexico’s Alondra Hernandez in her promotional debut on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 15 in September 2025. Galle most recently contended for the undisputed bantamweight world title against Cherneka Johnson on Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day in December 2025 in a bloody war that went to the scorecards. 

“They say you’re only as good as your last fight,” said Amanda Galle. “Well, the last time I stepped into the ring on Jake vs. Joshua, I won Performance of the Night! I’m back, live on ESPN, to remind everyone why and ready to put the 115lb division on notice to watch out for Amanda Galle.”

“Desley Robinson vs. Tamm Thibeault is one of the most compelling championship fights that can be made anywhere in the sport today, matching a unified world champion with a two-time Olympian and amateur world champion who has accomplished something almost unheard of by rising to become the number one contender across multiple sanctioning bodies from just four professional fights,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “This is a true best-versus-best matchup between two world-class athletes in their prime. Shurretta Metcalf and Amanda Galle are both coming off challenges for the undisputed bantamweight championship and looking to prove they deserve another shot at a title, this time at 115lbs, adding another high-stakes matchup to the card. Combined with Cherneka Johnson vs. Dina Thorslund in the main event, MVPW-05 delivers three elite fights with major championship stakes and implications. MVP is continuing to build the premier home for the biggest fights in women’s boxing, live on ESPN on Saturday, August 8.”

MVPW-05 is produced and marketed by MVP and promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions.

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

About MVP

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) was founded in August 2021 by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian with a fighter first ethos. Since inception, MVP has produced 30 live boxing events, currently promotes nearly 60 fighters, 16 world champions, and 26 top contenders.

MVP has led boxing’s evolution in the streaming era through partnerships with the world’s leading platforms. In November 2024, MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 was the first-ever live professional sports event streamed on Netflix. Paul vs. Tyson shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event of all time with 125 million live viewers worldwide. MVP went on to partner with Netflix twice in 2025 for MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 and Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day.

Today, MVP is the global home of women’s boxing. MVP’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano in 2022 was the first female fight to headline Madison Square Garden, while Taylor vs. Serrano 2 in 2024 saw 74 million viewers globally on Netflix and became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history with 47 million AMA in the US. Their 2025 trilogy on Netflix topped an all-women’s megacard that set the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 17 world titles, earning nearly 6 million viewers globally. 

About ESPN

ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.

NEW YORK, NY – May 28, 2026 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced MVPW-05, taking place live on ESPN and the ESPN App on Saturday, August 8 at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The fifth installment of MVP’s new year-round global platform for women’s boxing, will be headlined by MVP’s and Australia’s undisputed bantamweight world champion Cherneka Johnson (19-2, 8 KOs) vs. MVP’s and Denmark’s former unified champion and Boxrec’s #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world Dina Thorslund (24-0, 9 KOs) in a potential Fight of the Year contender. Then-WBA champion Johnson stepped in after Thorslund vacated her former unified WBC and WBO belts and withdrew from MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 in July 2025 due to pregnancy. She now has the opportunity to dethrone Johnson as undisputed world champion, and they will meet in the ring to settle the score in a 10-round championship bout at 118lbs. MVPW on ESPN showcases the sport’s most elite female fighters with championship bouts on every card and will always feature a main card composed entirely of female fighters, with an undercard including a mix of female and male bouts. Tickets for MVPW-05 go on sale Saturday, June 13 at 11am ET on Ticketmaster.com. All media wishing to be credentialed for MVPW-05 must apply HERE.

MVP’s reigning undisputed bantamweight world champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson was born in Tauranga, New Zealand. Fighting out of Gold Coast, Australia, Johnson is a two-weight world champion, currently the undisputed bantamweight world champion at 118lbs and the former IBF super bantamweight world champion. In March 2025, Johnson defeated then-champion Nina Hughes to claim the WBA bantamweight world title. In July 2025, Johnson, newly signed with MVP, made her promotional debut on the undercard of MVP’s historic Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano trilogy card, stepping into the ring against former IBF world champion Shurretta Metcalf in a 10-round undisputed world title showdown as part of the first-ever all-women’s professional boxing card at Madison Square Garden. Following a heated battle, Johnson won via 9th round TKO, becoming the first-ever undisputed Australian champion in the four belt era. The 30-year-old now defended her undisputed title for the first time on Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day in December 2025 in a bloody war against Canadian Amanda Galle.

“I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and for this fight to come together the way it has makes it even more exciting! Now is my time to show what I am truly capable of,” said Cherneka Johnson. “This is the fight I always knew would bring out the best version of me, and I plan to do exactly that — take my belts home, take her pound-for-pound ranking, and claim the bantamweight queen title.” 

MVP’s undefeated Dina Thorslund (24-0, 9 KOs) is a two-division world champion, unified bantamweight world champion and Denmark’s most accomplished boxer, with a national record 12 straight world title fights. Thorslund held the unified WBC and WBO bantamweight titles until June 2025, when she became pregnant. Due to her pregnancy, Thorslund voluntarily relinquished her WBO Championship which was approved by the WBO and she requested and received the approval of the WBC to be designated as Champion in Recess. The then-vacant unified belts were won by Cherneka Johnson. Upon her return to the ring, Thorslund stepped up to 126lbs to defeat Almudena Alvarez, becoming the WBC Interim featherweight champion, however, she felt there was still unfinished business at bantamweight. She now looks to extend her dominance in what will be her 12th world championship bout. She is currently ranked the #2 pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world by Boxrec—ahead of Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Claressa Shields, and others—and also holds the #7 spot on Ring Magazine’s list.

“I’ve been waiting for this fight since I had to give up my two world titles due to an unexpected pregnancy. Sadly, I lost the baby, and with that I not only lost the family I had dreamed of, but also the titles I gave up for it. That experience has given me an even stronger hunger to come back and reclaim everything that was once mine,” said Dina Thorslund. “Cherneka Johnson needs to be at her absolute best against me, because I’m returning with a level of motivation I’ve never had before. And let’s not forget one important thing — I’m the only undefeated fighter between the two of us, and I still will be after this fight.”

“MVPW-05 features the latest superfight from MVP, uniting two of the best women’s boxers in the world, both of whom feel the 118lbs world titles are rightfully theirs,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Dina Thorslund is the #2 P4P in the world and has been waiting patiently for this opportunity since vacating her titles, and after just one fight back is an interim world champion again as she continues to define excellence in European boxing. Neekz delivered back-to-back statement performances in 2025 to become the first-ever undisputed champion in Australian boxing history in the four-belt era, male or female, and then reinforced her dominance with a commanding first successful title defense. Johnson vs. Thorslund is unequivocally a Fight of the Year contender from Caribe Royale Resort on Saturday, August 8, live on ESPN.”

“Caribe Royale is pleased to welcome back MVP and MVPW to Central Florida. We are proud to bring MVPW and ESPN to Caribe Royale as they lead a new revolution in women’s boxing,” said Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions and Managing Director of the Caribe Royale Resort. “Both our guests and locals alike are in store for a night of fireworks with multiple titles on the line. This event is just another example of our commitment to bringing world class entertainment and events to both our local residents and out of town visitors as well and who better to do it with than Jake, Nakisa, and the MVP team.”

MVPW-05 is produced and marketed by MVP and promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions.

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

About MVP

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) was founded in August 2021 by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian with a fighter first ethos. Since inception, MVP has produced 30 live boxing events, currently promotes nearly 60 fighters, 16 world champions, and 26 top contenders.

MVP has led boxing’s evolution in the streaming era through partnerships with the world’s leading platforms. In November 2024, MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 was the first-ever live professional sports event streamed on Netflix. Paul vs. Tyson shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event of all time with 125 million live viewers worldwide. MVP went on to partner with Netflix twice in 2025 for MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 and Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day.

Today, MVP is the global home of women’s boxing. MVP’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano in 2022 was the first female fight to headline Madison Square Garden, while Taylor vs. Serrano 2 in 2024 saw 74 million viewers globally on Netflix and became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history with 47 million AMA in the US. Their 2025 trilogy on Netflix topped an all-women’s megacard that set the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 17 world titles, earning nearly 6 million viewers globally. 

About ESPN

ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.

NEW YORK, NY– Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced today that unified bantamweight world champion and BoxRec’s #1 pound-for-pound female boxer, Dina Thorslund (23-0, 9 KOs), has officially withdrawn from her highly anticipated title unification bout against MVP’s IBF bantamweight world champion Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) to welcome her second child. MVP’s 30-year-old Danish star was scheduled to make her global debut on the undercard of Taylor vs. Serrano 3 on Friday, July 11 at Madison Square Garden. The mega-event will feature the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 21 world title belts contested across five fights on the card.

