Tamm Thibeault needed once punch to take of Cristina Mazzotta in a eight-round middleweight bout.

Thibeault landed a hard left on the chin left that put Mazzotta down and the fight was stopped at 54 seconds.

Thibeault, 160 lbs of Shawingan, QUE, CAN is 4-0 with three knockouts. Mazzotta, 158.2 lbs of Brinisi, ITA is 1-1.

Akdeniz Stops Soto in 4

Mazlum Akdeniz stopped Anthony Soto in round four of their eight-round welterweight bout.

In round four, Akdeniz landed two lefts to the head that snapped Soto’s head back and the fight was stopped at 2:26.

Akdeniz, 146.4 lbs of Montreal is 22-0 with nine knockouts. Soto, 144.2 lbs of Pueblo, CO is 13-1-1.

Tiafack Stops Robles After 4

Nelvie Tiafack stopped Ramiro Robles after round four of their six-round heavyweight bout.

Toafack dominated and the fight was stopped in the corner.

Tiafack, 250 lbs of Cologne, GER is 2-0 with two knockouts. Robles, 265 lbs of San Diego is 5-1.

Javon Walton won a six-round unanimous decision over Anthony Mora om a lightweight bout.

Walton, 135 lbs of Atlanta won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 3-0-1. Mora, 134.2 lbs is 7-5.

Amanda Galle remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Alondra Hernandez in a bantamweight bout.

Galle, 117.4 lbs of Missisauga, ONT, CAN won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 12-0-1. Hernandez, 119 lbs of Mexico City is 8-2.

Federica Macri won a eight-round unanimous decision over Naomy Valle in a battle of undefeated light flyweights.

In round five, Valle was deducted a point for holding.

Macri, 107 lbs of Aosya, ITA won by scores of 80-71, 78-73 and 76-75 and is now 7-0-1. Valle, 106.6 lbs of San Jose, CR is 14-1.

Loick Lahaie stopped Jose Madrigal in round two of their six-round junior middleweight bout,

In round two, Lahaie dropped Mdrigal with a right hand. Lahaie dropped Madrigal again in the round with a left to the body. Seconds later, it was another right hand that put Madrigal down again and the fight was stopped at 2:16

Lahaie, 156.9 lbs of Montreal is 3-0 with one knockout. Madrigal, 150 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 7-8.

MONTREAL, CANADA – September 18, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the remaining undercard matchups for Most Valuable Prospects 15, an MVP Championship Edition on Saturday, September 27 at the Theatre St-Denis in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, available globally on DAZN. Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO), who returns to the ring to face American Anthony “El Toro Rojo” Mora (7-4-1, 4 KOs) in a 6-round lightweight bout at 135lbs. Joining Walton on the preliminary card will be MVP’s Costa Rican rising contender Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs) vs. Italy’s Federica “La Cattiva” Macrí (6-0-1, 1 KO) contested over 8 rounds at 108lbs in the light flyweight division and Dominican prospect Hendri Cedeno (16-0, 12 KOs) vs. Alejandro Frias (19-11-2) in a 10-round super lightweight bout at 140lbs. 

MVP also announced the signing of Olympic bronze medalist, European champion, and five-time German national champion Nelvie Tiafack (1-0, 1 KO). The 26-year-old German Olympian will make his promotional debut on Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition against undefeated American Ramiro Robles (5-0, 3 KOs) in a 6-round heavyweight bout. Tiafack vs. Robles joins a decorated main card headlined by IBF world champion Sol Cudos (10-0-2, 3 KOs) vs. MVP’s new signee, Canadian boxing star Kim Clavel (21-2, 3 KOs) in a 10-round women’s world championship fight at 105lbs for the IBF strawweight world title and the co-main event featuring MVP’s 2x Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and #1 IBF and WBA middleweight contender Tamm Thibeault (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Italy’s Cristina Mazzotta (1-0) in a 6-round middleweight bout at 160lbs. Also on the main card will be Montreal’s undefeated 28-year-old Mazlum Akdeniz (21-0, 8 KOs) vs. American Anthony Soto (13-0-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout at 147lbs. The 15th event in the series in partnership with Boxlab Promotions will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition, promoted by GYM, are on sale now HERE.

Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO). Walton signed with MVP in July 2023 as an athlete under development before making his pro debut in 2024. As the youngest-ever athlete to sign with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Walton has continued to excel as a boxer. Walton began boxing at the age of four, and at age eight became one of America’s youngest amateur prospects, becoming a multi-time Junior Regional Champion and two-time Junior Olympic national silver medalist. The Atlanta native is also a world-renowned actor who captured international attention with his debut role as the beloved drug dealer “Ashtray” in the HBO Max Emmy-winning series Euphoria starring alongside Hollywood icons Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, and has since continued to co-star in numerous other film and TV titles. He trains under his father and coach, DJ Walton. His opponent, the more experienced American Anthony Mora (7-4-1, 4 KOs), comes to the ring from New Britain, Connecticut, USA. Mora, of Ecuadorian and Dominican descent, is known for his aggressive, charging style in the ring. He began boxing at age 26, choosing first to raise his family and build his career as a barber. Now, the 36-year-old contender is a seasoned and dangerous opponent, having learned from every ring war to date.

“Every fight is a chance to grow, and I’m excited to show what I’ve learned from my last fight while facing a tough opponent with a winning record like Anthony Mora. Competing in a big fight city like Montreal on a big stage is right where I wanna be,” said Wanna Walton. “This card is stacked with MVP talent and on Saturday, September 27, I want everyone to tune in to see my best performance.”

In the main card opener, MVP’s newest signee, German Olympian Nelvie Tiafack will face San Diego, California’s Ramiro Robles. Tiafack’s journey began long before he entered the ring. Growing up in Cameroon, he faced the loss of his father at just 2 years old, a turning point that motivated him throughout his life. Inspired by his mother’s strength and sacrifices, who moved to Europe to create a better future for him, he found the determination to overcome challenges. At the age of 8, he traveled alone from Cameroon to Cologne, Germany, showing courage beyond his years. After two years apart, he reunited with his mother in a new country, where her support became his foundation. Their home was filled with shared experiences and sacrifices, reminding him that achieving goals requires dedication. At 15, he discovered boxing, where he could channel his energy and compete on his own terms. His achievements include becoming a 5x German amateur champion, a European Championship gold medal, and being the first German super heavyweight boxer to win an Olympic medal in Paris 2024, reflecting both physical skill and a strong mindset shaped by his mother’s example. Tiafack’s notable wins include UK amateur titan Delicious Orie, British Olympian and 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Frazer Clarke, and Armenian heavyweight standout Gurgen Hovhannisyan. When the 26-year-old steps into the ring, he fights not only for victory but also to honor his mother’s influence and inspire others facing their own challenges. Tiafack will face American heavyweight Ramiro Robles over 6 rounds. Robles, the 28-year-old prospect, comes to the ring from San Diego, California following his latest TKO win in June 2025.

“MVP is the most disruptive promotion out there,” said Nelvie Tiafack. “They understand the game in and outside the ring, putting their fighters on big stages and also helping them grow their brand through huge social media exposure. My goal is to become the best in my division and become an MVP, so it’s a no brainer why I chose to work with Most Valuable Promotions.”

“Most Valuable Prospects is about introducing fans to talent that can define the future of boxing, and this card delivers on that mission,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “Our newest signee, Nelvie Tiafack, is an Olympic bronze medalist making his professional debut under the MVP banner, and we believe he has all the tools to become a world champion. Nelvie now joins our growing roster of Olympians including Tamm Thibeault from Canada, Keno Marley from Brazil, Yankiel Rivera from Puerto Rico, and Jahmal Harvey from the U.S. This card will also feature one of the youngest megastars in the sport in Wanna Walton proving himself against his toughest opponent to date in Anthony Mora, a rising superstar in Costa Rica’s Naomy Valle, and other Canadian and international prospects eager to prove themselves on a global stage. Montreal has a rich boxing history, and on Saturday, September 27, fans will witness the next generation carrying that tradition forward live on DAZN.”