Replacing Thorslund in the world title bout will be MVP’s newest signee, reigning WBA bantamweight world champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson (17-2, 7 KOs).  MVP and DiBella Entertainment, Inc., agreed to an arrangement, which allowed Johnson to enter into a multi-year promotional agreement with MVP. Born in Tauranga, New Zealand and fighting out of Gold Coast, Australia, Johnson is a two-weight world champion, currently the WBA bantamweight world champion and the former IBF super bantamweight world champion. She will face Metcalf in a 10-round world title showdown on the first-ever all-women’s professional boxing card at Madison Square Garden. This will be Johnson’s first bout in the United States and with a win on Friday, July 11th, she would become the first ever undisputed Australian champion in the four belt era.

Due to her pregnancy,Thorslund voluntarily relinquished her WBO Championship which was approved by the WBO and she requested and received the approval of the WBC to be designated as Champion in Recess. The now-vacant unified belts will remain on the line in addition to Johnson’s WBA and Metcalf’s IBF bantamweight titles, providing Johnson vs. Metcalf the opportunity to now battle for the undisputed crown at 118 lbs. on Friday, July 11. Upon her return to the ring Thorslund may request to be designated mandatory challenger to ensure she has the opportunity to challenge for the belts once she is ready.

“Life can be such a roller coaster, especially as a female boxer. I was really looking forward to this fight—the biggest moment of my career,” said Dina Thorslund. “Recently I found out I was pregnant, a curve I hadn’t expected, but a joyous one. Even though the decision was easy, the athlete in me is sad, as I SO wanted to stand in that ring and make history on Friday, July 11. But I’ll be back! The fire that MVP has lit in me only burns even stronger, and when I do step back in the ring, there will be another little person that I can fight for and be a role model for. I plan to show my child that nothing is impossible if you work hard enough for it. Thank you to MVP, my sponsors, friends, family – your support and encouragement touches me deeply and only motivates me more. I hope all the boxers have a fantastic evening. I will be cheering from the sidelines, and I can only encourage the rest of the world to either take the trip to Madison Square Garden and experience the magic, or to tune in to watch history being made, live on Netflix.”

“It’s a dream come true to fight at Madison Square Garden!” said Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson. “This feels like a true ‘pinch me’ moment, being part of an all-women’s card headlined by the incredible Amanda Serrano vs Katie Taylor. Not only will I be defending my title, but I’ll also become the undisputed champion! I’m truly looking forward to this next chapter—being part of Most Valuable Promotions, who are paving the way and shaping the future of women’s boxing. The magnitude of this moment isn’t lost on me, and I’m ready to rise to it.”

“I’m about to make history as the first undisputed bantamweight champion — and I’m doing it from Dallas, Texas,” said Shurretta Metcalf. “Nothing in my career has come easy, but every fight, every sacrifice led to this moment. I was built for this. My time is now, and I will rise and conquer. MVP is the best promoter in the game, and together, we’re making legacy happen. This isn’t just a fight — this is a statement.”

“We are thrilled for Dina on the new addition to her family and send her our heartfelt congratulations,” said MVP co-founders Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul. “She’s a champion inside and outside the ring, and we fully support her decision to step away at this time. At MVP, our athletes are family, and there will always be a place for Dina on our roster whenever she’s ready to return. In the meantime, we’re excited to welcome Australia’s own Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson to MVP as she steps in to face Shurretta Metcalf for the title of Undisputed with every belt in the 118 lbs. division on the line. All of Australia should be tuning in to see if Neekz can become the first Aussie Undisputed champion, male or female, in the four-belt era of boxing. Thank you to the WBO and WBC for their stewardship in this process. Taylor vs. Serrano 3 represents fighters from Ireland, Puerto Rico, US, UK, Australia, Canada, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico, and will see the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, with 9 current world champions competing for a combined 21 belts, making history in boxing and as the first all-women’s card at MSG, live globally on Netflix.”

Johnson vs. Metcalf join a massively decorated card of women’s stars, topped by the trilogy megafight rematch of Ireland’s pound-for-pound great, undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs) and Brooklyn’s Puerto Rican boxing trailblazer, unified featherweight world champion MVP’s Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs). In the co-main event, MVP’s reigning undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) will face MVP’s undefeated WBA Interim world champion, Spain’s Jennifer Miranda (12-0, 1 KO), in a 10-round undisputed super featherweight championship fight contested at 130 lbs. Also on the main card, MVP and England’s unified super bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney (10-0) will face Mexico’s WBC super bantamweight world champion Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) in a women’s unified championship fight at 122 lbs. Rounding out the main card is a highly anticipated super middleweight world title unification bout between MVP’s IBF champion Savannah “The Silent Assassin” Marshall  (13-1, 10 KOs) and MVP’s WBO champion Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (14-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round fight at 168 lbs.

On the preliminary card, MVP’s newly signed former undisputed champion and current WBC interim super lightweight champion Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron (20-1, 8 KOs) will face Canada’s Jessica “The Cobra” Camara (14-4-1, 3 KOs) in a 10-round WBC interim title bout at 140 lbs, while MVP’s Somali-British boxer and activist Ramla Ali (9-2, 2 KOs) meets Brazil’s Lila Furtado (11-2, 2 KOs) in an 8-round super bantamweight fight at 122 lbs. Also featured will be MVP’s two-time Canadian Olympian and standout middleweight Tamm Thibeault (2-0, 1 KO), fighting under equal rules to men with three-minute rounds in an 8-round bout against top contender Mary Casamassa (6-0, 2 KOs) at 160 lbs.

Taylor vs. Serrano 3 is produced, marketed, and promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and distributed by Netflix. 

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @Netflix, on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @Netflix, or on Netflix’s Tudum.

About Most Valuable Promotions (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 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 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 Taylor vs. Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix, which became 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., the 8th most-bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Netflix 

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films, and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause, and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix today announced that MVP’s newest signee, England’s unified super bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney (10-0) will face Mexico’s WBC super bantamweight world champion Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) on the main card of the highly anticipated Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano trilogy mega-event. This historic MVP event will stream live globally, exclusively on Netflix at no additional cost to its 300+ million subscribers on Friday, July 11 from Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City. Scotney vs. Mercado, a matchup between ESPN’s #1 and #2 super bantamweights in the world and Boxrec’s #12 and #15 pound-for-pound fighters, will be a 10-round unified super bantamweight championship fight contested at 122 lbs. They join the first-ever all women’s professional boxing card at the iconic Madison Square Garden, streaming live globally on Netflix. The main event will feature Ireland’s pound-for-pound great, undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs) and Brooklyn’s Puerto Rican boxing trailblazer, unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs). In the co-main event, MVP’s reigning undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) will face undefeated WBA Interim world champion, Spain’s Jennifer Miranda (12-0, 1 KO), a 10-round undisputed super featherweight championship fight contested at 130 lbs.

Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s Danish two-weight world champion, reigning unified bantamweight world champion and Boxrec’s #1 pound-for-pound female boxer Dina Thorslund (23-0, 9 KOs) vs. MVP’s IBF bantamweight world champion Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) in a 10-round women’s world title unification bout contested at 118 lbs. Also joining the preliminary card will be MVP’s two-time Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and standout middleweight Tamm Thibeault (2-0, 1 KO), continuing to fight every bout in her pro career under equal rules to men, three-minute rounds, in an 8 round bout against the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF’s #1 contender Mary Casamassa (6-0, 2 KOs), contested at 160 lbs. Six of the top 15 pound-for-pound female fighters in the world on Boxrec, including four of the top 10, are currently represented as part of MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 all-women’s card. 

Scotney, Mercado, Thorslund, Metcalf, Thibeault, and Casamassa will each participate in MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3 and Baumgardner vs. Miranda kickoff press conference on Wednesday, April 9 at 6pm at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Media can apply for credentials HERE. Tickets for Taylor vs. Serrano 3 are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. 

MVP’s newest signee, unified super bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney (10-0) is one of the fastest-rising stars in women’s boxing, having turned pro after a decorated amateur career and quickly racking up dominant wins en route to unifying the 122 lb division. The 27-year-old undefeated London native, now ranked #1 at super bantamweight by ESPN and #15 pound-for-pound by Boxrec, holds the IBF, WBO, IBO, and Ring Magazine titles.

“What MVP is doing for women’s boxing is changing the game, and I’m proud to be part of it,” said Ellie Scotney. “Fighting on the main card of Taylor vs. Serrano 3 at Madison Square Garden, live on Netflix—in another unification fight —is a massive moment in my career but it is one I know I am ready for. Yamileth Mercado might be the longest reigning champion in our division right now, but on July the 11th I’ll be showing why I’m the number one at 122lbs and moving one step closer to becoming the undisputed champion. Sharing this card with inspirations like Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano makes this even more meaningful and I want to leave my own mark on a special night. My whole career has been based in the UK, but I’m ready to make a statement on the biggest of stages and show the world what I can do.”