MVP’s 20-year-old undefeated light flyweight Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), from San Jose, Costa Rica, has established herself as one of boxing’s brightest prospects. In her most recent fight in March 2025, Valle maintained her unbeaten streak and earned her first title honors, becoming the WBC Youth world champion at 108 pounds after defeating Mexican fighter Yelmi Sánchez. Outside the ring, she made history by winning the first season of popular dance show Mira Quién Baila Costa Rica on Teletica, securing 34.91% of the public vote. With her victory, she donated the $15,000 prize to the National Children’s Hospital, Fundación para el Desarrollo del Hospital Nacional de Niños. Beyond that, she is also studying aviation and recently completed her first official flight with pilot Alessandro Serrano from Aero Formación. During her preparation for the fight that earned her the WBC world title, she balanced boxing training with theoretical studies and flight simulations, demonstrating her dedication in both fields. Her opponent, Federica Macrí is a 25-year-old from Aosta, Valle d’Aosta, Italy. Before turning pro, Macrí held a decorated amateur career including a silver medal at the 2022 Italian Elite National Championships. Macrí then made her professional debut in 2023, most recently earning a first-round TKO win earlier this month. 

Seasoned prospect Hendri Cedeno fights out of Reading, Pennsylvania, USA by way of La Romana, Dominican Republic. The 27-year-old, represented by Boxlab Promotions, turned professional in May 2021, collecting an impressive 13 wins in just under three years before joining Team Combat League’s Philly Smoke in April 2024. Cedeno now makes his return to the Most Valuable Prospects series following his standout performances on the series’ 8th and 10th installments in 2024. His opponent, Alejandro Frias, comes to the ring from Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. The super lightweight prospect has finished his last two opponents by knockout. 

Also on the preliminary card, MVP’s recent Ontario, Canada signee Amanda Galle (11-0-1, 1 KO) will face Mexico’s Alondra Hernandez (8-1) in an 8-round bantamweight bout at 118lbs, and Sherbrooke, Quebec super lightweight prospect Loick Lahaie (2-0) vs. Berlin, Germany’s Rufus-Venice Camara-Macauley (4-0, 3 KOs) in a 6 round middleweight bout. 

Most Valuable Prospects 15 is promoted by GYM and distributed globally by DAZN. The 15th event in the series in partnership with Boxlab Promotions will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly, TORKLAW, and Event Tickets Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects series.

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

About MVP

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

About DAZN

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

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

MONTREAL, CANADA – August 28, 2025 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the company’s return to Canada for Most Valuable Prospects 15, an MVP Championship Edition on Saturday, September 27 at the Theatre St-Denis in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, available globally for free on both DAZN.com and the DAZN app with no subscription required. Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition will be headlined by IBF world champion Sol Cudos (10-0-2, 3 KOs) vs. MVP’s newest signee, Canadian boxing star Kim Clavel (21-2, 3 KOs) in a 10-round women’s world championship fight at 105lbs for the IBF strawweight world title. The co-main event will feature MVP’s 2x Canadian Olympian, amateur world champion, and #1 IBF and WBA middleweight contender Tamm Thibeault (3-0, 2 KOs). Also on the main card will be Montreal’s undefeated 28-year-old Mazlum Akdeniz (21-0, 8 KOs).

Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO). Joining Walton on the preliminary card will be MVP’s recent Ontario, Canadian signee Amanda Galle (11-0-1, 1 KO), MVP’s Costa Rican rising contender Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), Montreal super welterweight prospect Omar Alieh (2-0, 2 KOs) and Sherbrooke, Quebec super lightweight prospect Loick Lahaie (2-0). 

MVP will also feature a special addition to Most Valuable Prospects 15. Montreal native and renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani is set to join the broadcast team as ringside reporter on fight night, marking Helwani’s first time part of an official team calling an event in Montreal. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 15 Championship Edition are on sale now HERE.