WBC super bantamweight world champion Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) is the longest-reigning titleholder in the division, having defended her belt eight times since winning it in 2019 on home soil in Chihuahua, Mexico. Ranked #2 at 122 lbs by ESPN and #12 pound-for-pound by Boxrec, the 27-year-old will now face undefeated unified champion Ellie Scotney in a high-stakes unification bout on Friday, July 11.

“I am very excited to unify titles with Ellie Scotney and raise my WBC belt for my country, Mexico, and my home in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua on MVP’s card at Madison Square Garden and in front of the world on Netflix,” said Yamileth Mercado. “This fight will be a war, and we will continue to demonstrate that women’s boxing brings a guarantee of both spectacle and boxing quality on Friday, July 11. Viva Mexico!”

MVP’s undefeated Dina Thorslund (23-0, 9 KOs) is a two-division world champion, unified bantamweight world champion and Denmark’s most accomplished boxer, with a national record 12 straight world title fights. Thorslund holds the unified WBC and WBO bantamweight titles and looks to extend her dominance in what will be her 14th world championship bout. She is currently ranked the #1 pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world by Boxrec—ahead of Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Gabriela Fundora, Claressa Shields, and others—and also holds the #5 spot on Ring Magazine’s list and #10 on ESPN’s.

“I am thrilled to be making my MVP debut on the Taylor-Serrano 3 card. Just as this historic night will celebrate the close of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano’s once-in-a-lifetime rivalry, so too will it be a celebration of some of the most decorated women’s champions in boxing on this all-women’s card,” said Dina Thorslund. “I know my opponent will bring her very best competition to the ring on Friday, July 11, but I look forward to making Denmark proud as I successfully defend my WBC and WBO titles and become the new IBF world champion. Thank you to Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul for this opportunity to show my talent to the world from Madison Square Garden.”

IBF bantamweight world champion and new MVP signee Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) is a single mother and former underground fighter from Dallas who turned pro in 2016 and captured her first world title at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in 2024. A relentless force both inside and outside the ring, Metcalf juggles boxing with raising two sons, running a boutique and salon, bartending, personal training, and launching her own activewear line, Elite Essence.

“I’m excited to be fighting Dina Thorslund for the unified title on MVP’s all-women’s card on Friday, July 11,” said Shurretta Metcalf. “She is a very worthy opponent and I have nothing but respect for her. I’m going to bring my A-game to MSG in July!”

MVP’s rising Canadian star Tamm Thibeault (2-0, 1 KO) is a two-time Olympian, and current #5-ranked WBA and WBO middleweight contender who has competed under equal rules to men with three-minute rounds across her pro career. The 6-foot southpaw from Quebec also holds gold medals from the IBA World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Pan Am Games, speaks French, English, and Spanish, and continues her pro ascent while earning a Master’s degree in urban planning and training at Sheffield’s Steel City Gym.

“I’m incredibly honored to be part of MVP’s Taylor vs. Serrano 3, surrounded by inspirations and champions, with the opportunity to showcase women’s boxing and make history on such a massive stage,” said Tamm Thibeault. “Facing a tough competitor like Mary Casamassa is a challenge I’m ready for, and I’m going to prove that women can thrive under the same rules as men. Competing in three-minute rounds is an important step for equality in the sport, and I’m excited to fight for it on Friday, July 11 at Madison Square Garden.”

Undefeated middleweight and super middleweight contender Mary Casamassa (6-0, 1 KO) is currently the #1 WBC and IBF contender at 160 lbs and the #1 WBA and WBO contender at 168 lbs, as well as Ring Magazine’s #4 contender at 168 lbs. The Puerto Rican-American southpaw from Pittsburgh is a former Pennsylvania Golden Gloves standout and earned her engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh while launching her pro career. Casamassa trains out of Jack’s Boxing Gym under retired police officer Jack Mook.

“Thank you to my team, Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and the MVP team for the wonderful opportunity to showcase my abilities at this great venue in one of the greatest cities in the world,” said Mary Casamassa. “I’m a quiet person, but I love to compete and let my hands do the talking.  I can’t wait to show everyone and especially the beloved Puerto Rican community in New York what I can do!”

“Taylor vs. Serrano 3 headlines an unprecedented lineup of world title fights, with every fight on our main card to be an undisputed or unified women’s world championship fight. This is the most stacked women’s boxing card in history, bringing together six of the top fifteen pound-for-pound female fighters—including four of the top ten—on Boxrec,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “We are also committed to bringing another global event to fans, with stars from the US, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Spain, England, Mexico, and Canada so far represented on this card. MVP’s Ellie Scotney vs. Yamileth Mercado represent the best in the world at 122 lbs, alongside another clash of champions between MVP signees Dina Thorslund and Shuretta Metcalf and our very own Tamm Thibeault continuing to fight for equality in the sport. Friday, July 11 will be the most valuable night in women’s boxing history at Madison Square Garden, live globally on Netflix.”

Taylor vs. Serrano 3 is produced, marketed, and promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and distributed by Netflix. 

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @Netflix, on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @Netflix, or on Netflix’s Tudum.

About Ellie Scotney

MVP’s newest signee, unified super bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney (10-0) first broke into the boxing scene at the amateur level. Her shining amateur stint saw the London prospect win the 2017 Elite national amateur title at 57kg and the English Title at Youth level – having entered after only four amateur bouts. Scotney was in serious contention for a Great Britain Olympic qualifying place for Tokyo 2020 before deciding to leave the program to pursue her pro career. She moved 1-0 with a spiteful and impressive six round decision win over Bec Connolly on her debut before winning by decision over Mailys Gangloff in her second pro outing. Scotney then won her first fight out of Shane McGuigan’s gym in October 2021, beating Eva Cantos 79-73 at the O2 Arena. Continuing her rise, she went on to defeat the defending European super bantamweight champion Mary Romero in just her sixth pro fight on the undercard of Katie Taylor-Helen Carabajal a year later. In her next fight, Scotney earned her first shot at world title honors, contesting Cherneka Johnson for the IBF world super bantamweight title at Wembley Arena. The bout was initially planned for the Katie Taylor-Chantelle Cameron undercard in early 2023, but was postponed until June 2023. Scotney displayed a career-best performance that night, dethroning Johnson by unanimous decision to become the new IBF world champion at super bantamweight. Scotney successfully defended her IBF world title against Spain’s Laura Griffa in September 2023 before unifying the 122lb division and adding the WBO and Ring Magazine titles to her collection in a unanimous decision over then-undefeated 18-0 WBO champion Segolene Lefebvre. Scotney most recently continued to consolidate the super bantamweight world titles in her January 2025 bout against former IBO World Champion Mea Motu. Scotney again eased to a UD victory over the 20-0 Motu, adding the New Zealand fighter’s IBO hardware to her WBO, IBF, and Ring Magazine titles. The 27-year-old is currently Boxrec’s #15 pound-for-pound fighter and is ranked the #1 super bantamweight in the world by ESPN.

About Yamileth Mercado

Mexican WBC super bantamweight world champion Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) is currently the longest-reigning titleholder with the most defenses in the women’s super bantamweight division. Born in Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, the 27-year-old has been a world champion since age 21 and has successfully defended her title eight times. Mercado made her professional debut in July 2014 at the age of 16 and won her first seven consecutive fights. She lost her undefeated record in her eighth bout while competing for the WBC Fecombox super bantamweight title against the more experienced Jessica Arreguín. Mercado then secured five consecutive victories before earning her first shot at the WBC super bantamweight world championship against Fatuma Zarika in Kenya in September 2018, which Zarika won by split decision. Despite the setback, the determined Mercado became the WBC International Champion in her next bout, defeating former world champion Alys Sánchez. She successfully defended the title one time before earning her next shot at world honors with a rematch against Zarika in November 2019, this time on Mercado’s home soil in Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, where she claimed the world title with a unanimous decision victory in front of her home fans. Since earning the WBC belt, Mercado has successfully defended her super bantamweight world title against Alejandra Julissa Guzmán, Angélica Rascón, Isis Vargas, Mariana “Barbie” Juárez, Kudakwashe Chiwandire, Paulette Valenzuela, Linda Laura Lecca, and Ramla Ali. Her only defeat during this period came in August 2021 when she challenged seven-division champion Amanda Serrano for the WBO and WBC featherweight world titles, losing by decision. Mercado, ESPN’s #2 super bantamweight and Boxrec’s #12 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, has spent a total of 199 rounds in the ring to date and will now aim to unify her WBC title against the undefeated WBF, IBF, IBO, and Ring Magazine title holder Ellie Scotney over 10 rounds on the main card of Taylor vs. Serrano 3. 