Small in stature but giant in her achievements, Kim Clavel has established herself as one of the leading figures in women’s boxing in Canada and around the world. Born in Joliette, a city on the outskirts of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, she is recognized for her fighting spirit, resilience, and charisma that resonate far beyond the ring. Before shining as a professional, Clavel distinguished herself as an amateur, climbing to #5 in the world rankings across 85 amateur bouts and winning gold at the 2017 Continental Games. After turning pro in 2017, she earned prestigious accolades such as WBC Prospect of the Year, ESPY Award, and Time Magazine New Generation Leader. Under the guidance of Groupe Yvon Michel, Kim reached a defining milestone in 2022 by capturing the WBC world title against Yesenia Gomez, a victory witnessed by hundreds of thousands of fans. Beyond the ring, Clavel is a trained nurse who returned to the front lines during the pandemic in a long-term care facility—an act of courage and humanity that earned her the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2020 ESPY Awards. Her warm and genuine personality also led her to participate in Big Brother Célébrités – Québec, where she won over viewers and broadened her popularity with an even wider audience. With the support of her coach Danielle Bouchard and now part of the Most Valuable Promotions roster, Clavel enters the next phase of her career with a clear mission: to reclaim a world title and achieve her dream of unifying the division. She will face IBF 105lb world title holder Sol Cudos on Saturday, September 27. The Argentinian champion comes to the ring from Buenos Aires, having claimed the then-vacant IBF world title by decision in her latest bout against Maria Sol Baumstarh in April 2025. She will defend her title for the first time against Clavel.

“To headline my tenth main event, this time with MVP in an iconic venue like Théâtre St-Denis in Montréal, is an honor and a motivation like no other,” said Kim Clavel. “Being the headliner for MVP’s first event in Québec makes this moment even more special. Under the spotlight, I don’t feel pressure — I feel power. I want all of Montreal to come out and show MVP why we are the best city to host big events. Saturday, September 27th will be unforgettable. See you there.”

MVP’s standout Tamm Thibeault is currently the #1-ranked WBA, #1 IBF, #4 WBO, and #8 WBC middleweight contender. Originally from Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada, Thibeault began her boxing journey at the age of nine, inspired by seeing her father, a former CFL player, knock out an opponent during a Provincial boxing tournament. Following in his footsteps, she took up boxing at age 12 and was inspired to compete for Canada while watching the first women’s Olympic boxing competition during the 2012 London Olympics. The 28-year-old middleweight, a southpaw standing 6 feet tall, forged an outstanding amateur career. A two-time Olympian, Thibeault made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where she advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 75kg (165lb) event, matching Canada’s best-ever Olympic result in any women’s boxing event. She went undefeated until she returned to the Paris Olympics in 2024, earning gold medals at the 2022 Amateur World Championship, the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the 2023 Pan Am Games. Thibeault, who speaks French, English, and Spanish, recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Concordia University in 2023, which she earned over seven years while competing. She currently lives in Sheffield, England, where she is earning a one-year Master’s degree in urban design and urban planning while training at the renowned Steel City Gym. Thibeault made her pro debut while competing under men’s rules, three-minute rounds, on the main card of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10 in December 2024, then returned to the ring in March 2025 as part of MVP’s first ever event in Canada, Most Valuable Prospects 11, where she again competed under men’s rules with three-minute rounds and won by knockout in the final second of the first round, proving again the impact of women competing with equal rules to men. Thibeault entered her third pro fight continuing to compete under equal rules over 8, three-minute rounds on the preliminary card of MVP’s historic Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 all-women’s card against then-#1 contender Mary Casamassa, winning by TKO to become the #1 contender with both the IBF and WBA following the bout—one of the fastest-rising world title contenders in history.

“Coming back to Montreal to fight as a professional for the very first time is an incredible moment in my career,” said Tamm Thibeault. “Quebec has always been close to my heart, and stepping into the ring here as a pro is nothing less than special. I carry so much pride representing not only Team Canada but also my home province, and I want to give the fans a performance that reflects all the hard work and sacrifices that brought me here. One of my biggest wishes as a professional has always been to fight 3-minute rounds, just like I did with Team Canada. Even though this bout will be under the current 2-minute rule, I truly hope that, in the future, opportunities will open up for equality in women’s boxing. This fight is more than just a debut in Quebec, it’s a homecoming, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone who has supported me along the way.”