About Dina Thorslund

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, MVP’s unified bantamweight world champion and two-division champion Dina Thorslund (23-0, 9 KOs) started her boxing journey at the age of 14. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a member of the Danish national team before turning professional in 2015 and winning her debut bout vs. Petra Podráská with a commanding technical knockout. In January 2017, she captured her first honors at super bantamweight, winning the vacant WBC Youth title with a unanimous decision victory over Xenia Jorneac, before capturing the WBC Interim title with a win over Hall of Famer Alicia Ashley in early 2018. Later that year, Thorslund got her first shot at a world title, handily defeating Jessica Arreguin Munoz to become the WBO super bantamweight world champion. Thorslund successfully defended her title three times at super bantamweight before moving down to the bantamweight division to contest for the then-vacant WBO title. In June 2021, Thorslund became a two-division world champion and the new WBO bantamweight world champion with a decisive victory over Jasseth Noriega. In September 2023, Thorslund unified the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles with a dominant win over Yulihan Luna Avila and has successfully defended her bantamweight hardware three times since. With a flawless professional record, the undefeated Thorslund has fought in 13 world title bouts to date, setting a Danish record with 12 consecutive world championship fights. She is currently ranked the #1 pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world by Boxrec ahead of Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Gabriela Fundora, Claressa Shields, and others, and is Ring Magazine’s #5 and ESPN’s #10 pound-for-pound talent. The 31-year-old Thorslund resides in Struer, Denmark, trains under Thomas Madsen, and is managed by Lee Eaton.

About Shurretta Metcalf

MVP’s new signee Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs), the current IBF bantamweight champion, has had to fight—both inside and outside the ring—all of her life. Born in Oak Cliff in Dallas, Texas, Shurretta grew up in a low-income area with her two younger siblings. Her mother worked hard for the Dallas School District and Shurretta never knew her father. A talented student, she was a standout basketball player and also excelled at track and field. She had her first son at 20 years old and her second son two years later. The single mom did a variety of jobs to survive and raise her two boys, the oldest of whom is autistic. To make money, Shurretta turned to underground boxing in 2012 and fought over 100 fights, sometimes fighting as often as twice a week. In 2016 she turned pro and hasn’t stopped moving forward since—winning her first world title in October 2024 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden with a unanimous decision against then-IBF champion Miyo Yoshida. Outside her boxing career, the industrious Metcalf owns and runs a boutique and salon, works as a personal trainer, and has a mobile bartending business. She is also launching her own line of workout clothes called Elite Essence.

About Tamm Thibeault

MVP’s standout Canadian signee Tamm Thibeault (2-0, 1 KO) is currently the #5-ranked WBA and WBO 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 career in the amateur ranks. 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 IBA 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, defeating Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence. She 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 against former US National Golden Gloves champion Sonya Dreiling. Thibeault won by knockout in the final second of the first round, proving again the impact of women competing with equal rules to men. Thibeault now will enter her third pro fight continuing to compete under equal rules over 8, three-minute rounds on Friday, July 11 against #1 contender Mary Casamassa.

About Mary Casamassa

Puerto Rican-American Mary Casamassa (6-0, 1 KO) grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With multiple brothers in the military who having boxed as amateurs, Mary grew up tough, excelling in sports and academics. Prior to becoming a boxer, she was a standout basketball player, playing through her senior year of high school at Aquinas Academy in Pittsburgh. She began boxing at the age of 15 competing in the 2018 Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves championship before deciding to turn pro while finishing her engineering degree at the University of Pittsburgh. The southpaw made her professional debut in May 2022 defeating her opponent by clear-cut unanimous decision. Two months later, she earned her first stoppage finish, shutting down LeAnn O’Malley by third round TKO. Casamassa then stepped up to face Scotland’s then-undefeated Christianne Fahey, winning by split decision. Initially fighting four and six-round bouts, Casamassa stepped up in March 2024 to her first 10-round championship fight, earning a unanimous decision over Canadian veteran and former World Champion Olivia Gerula for the W.I.B.A 168-lb world title, as well as a unanimous decision over Brazil’s Olympic bronze medalist and IBF #5 and Ring Magazine #4 middleweight Adriana Dos Santos Araujo for the W.I.B.A. 160-lb world title. Casamassa’s performances raised her to the #1 contender by each of the four major sanctioning bodies, with the WBC and IBF ranking her #1 at 160 lbs and the WBA and WBO ranking her at #1 at 168 lbs, as well as rising to Ring Magazine’s #4 contender at 168 lbs. Casamassa trains under retired police officer Jack Mook out of Jack’s Boxing Gym in Pittsburgh.

About Most Valuable Promotions (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 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 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 Taylor vs. Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix, which became 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., the 8th most-bought pay-per-view event in history.

About Netflix 

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films, and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause, and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

NEW YORK, NY – March 26, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the signing of Denmark’s two-weight world champion, reigning unified bantamweight world champion and Boxrec’s #1 pound-for-pound female boxer Dina Thorslund (23-0, 9 KOs), the multi-talented Somali-British boxer, activist, and high fashion model Ramla Ali (9-2, 2 KO), Costa Rica’s 20-year-old undefeated WBC Youth light flyweight world champion Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), and 15x US national amateur champion Nat “No Love”’ Dove (4-0). The signings of Thorslund and Ali mark MVP’s first European fighters while Valle and Dove’s additions reinforce its commitment to identifying and developing elite boxing prospects. Now under the MVP banner, Thorslund, Ali, Valle, and Dove are primed to reach new heights, embodying MVP’s mission to elevate and empower female athletes on the global stage.

MVP’s signings of Thorslund, Ali, Valle, and Dove cap off a groundbreaking Women’s History Month for the company, highlighted by the historic lifetime combat sports agreement with boxing trailblazer and seven-division world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano. Under the deal, Serrano will compete under the MVP banner for the remainder of her boxing career before transitioning to Chairwoman of MVP’s women’s boxing initiatives, where she will spearhead efforts to identify, sign, develop, and market MVP’s growing roster of female athletes. A trailblazer for equality in the sport, Serrano will continue her mission by empowering future generations as both a role model and mentor for rising female fighters.

Following the first-of-its-kind deal, MVP announced the historic Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 trilogy megafight, set for Friday, July 11 at Madison Square Garden, airing live globally, exclusively on Netflix subscription. Taylor vs. Serrano 3 will headline the first-ever all-women’s card in MSG history, setting a new financial standard for female fighters, with Taylor and Serrano earning record-breaking purses and Serrano becoming the highest-paid female athlete for a single event. Further solidifying its commitment to women’s boxing, MVP also recently signed undisputed super featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner to its growing roster of women’s champions.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, unified bantamweight world champion and two-division champion Dina Thorslund (23-0, 9 KOs) started her boxing journey at the age of 14. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a member of the Danish national team before turning professional in 2015 and winning her debut bout vs. Petra Podráská with a commanding technical knockout. In January 2017, she captured her first honors at super bantamweight, winning the vacant WBC Youth title with a unanimous decision victory over Xenia Jorneac, before capturing the WBC Interim title with a win over Hall of Famer Alicia Ashley in early 2018. Later that year, Thorslund got her first shot at a world title, handily defeating Jessica Arreguin Munoz to become the WBO super bantamweight world champion. Thorslund successfully defended her title three times at super bantamweight before moving down to the bantamweight division to contest for the then-vacant WBO title. In June 2021, Thorslund became a two-division world champion and the new WBO bantamweight world champion with a decisive victory over Jasseth Noriega. In September 2023, Thorslund unified the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles with a dominant win over Yulihan Luna Avila and has successfully defended her bantamweight hardware three times since. With a flawless professional record, the undefeated Thorslund has fought in 13 world title bouts to date, setting a Danish record with 12 consecutive world championship fights. She is currently ranked the #1 pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world by Boxrec ahead of Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Gabriela Fundora, Claressa Shields, and others, and is Ring Magazine’s #5 pound-for-pound women’s talent. The 31-year-old Thorslund resides in Struer, Denmark, trains under Thomas Madsen, and is managed by Lee Eaton.

“Most Valuable Promotions is the future of women’s boxing, and I am so proud to join their roster of world-class female champions alongside Amanda Serrano, Shadasia Green, and Alycia Baumgardner and become MVP’s first signee from Denmark,” said Dina Thorslund. “I have worked incredibly hard to become the unified bantamweight champion and a two-division champion. Now Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and MVP are providing the opportunity for greater equality and global visibility for female athletes like me. I look forward to making history with MVP.”