Also on the main card will be Mazlum Akdeniz, an undefeated southpaw boxer from Montreal, known for his technique and discipline. At only 28 years old, he holds an impressive professional record of 21-0 with 8 KOs. Before turning professional, he built a strong amateur background with 49 wins and only 4 losses. On the rise, he already holds two prestigious belts, the WBC Continental Americas Champion at super lightweight (140 lbs) and the WBC International Champion at welterweight (147 lbs). Beyond the ring, Mazz is also the owner of AK Boxing & World Fitness. His strong performances, southpaw style, and undefeated record make him one of Canada’s top boxing prospects and an athlete to watch closely on the international stage.

“MVP is returning to Canada for the second time this year, now in one of the world’s great fight cities,” said Jake Paul, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “My partner Nakisa Bidarian is Canadian and has often spoken about Montreal being one of the greatest cities in the world with its renowned arts, culture and festival scene, amazing food and the beauty of a truly bilingual city. I can’t wait for team MVP and our global fans to experience it all. This event is especially meaningful as Kim Clavel headlines a world title fight in her hometown, alongside MVP and Quebec’s own 2x Olympian and #1 contender Tamm Thibeault. With a stacked card featuring Montreal’s top prospects and MVP’s rising global talent, Saturday, September 27 at Théâtre St-Denis will mark another milestone moment for Canadian boxing and a powerful showcase of women’s boxing on an international stage, live for fans worldwide on DAZN.”

Headlining the preliminary card will be MVP’s 19-year-old multi-talented star Javon “Wanna” Walton (2-0-1, 1 KO). Walton signed with MVP in July 2023 as an athlete under development before making his pro debut in 2024. As the youngest-ever athlete to sign with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Walton has continued to excel as a boxer. Walton began boxing at the age of four, and at age eight became one of America’s youngest amateur prospects, becoming a multi-time Junior Regional Champion and two-time Junior Olympic national silver medalist. The Atlanta native is also a world-renowned actor who captured international attention with his debut role as the beloved drug dealer “Ashtray” in the HBO Max Emmy-winning series Euphoria starring alongside Hollywood icons Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, and has since continued to co-star in numerous other film and TV titles. He trains under his father and coach, DJ Walton.

“Being on the same card as my MVP teammates and local legends like Kim Clavel and Tamm Thibeault is awesome. I spent a lot of time in Canada over the past few years so I’m looking to make a statement in my return to the True North,” said Wanna Walton. “They’ve inspired so many young fighters in Canada, some of which I’ve worked with during my time in Vancouver, and being part of this event in Montreal just pushes me to go even harder for my return. Don’t miss it — I’m coming to make my biggest statement yet on Saturday, September 27.”

Also on the preliminary card will be MVP’s Amanda Galle. Raised in a proud Italian family in Mississauga, Ontario, she began her combat sports journey at six, earning a black belt in karate by 11 before beginning boxing and kickboxing. At 16, she scored a 28-second knockout in her boxing debut and went on to capture three Canadian national titles between 2009 and 2018, persevering through her mother’s battle with breast cancer and her own struggles with depression. Turning professional in 2019, Galle built an undefeated record while balancing her career with family, ultimately delivering the Canadian super bantamweight title to her mother’s hospital bed before her passing in 2022. Galle rebounded with a string of victories, overcoming a broken hand and capturing the IBO bantamweight world championship in December 2023, which she defended successfully in 2024. 

MVP’s 20-year-old undefeated light flyweight Naomy Valle (14-0, 9 KOs), from San Jose, Costa Rica, has established herself as one of boxing’s brightest prospects. In her most recent fight in March 2025, Valle maintained her unbeaten streak and earned her first title honors, becoming the WBC Youth world champion at 108 pounds after defeating Mexican fighter Yelmi Sánchez. Outside the ring, she made history by winning the first season of popular dance show Mira Quién Baila Costa Rica on Teletica, securing 34.91% of the public vote. With her victory, she donated the $15,000 prize to the National Children’s Hospital, Fundación para el Desarrollo del Hospital Nacional de Niños. Beyond that, she is also studying aviation and recently completed her first official flight with pilot Alessandro Serrano from Aero Formación. During her preparation for the fight that earned her the WBC world title, she balanced boxing training with theoretical studies and flight simulations, demonstrating her dedication in both fields.