Ramla Ali (9-2, 2 KO) is a 35-year-old Somali-British professional boxer, philanthropist, high-fashion model, and social activist with a law degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Born in Somalia, Ali and her family fled the country in the 1990s following the loss of her brother in a grenade attack and civil unrest. At age 12, she took up boxing in secret to overcome bullying and obesity, building an exceptional amateur career and becoming the first Muslim woman to win national amateur boxing titles in England in 2015 and 2016. With over 88 amateur fights under her belt, including 50 representing Somalia, Ali became the first female boxer to represent Somalia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She made her pro debut in October 2020, quickly climbing the ranks to win the vacant IBF Intercontinental title at Madison Square Garden in New York in 2023 in just her 8th pro fight, before winning the WBA International super bantamweight title in a hard-fought rematch against Mexico’s Julissa Alejandra Guzman later that year. A deeply passionate advocate for women’s rights and women in boxing, Ali established the Somali Boxing Federation in Mogadishu, Somalia, and founded The Sisters Club in 2018, a charity providing free access to sports and coaching qualifications for over 10,000 women annually from ethnic and religious minorities and those affected by domestic violence. Ali, who also serves as a global ambassador for UNICEF, Cartier, and One & Only, released her debut novel Not Without A Fight in 2021, and her life story has been developed into a biopic, In the Shadows, set to release in Fall 2025. A highly successful model, Ali has also graced the covers of British Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, ELLE, and Harper’s Bazaar, and collaborated with top brands like Moncler, Burberry, Cartier, and Nike. She has also brought fashion inside the ring with standout custom fight kits designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, and Daniel Lee for Burberry. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the fight for women’s equality, Ali was one of twelve extraordinary leaders named among TIME’s 2023 Women of the Year.

“Joining forces with Most Valuable Promotions represents the single most significant decision of my boxing career,” said Ramla Ali. “I’ve observed how Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and the MVP team have revolutionized women’s boxing, particularly through their work with Amanda Serrano, creating a true blueprint for how promoters should champion female fighters with equal opportunity, visibility, and compensation. As someone who has fought battles both inside and outside the ring throughout my journey, I recognize when transformation is happening in our sport. MVP doesn’t just talk about equality—they demonstrate it through action. What Jake and MVP have built isn’t just changing the trajectory for individual fighters like myself, but reshaping the entire landscape for women in combat sports. This partnership goes beyond business; it’s about creating a legacy that will benefit every female fighter who comes after me.”

Costa Rica’s 20-year-old undefeated light flyweight Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs) has established herself as one of boxing’s brightest prospects. She has not only excelled in the ring but also shown her versatility in other areas. 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.

“I am deeply grateful to Nakisa Bidarian, Jake Paul, and the entire team at Most Valuable Promotions, and especially to Amanda Serrano, who has been an inspiration to women in sports,” said Naomy Valle. “Amanda and Jake’s examples of perseverance and constant fighting motivates me every day. Thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity. As a female athlete from a small but beautiful country like Costa Rica, I am incredibly proud that MVP has placed their trust in me. This support represents not only a personal achievement but also a global platform where I can showcase my skills and represent my country with all my heart. I am ready to give it all and make my people and my nation proud of me.”

Also joining MVP’s growing roster of top-tier boxing prospects is 23-year-old super flyweight Nat “No Love” Dove (4-0). Following her outstanding amateur career as a 15x US amateur national champion, Dove has quickly emerged as one of women’s boxing’s most promising up-and-coming talents. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native first made waves on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects developmental series, securing unanimous decision wins at Most Valuable Prospects 6 in April 2024 over Alyssia Lopez and at Most Valuable Prospects 8 in early September 2024 against Wendy Villegas. Most recently, Dove took another unanimous decision win over Laddy Mejia in September 2024, continuing to develop her undefeated record. As a training partner to MVP’s own Javon “Wanna” Walton, Dove has dominated every opponent to date from the opening bell. She is managed by DJ Walton and trains out of Atlanta, Georgia.

“I’m incredibly proud to continue my journey toward becoming a world champion with MVP,” said Nat Dove. “This team is deeply committed to providing unparalleled mentorship for rising prospects and female fighters, and I know this will be major—not just for my boxing career, but for my personal brand and visibility as a prospect to watch. A huge thank you to Nakisa, Jake, Wanna, and all of Team Walton for believing in my future and welcoming me so warmly into the MVP family.”

“MVP is committed to signing fighters who are not only champions in the ring but also game-changers for the sport, and we’re proud to welcome Dina, Ramla, Naomy and Nat to the MVP family,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Dina is an undefeated two-division world champion and pound-for-pound elite who has dominated in Denmark and is now ready to become an international star. Ramla is a global force for change, using her platform to break barriers and empower women worldwide. And Naomy and Nat represent the future—rising prospects with the drive and talent to become a household name. Their signings mark a pivotal moment for MVP as we expand our fighter footprint into Europe while continuing to build the strongest women’s roster in boxing. It is all about the W.”

Thorslund, Ali, Valle and Dove join MVP’s elite roster of athletes and up-and-coming talents including international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul, boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, undisputed super featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner, prolific top boxing prospect H2O Sylve, MVP’s first homegrown champion, the new WBO Super Middleweight Champion Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green, multi-talented megastar Javon “Wanna” Walton, India’s most successful professional boxer Neeraj Goyat, top-ranked lightweight “Prince” Lucas Bahdi, Puerto Rican sensation Krystal Rosado, three-time US national boxing champion and high-fashion model Alexis “Chop Chop” Chaparro, Puerto Rican National Team star Jan Paul Rivera, two-time Canadian Olympian Tamm Thibeault, and 2x amateur national champion and rising bantamweight star Alexander “The Alley Cat” Gueche. 

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions, @JakePaul, @DinaThorslund, and @nat_dovee, or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions, @JakePaul, @dinathorslund, @ramlaali, @naomy_valle and @nat.dove.

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.

January 4, 2022 – Probellum is delighted to announce the promotional signing of two-weight world champion, Dina Thorslund.

The undefeated Dane (17- 0, 7 knockouts) becomes the latest fighter to join Probellum’s fast-growing stable of boxers, and she arrives with a proven pedigree at the highest level. Thorslund recently retained the WBO bantamweight title, which she initially won in June, courtesy of an impressive seventh-round stoppage of Zulina Munoz.

She has also held the WBO super-bantamweight title since defeating Jessica Arreguín in 2018.

Thorslund made her professional debut in 2015, securing victory via a first-round TKO against Petra Podráská, and since then she is yet to experience defeat.

Since launching in September, Probellum has signed a number of top-quality fighters to its elite roster, including Regis Prograis, Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes, Lee McGregor, Eimantas Stanionis, Arthur Biyarslanov, Taras Shelestyuk, Ricky Burns, Paul Butler, Lewis Ritson, Muhammad Waseem, O’Shaquie Foster, Hovhannes Bachkov, Darius Fulghum, Eduardo Hernandez, Mark Dickinson, Brandon Moore, Jack Bowen and Jason Mallia.

Probellum has also secured co-promotional agreements with Wasserman Boxing, Universum in Germany, Groupe Yvon Michel in Canada, Maravillabox Promotions in Spain, Kynoch Boxing in Scotland, Mitchell Sports Promotions in England, LNK Boxing in Latvia, Titov Boxing in Russia, Glozier Boxing in New Zealand, Cuadrilatero Boxing in Colombia, PR Best Boxing in Puerto Rico, BXSTRS Promotions in Mexico, Shuan Boxing Promotions in the Dominican Republic, Bufalo Boxing in Nicaragua, Team Ellis Boxing in Australia, Moron Boxing in Venezuela, Volcano Boxing in El Salvador, Armin Tan Promotions in Indonesia, and Box Office Sports in Ghana.

“I’m hugely excited to take this next step in my career,” said Thorslund.
“Probellum has made a major impact in a short space of time, and I’m really looking forward to working closely alongside their talented team as I strive to achieve further success.”

“Dina’s career to date speaks for itself,” added Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum. “An undefeated two-weight world champion with a massive future ahead of her, we are delighted to make Dina the newest member of the Probellum family, and we look forward to what will undoubtedly be an exciting journey.”

For live news and updates, be sure to follow Probellum on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Dina Thorslund (14-0, 6 KOs) and Nina Radovanovic (14-3, 3 KOs) both made weight ahead of their WBO Super Bantamweight World title clash this Saturday night at the Struer Energi Park in Struer, Denmark. 

Thorslund returns having successfully defended her WBO World title for the second time against Australia’s April Adams, and is now facing former IBO World Champion Radovanovic from Belgrade, Serbia.

The quick handed Thorslund has told fans she’s expecting to knock out her challenger, whilst Radovanovic says she has never felt better prepared.

WBO Female Super Bantamweight World Championship – 10 Rounds
Dina Thorslund: 55.2kg
Nina Radovanovic: 53.9kg

Official undercard weights:

Heavyweight – 8 Rounds
Filip Hrgovi?: 112.4kg
Alexandre Kartozia: 100kg

Super Middleweight – 6 Rounds
Oliver Zaren: 75.5kg
Konstantin Alexandrov: 75.3kg

Welterweight – 6 Rounds
Oliver Mollenberg: 66.4kg
Nikola Vlajkov: 67kg

Middleweight – 4 Rounds
Jacob Bank: 74kg
Birkan Garib: 73.8kg

Super Middleweight – 4 Rounds
Martin Foru: 77.3kg
Tarkan Oezcoban: 77.6kg

Super Featherweight – 4 Rounds
Payman Akbari: 59kg
Marko Petrovic: 58.9kg

Dina Thorslund (14-0, 6 KOs) defends her WBO World Super Bantamweight Title against former World Champion Nina Radovanovic (14-3, 3 KOs) as boxing returns to Denmark on September 26th at the Struer Energi Park.
 
Thorslund reunites with promoter Team Sauerland to deliver another exciting night of boxing in Struer. The Danish star will be headlining her hometown arena for the fifth time as she makes a third defence of the WBO title she claimed with a unanimous points win over Jessica Arreguin Munoz in 2018.
 
“I’m really looking forward to boxing again,” says Thorslund. “It’s been over a year since I’ve been in the ring, and my motivation has only grown, so I’m really looking forward to it. Nina Radovanovic is a good opponent, who works hard. I expect her to try to put me under pressure, but she will not succeed with that.
 
“I am happy to be working with Team Sauerland again. The cooperation works really fine. It gives me some peace of mind in the build up to the fight, as I know they know what they are doing, so I just have to concentrate on boxing.
 
“The pandemic put an end to me being able to fight, but my motivation hasn’t been affected. It’s the same as it was before and I’m 100% motivated. People can expect a top tuned Dina on September 26th. I have been training and waiting a long time for this fight, so I expect to be sharper than ever.”
 
Thorslund can expect a tough test as she returns to the ring for the first time following her points victory over April Adams in June 2019. Her opponent Radovanovic is an experienced contender. The 28-year-old Serbian is a former IBO World Champion, who has also fought twice for WBC honours.
 
“I’m very excited to face Dina,” said a confident Radovanovic. “I’ve watched a few of her fights and it seems that we have a similar temperament. She is a strong fighter and I believe the fight will be very attractive for the audience.
 
“I’ve had several title fights. They’ve always been exceptional and I have gained a lot of experience from each one, which I will use to my advantage. It’s nothing new to me to fight away from home in my opponent’s country. I love it! It’s what I’m looking forward to. I believe the Danish fans will be in for a surprise.”
 
“We’re delighted to be bringing boxing back to Denmark,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. “We’re happy to be working with Dina once again, and excited to return to Struer for the fifth time, where we will be working with TK Promotion to ensure another spectacular night of boxing at the Struer Energi Park.
 
“In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we will of course be taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of spectators, fighters and officials. We will be working closely with the Danish Professional Boxing Federation, and will continue to follow the latest guidance and advice from Danish authorities.”
 
Ticket details for Dina Thorslund vs. Nina Radovanovic will be shared in the coming weeks. Sign up to Ticket Alerts for priority booking.

Dina Thorslund (14-0, 6 KOs) defended her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title with a dominant display against mandatory challenger April Adams (11-2-1, 4 KOs) last night at the Forum Horsens in Denmark.

The Danish champion showed her class, winning every round on all three of the judges’ scorecards. She also showed her compassion by sparing a visibly stunned Adams in the final seconds of the tenth round, stepping back with smile and allowing the Australian challenger to finish the fight on her feet.

“I feel like I was in control for the whole fight,” said Thorslund following her second successive World title defence. “There wasn’t one second where I felt in doubt. It was a hard physical battle. April is a tough girl. She came here to win. I feel good and I’m very happy to have defended my belt in such a good fight.”

After the bout, Thorslund and her promoter Nisse Sauerland discussed future plans for the Danish star, including a move up in weight with a fight against WBO World Featherweight Champion Heather Hardy topping their wish list.

“That was a fantastic performance from Dina,” said Sauerland. “She showed tonight why she is one of the most exciting female fighters in the world. There are a lot of big opportunities for her now including a move up to featherweight and a fight with Heather Hardy. That would be huge in Denmark or America.”

“I want to be the best and that involves moving up in weight and collecting more titles,” said Thorslund. “I am ready to face anyone and that includes Hardy.”

Dina Thorslund (13-0, 6 KOs) and April Adams (11-1-1, 4 KOs) both made weight ahead of Saturday’s WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title showdown at the Forum Horsens in Denmark.

Thorslund defended the WBO World title against Germany’s Alesia Graf in January 2019 in Struer, Denmark and is now facing her mandatory challenger, April ‘Armageddon’ Adams from Brisbane, Australia.

The undefeated 25-year-old Dane has predicted a KO victory, while Adams believes she has what it takes to bring the WBO belt back to Australia.

WBO Female World Super Bantamweight Championship – 10 Rounds
Dina Thorslund: 55,2 kg
April Adams: 54,9 kg

Official undercard weights: 

Heavyweight – 8 Rounds
Kem Ljungquist: 106,3 kg
Gabriel Enguema: 107,6 kg

Super Featherweight – 6 Rounds
Frederik Hede Jensen: 58,8 kg
Ruben Garcia: 58,9 kg

Cruiserweight – 10 Rounds
Kai Robin Havnaa: 90,1 kg
Levani Lukhutashvili: 88,3 kg

Middleweight – 6 Rounds
Landry Kore: 74,1 kg
Tomas Bezvoda: 74 kg

Super Bantamweight – 4 Rounds
Michael Nielsen: 54,9 kg
Stefan Sashev: 55,6 kg

Super Middleweight – 8 Rounds
Haris Dzindo: 77,2 kg
Istvan Zeller: TBC

Lightweight – 4 Rounds
Amer Rasinlic: 80 kg
Przemyslaw Binienda: 81 kg

Lightweight – 6 Rounds
Joanna Ekedahl: 62,7 kg
Jelena Janicijevic: 61 kg

Thorslund-Adams tops a stacked card at the Forum Horsens, which also features Kem Ljungquist, Kai Robin Havnaa, Frederik Hede Jensen, Landry Kore, Haris Dzindo, Amer Rasinlic, Michael Nielsen and Joanna Ekedahl.

Tickets for Thunder From Down Under: Dina Thorslund vs. April Adams for the WBO Female World Super Bantamweight Championship are available online via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

Dina Thorslund (13-0, 6 KOs) and April Adams (11-1-1, 4 KOs) came face-to-face at a press conference today in Copenhagen ahead of their WBO World Super Bantamweight title clash on Saturday at the Forum Horsens in Denmark.

Thorslund, Denmark’s only reigning World Champion, makes a second defence of her WBO 122lbs strap against mandatory challenger April ‘Armageddon’ Adams, the current WBO Asia Pacific Champion from Brisbane, Australia.

Both fighters appeared in a confident mood as they met with the media in the Danish capital before making the trip to Horsens for their World title contest.

“I look forward to getting in the ring on Saturday,” said Thorslund. “I know Adams is an offensive fighter and I’m expecting a great fight. She comes with the storm, but it is me who brings the thunder. I will send her back down under with a bang. I believe I will win this fight by knockout.”

“It will be a great fight,” echoed Thorslund’s coach Thomas Madsen. “Adams can only box on the front foot and only knows one way, which is forward. This will give Dina some good opportunities. I believe she will knock Adams out on Saturday and show why she is the best in the world!”

“It’s great to be here in Denmark,” said Adams. “Everyone has been very welcoming and I look forward to boxing in front of the Danish fans. I’m here for one reason and that’s to take the belt home to Australia. Every fighter dreams of this opportunity and this is something I have been working towards my whole career. I’m well prepared and I feel ready to become World Champion.”

“We wouldn’t have travelled all this way if we didn’t believe April could win this fight,” added Adams’ trainer John Bastable. “They say they’re coming for the knockout and I hope they bring it from the first round because April is ready!”

Thorslund-Adams tops a stacked card at the Forum Horsens, which also features Kem Ljungquist, Kai Robin Havnaa, Frederik Hede Jensen, Landry Kore, Haris Dzindo, Amer Rasinlic, Michael Nielsen and Joanna Ekedahl.

Tickets for Thunder From Down Under: Dina Thorslund vs. April Adams for the WBO Female World Super Bantamweight Championship are available online via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

Kai Robin Havnaa (14-0, 12 KOs) is the latest addition to an action-packed fight card at the Forum Horsens on June 22 headlined by Dina Thorslund’s WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title fight with April Adams.

The Norwegian cruiserweight star is back in action following a third-round knockout win over Rad Rashid, which saw the 30 year-old capture the IBO International title in front of his home fans at the SØR Amfi in Arendal.

Havnaa, who will face the big punching Levan Lukhutashvili (8-3, 8 KOs) in a ten-round contest, returns to Denmark, where he lived and trained at the start of his professional career and where he claimed his first six victories.

“I’m excited to get back in the ring and I’m looking forward to fighting in Denmark again,” said Havnaa. “I started my career in Denmark and had some very good fights there, so it’s great to come back to continue my journey.”

Having secured his first professional title against Rashid, Havnaa is eager to push on with his career and is targeting a big fight before the end of the year.

“It was an amazing experience to win my first title,” he said. “With the national anthem before the fight, the atmosphere was electric. I landed a solid body shot that we had been practicing a lot to end the fight, so everything turned out great.

“I knew it wouldn’t be long before a new fight, so I was straight back in the gym training and improving. I have big ambitions for this year so I’m very motivated.”

Havnaa joins Danish heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist, rising featherweight star Frederik Hede Jensen, Vejle super middleweight Haris Dzindo and Horsens boxers Michael Nielsen and Amer Rasinlic on the undercard of Dina Thorslund’s World title defence.

Tickets for Thunder From Down Under: Dina Thorslund vs. April Adams for the WBO Female World Super Bantamweight Championship are available online via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

Dina Thorslund (13-0, 6 KOs) defended her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title with a unanimous points decision against Alesia Graf (29-8, 13 KOs) last night at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark, despite suffering a cut above her left eye following an accidental clash of heads in the seventh round.

The Danish champion produced a dominant display to earn her thirteenth professional win and first World title defence. Starting on the front foot, Thorslund pushed the German challenger back, dictating the pace and scoring heavy shots to the head and body throughout the early rounds.

An accidental clash of heads caused a cut above Thorslnd’s left eye in the seventh round, which threatened to disrupt her rhythm, but with her corner managing to stem the bleeding, the Danish fan-favourite soon regained her composure and finished the fight in style.

Judges Ferenc Budai and Jan Christensen scored a shutout 100-90 win for Thorslund, while judge Grzegorz Molenda scored 99-91 in favour of the Dane.

“It’s been a hectic week, but it has also been a fantastic week,” said Thorslund, who completed a bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy on Wednesday. “Two good experiences, two good results, which I’m glad I came through successfully. The build up to this week has been tough. It’s been a difficult period, but that just makes it even more worthwhile to get the victory today.

“I tried to keep a cool head. I was aggressive at the right times, and when I got cut, I didn’t risk opening up any more. I kept my distance, but still landed some good blows. I always want to stop my opponents, but that wasn’t necessary for me today. The important thing was that I won. I gave a good performance and gained some valuable experience, which I can take into bigger fights.

“I’ll start training again in the next couple of weeks, and I‘ll be ready to defend my WBO World title again when the time comes. It’s no secret that I would also like to collect the other belts in the division, and if Sarah Mahfoud decides she is ready to fight me, I would be more than happy to accept the challenge.”

“Dina is world class and she showed that again tonight by beating a very good opponent,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. “It was a great performance. She can be really proud of herself. She is a true hero in Struer, and now, our aim is now to make her a true hero in Denmark and then in the rest of the world.

“What’s next for Dina? That’s the question. There’s been a lot of talk about her fighting Sarah Mahfoud. They say they want the fight, they use Dina’s name to promote their own events, but I’m not so sure. We will be making her promoter Mogens Palle a very good offer for Sarah to fight Dina, but I’m not expecting them to accept. I think it is quite clear that Dina is in a different class.”

On the undercard, Dennis Ceylan suffered a second stoppage defeat to Jesus Sachez for the EU Featherweight title, while Danish heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist continued his unbeaten streak with a first-round knockout win over Boldizsar Balazs Czagler, and Abdul Khattab outpointed Swedish rival Oliver Flodin in an eight-round Scandinavian middleweight thriller.

Dina Thorslund (12-0, 6 KOs) and Alesia Graf (29-7, 13 KOs) both made weight today ahead of their WBO Female World Super Bantamweight Championship clash tomorrow night at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark.

Thorslund, who claimed the WBO World title with a unanimous points win over Yessica Munoz in August 2018, returns to her hometown arena to meet the tough German challenger Alesia Graf for the WBO crown.

The undefeated Dane has predicted a KO victory and an all action affair against Graf, who believes she has what it takes to bring the belt home to Germany.

WBO Female World Super Bantamweight Championship:
Dina Thorslund: 55.1 kg
Alesia Graf: 55.3 kg

Former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight tile following last year’s shocking second round KO defeat.

EBU European Union Featherweight Championship:
Dennis Ceylan: 57.1 kg
Jesus Sanchez: 56.2 kg

The ‘Double Trouble’ event features an action-packed undercard showcasing top Danish talents Kem Ljungquist, Mikkel Nielsen and Adam Bashanov. Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller, while veteran Lolenga Mock continues his World title chase against Mateo Damian Veron, and German heavyweight Albon Pervizaj returns to action.

Heavyweight – 8 Rounds:
Kem Ljungquist: 103 kg
Boldizar Balazs Czagler: 111.3 kg

Heavyweight – 8 Rounds:
Albon Pervizaj: 111.2 kg
Alain Banongo: 119.2 kg

Middleweight – 8 Rounds:
Oliver Flodin: 71.9 kg
Abdul Khattab: 72.5 kg

Super Middleweight – 8 Rounds:
Lolenga Mock: 75.7 kg
Mateo Damian Veron: 75.5 kg

Super Welterweight – 6 Rounds:
Mikkel Nielsen: 69.7 kg
Angel Emilov: 69.9 kg

Light Heavyweight – 4 Rounds:
Adam Bashanov: 79.5 kg
Ivan Nikolov: 77.8 kg

Bantamweight – 4 Rounds (x2 mins):
Alicia Holzken: 51 kg
Ivanka Ivanova: 50.9 kg

Super Middleweight – 4 Rounds:
Haris Dzindo: 76.5 kg
Giorgi Gogebashvili: TBC

All the action will be available to watch live on Viaplay, TV3 Max and TV3+ in Denmark and Sport1 in Germany. Limited tickets are still available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

Kem Ljungquist (6-0, 4 KOs) must face a new test as he returns to the ring on Saturday, January 19 at the Struer Energi Park on the undercard of Dina Thorslund’s WBO World Super Bantamweight title defence against Alesia Graf.

The Danish heavyweight hope will now meet undefeated Boldizsar Balazs Czagler (2-0, 2 KOs) following the withdrawal of his scheduled opponent Dominik Musil, who has been ruled out after breaking his nose in sparring.

“These things happen in boxing,” says Ljungquist. “I have no problem preparing for a new opponent. I’ll be ready. He is unbeaten now, but not after Saturday!”

The 28 year-old was last in action at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, where he recorded a second-round stoppage win over Egypt’s Mourad Omar.

In preparation for his seventh professional bout, Ljungquist has been in Berlin sparring top German heavyweight Albon Pervizaj, who also fights in Struer.

“I had some really good sparring with Albon,” he says. “We did many rounds together, and his coach Ulli Wegner told me I was big a talent. He also pointed out some things I need to work on, but it would be strange if I was perfect at this stage of my career, and it’s nice to get praise from such a big name.

“I’ve had great preparations for this fight in general, so I’m really looking forward to giving the fans in Struer a good performance on Saturday night!”

Dina Thorslund tops the bill in Struer, defending her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf, while former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown.

Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller, heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist takes on Dominik Musil, Lolenga Mock continues his World title chase against Mateo Damian Veron, Mikkel Nielsen meets Bulgaria’s Angel Emilov, and Adam Bashanov faces Ivan Nikolov.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling 70 15 65 65.

Thomas Madsen believes Dina Thorslund (12-0, 6 KOS) can secure a knockout win as she defends her WBO World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf (29-7, 13 KOs) on January 19 at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark.

“Graf is an experienced boxer, who has met many good fighters in her career,” says Madsen. “She is tall and she throws good straight punches, but I don’t believe she is physically strong enough to resist Dina.”

Madsen insists his fighter is ready to go all ten rounds if required, but does not think it will be necessary for the hard-hitting World Champion, who has stopped six of her previous opponents inside the distance.

“Dina’s shape is good and she is ready to go ten hard rounds, but I hope she can knock Graf out. She must at least test Graf early with some power punches. I believe and hope for a KO victory,” says the Danish trainer.

Following an impressive 2018, Madsen has high hopes for the New Year: “It will be a great year where we chase even more success. We are looking to win more World titles and to unify the division, and that may mean fighting abroad.”

Dina Thorslund tops the bill in Struer, defending her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf, while former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown.

Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller, heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist takes on Dominik Musil, Lolenga Mock continues his World title chase against Mateo Damian Veron, Mikkel Nielsen meets Bulgaria’s Angel Emilov, and Adam Bashanov faces Ivan Nikolov.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

Lolenga Mock (42-15-1, 13 KOs) continues his World title chase on the undercard of Dina Thorslund’s WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title defence against Alesia Graf on January 19 at the Struer Energi Park.

“I’m looking forward to boxing in Struer,” said the 46-year-old super middleweight. “People always talk about my age, but I feel younger and younger, and more explosive than ever!

“In Struer, I want to show people that I’m still here. I’m still improving, and I look forward to showcasing these improvements on January 19.”

Mock last fought on September 15 in Ludwigshafen, where he suffered a narrow points defeat to Avni Yildirim in a WBC World title eliminator. Despite this debated decision, Mock has not given up hope of claiming World honours.

“I’m still chasing my dream of becoming World Champion. I’ve never given up,” says Mock, who is currently ranked number 12 with the WBC.

“After my fight in Struer, I’m heading for a big title fight later in 2019.”

An opponent for Mock will be announced shortly as the Aarhus-based Congolese boxer joins a stacked card at the Struer Energi Park on January 19.

Dina Thorslund defends her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Germany’s Alesia Graf, while former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown.

Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller, heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist takes on Dominik Musil, and Adam ‘The Wolf’ Bashanov meets Bulgaria’s Ivan Nikolov.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

Kem Ljungquist (6-0, 4 KOs) meets Dominik Musil (3-1, 2 KOs) on the undercard of Dina Thorslund’s WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title defence against Alesia Graf on January 19 at the Struer Energi Park.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring,” said the Danish heavyweight hope. “Musil is an exciting opponent, but he is one that I should be able to beat. I look forward to entertaining the fans in Struer!”

Ljungquist was last in action on September 28 in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia, as part of the World Boxing Super Series final between George Groves and Callum Smith, scoring a second-round stoppage against Egypt’s Morad Omar.

“It was a good fight for me and a great experience to be part of the World Boxing Super Series,” he says. “Morad Omar came to win, but I quickly found the right openings and was happy with the win.”

The 28 year-old has enjoyed a perfect 2018. Ljungquist has claimed five wins from five fights, and also acted as sparring partner for the returning Tyson Fury.

“It was a great experience to spar Fury,” said Ljungquist. “I know he has recommended me to other top heavyweights, and I hope he will call again.

“I feel I’m getting better by sparring with the best, and I’m getting matched harder and harder in my fights. In 2019, I look forward to developing more against even stronger opponents.”

The Herlev boxer calls himself his own worst critic, and while he admits he is still in the development phase, it is clear his eyes are on the prize.

“My motivation, to achieve something big in my career, is huge,” he says. “It’s a privilege to make a living from boxing and I would like to go all the way. I want to keep improving until I finally get the big fights for the big belts.

“It’s all about training hard, full throttle and living right. I have managed to do well so far and if I continue to do that, then the opportunities will come.”

Ljungquist’s eight round heavyweight clash with Musil is the latest addition to a stacked card in Struer. Dina Thorslund defends her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Germany’s Alesia Graf, former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown, and Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

Oliver Flodin (4-0) and Abdul Khattab (15-2-1, 4 KOs) are set for a Scandinavian showdown on the undercard of Dina Thorslund’s WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title defence against Alesia Graf on January 19 at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark.

Khattab, from Copenhagen, returns to the ring for the first time following his draw with Ronny Mittag on October 27, 2017 at the Sport and Congress Centre in Schwerin, and the 25 year-old is eager to prove he still has more to give in the professional ranks, starting with a victory over his Swedish rival Flodin.

“I’ve been keeping myself in top shape and waiting for the right opportunity,” says Khattab, who is trained by Danish boxing legend Mikkel Kessler. “That opportunity is here now, and I’m looking forward to a great fight on January 19.

“Of course, there is always something extra when a Danish fighter meets a Swede. It gives me even more motivation, and I’m sure it will make for a great atmosphere. I have no doubt that my hand will be raised after the final bell.

“I’ve seen some of Flodin’s fights. He is a good young boxer, who is just starting to make his way as a professional. He was good amateur, but professional boxing is something completely different, and I am going to show him that.

“Fans can expect a good performance from me. I’m hungry, and I feel stronger than ever. I believe one hundred percent that I will beat Flodin, and then I’ll be ready for a title fight in 2019. The time for fun is over, I’m serious now!”

Flodin, the 22 year-old from Jonkoping, has impressed since joining the professional ranks, recording four unanimous points wins, his latest against Nikoloz Gvajava on June 2 at the Swiss Life Hall in Hannover.

The Swede can expect a significant step up at the Struer Energi Park, but says he believes this is Khattab’s ‘last chance’, and that his superior ring smarts will prove the difference in their eight-round middleweight clash.

“It’s going to be a war,” says Flodin. “This is Khattab’s last chance as a professional, but for me it’s just a great opportunity to climb the ladder.

“I have met and beat many Danes as an amateur, and it will be no different on January 19. I expect to be smarter than Khattab in the ring. I’ve watched him fight, I know he comes forward a lot, and that will suit my style perfectly.

“I have great ambitions for my boxing career, and once I’m finished with Khattab, my plan is to target a European title fight in the next two years.”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland says he is looking forward to this fascinating showdown between these two promising Scandinavian fighters.

“We are pleased to present this spectacular Scandinavian showdown on January 19 in Struer, with much at stake for both boxers,” he says.

“For Oliver it’s a big step up, and for Abdul it’s a must win. It’s a dangerous fight for both, and fans can expect a great battle between Sweden and Denmark.”

Flodin versus Khattab is the latest addition to a stacked card in Struer. Local hero Dina Thorslund defends her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Germany’s Alesia Graf, while former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.

Dina Thorslund (12-0, 6 KOs) defends her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf (19-7, 13 KOs), while Dennis Ceylan (19-2-2, 8 KOs) rematches Jesus Sanchez (9-1, 2 KOs) for the European Union Featherweight title on January 19 at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark.

Thorslund returns to her hometown fortress for a fourth time to make the first defence of the WBO World title she claimed with a unanimous points win over Mexico’s Yessica Munoz at the Struer Energi Park on August 25.

The 25 year-old is currently Denmark’s only reigning World Champion, the first Dane to have won a World title since Mikkel Kessler, and only the second female in Danish boxing history to have achieved this success.

“This will be the fourth time I box in front of my fans in Struer,” says Thorslund. “It has been amazing every other time, and I hope it will be again. It is almost too much to hope for, but so far, the support has only improved each time. It’s hard to describe how much it means to have people in Struer to back me up.

“Alesia Graf is tall so she poses a different kind of challenge than I’m used to. She’s a good fighter, but let me make it clear: I’m not afraid of anyone!”

Graf, nicknamed ‘The Tigress’, from Stuttgart, Germany, has held versions of the World title in both the Super Flyweight and Super Bantamweight divisions, as well as challenging for the Bantamweight crown on three occasions. She is an experienced contender, who is confident of upsetting the home fighter.

“This is a big opportunity for me to fight for the WBO World title,” said Graf. “Dina is undefeated, which obviously says something about her, but I go into every fight with the intention to win, and this is no different. I will prepare as best as possible. It will be an exciting fight for sure, with me coming out on top.”

Having suffered a shock second-round knockout defeat to Sanchez at the Struer Energi Park on March 10, former European Champion Ceylan has the chance for revenge as he rematches his Spanish rival for EU title.

Ceylan has said it is ‘all or nothing’ as he looks to get his promising career back on track on January 19, stating a loss will result in his retirement.

“Sanchez caught me with a good shot last time, but that’s not going to happen again,” said Ceylan. “This time, I’m going to prove that I’m the better fighter. I’m not afraid of this guy. I want revenge. This fight is all or nothing for me. If I win, my career is back on track, but if I lose, I will retire.”

Sanchez returns to Denmark full of confidence following his knockout win, and has vowed to get the better of Ceylan for a third-time having reportedly schooled the Danish boxer in a sparring session prior to their first encounter.

“We sparred together in 2017 while you were training in Madrid, and I got the best out of you. We fought in Struer, and I knocked you out. The third time we meet, it will not be any different,” says the Spanish Champion.

“It’s always dangerous to predict a knockout because you risk looking for a big punch and opening yourself up for counters. Therefore, I am happy to simply predict a win – be it on points or inside the distance.”

“We’re delighted to be returning to the Struer Energi Park with another fantastic card,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. “The atmosphere is always electric when Dina fights, and this time the fans can look forward to a double header of title fights with Dennis challenging for the EU Featherweight title.

“Dina’s star continues to rise, and I believe she is close to establishing herself as one of the best female fighters on the planet. Dennis has had a difficult twelve months, but now has the chance for redemption. By defeating Sanchez and claiming the EU title, he can get his career firmly back on track.”

Tickets for Double Trouble: Dina Thorslund vs. Alesia Graf and Dennis Ceylan vs. Jesus Sanchez are on sale now and available online via www.ticketmaster.dk or by calling (+45) 70 15 65 65.