At 21 years old, Omar Alieh, a Quebec boxer of Lebanese heritage, is already one of Canada’s brightest prospects. An eight-time Golden Gloves champion, he holds 44 amateur wins (17 KOs) and an undefeated professional record of 2-0-0, winning both by knockout. A member of the Canadian national team, he aspires to represent his country at the Olympics and become a world champion.

Born in 2002 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, 23-year-old Loick Lahaie completed a high school sports-study boxing program and boasts a record of 77 amateur bouts (49-28) along with an undefeated professional start at 2-0-0. A Canadian national champion and six-time Quebec champion, he competed internationally with Boxing Canada and now contributes to BoxÉduc, bringing boxing’s values to young people.

Most Valuable Prospects 15 is promoted by GYM and distributed globally by DAZN. The 15th event in the series will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly, TORKLAW, and Event Tickets Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects series.

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

About MVP

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

About DAZN

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

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

Antonio Vargas stopped Winston Guerrero to capture the WBA Interim Bantamweight Title at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

In the first thirty seconds of the fight, Vargas landed a hard left-right combination that sent Guerrero to the floor. In round two, Guerrero evened up the score as he landed a big right hand that put Vargas down for a heavy knockdown.

In round 10, Vargas rocked Guerrero with a right hand. Vargas followed up with a huge flurry that included two more vicious right hands om a prone Guerrero and the fight was stopped at 1:10

Vargas, 117.2 lbs of Kissimmee, FL is now 19-1 with 11 knockouts. Guerrero, 117,8 lbs of Managua, NIC is 22-1.

Wanna Walton Decisions Hanley

Javon “Wanna” Walton won a four-round majority decision over Erik Hanley in a lightweight bout.

Walton, 135 lbs of Atlanta won by scores of 40-36 twice and 38-38 and is now 2-0-1. Hanley, 133 lbs of Oceanside, NY is 1-2.

Danier Pero Stops Burns in 1

Danier Pero stopped Walter Burns in the opening round of their 10-round heavyweight bout.

In the opening minute, Pero landed a huge left that put Burns on his back. The punch opened up a huge cut around the right eye of Burns. Just before the round ended, Pero landed another right that made Burns stumble to the canvas. Upon Burns getting to his feet, the bout was stopped at

Pero, 236.8 lbs of Camguay, CUB is 10-0 with eight knockouts. Burns, 225.8 lbs of Detroit is 8-3.

Tammara Thibeault Wins Pro Debut

Tammara Thibeault won her professional debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Natasha Spence in a middleweight bout.

Thibeault landed 61 of 267 punches. Spence was 14 of 95.

Thibeault, 160 lbs of Quebec, CAN won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 1-0. Spence, 158.6 lbs of Cambridge, CAN is 8-7-2.

Thibeault became the first professional women to make a pro debut in three-minute rounds.

Jocksan Blanco won an eight-round majority decision over Jeovanny Estela in a junior middleweight bout.

Blanco, 153.2 lbs of Caracas, VEN won by scores of 77-75 twice and 76-76 and is now 8-0. Esteala, 153.1 lbs is now 14-2,

Gurgen Hovhannisyan remained undefeated with a hard fought eight-round majority decision over Patrick Mailata in a heavyweight bout.

Hovhannisyan, 275 lbs of Armenia won by scores of 77-75 twice and 76-76 and is now 7-0. Mailata, 309.4 lbs of Chihuahua, MEX is 6-3.

Hendri Cedeno remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Hernandez Ramos in a welterweight bout.

Cedeno, 142 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR won by scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74 and is now 15-0. Ramos, 146.6 lbs of Chihuahua, MEX is 23-6.

NEW YORK, NY – December 13, 2024 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced today that two-time Canadian Olympian and amateur world champion Tammara “Tamm” Thibeault will be the newest signee to MVP’s growing roster of world-class fighters. Thibeault joins MVP just ahead of her highly-anticipated pro debut against fellow Canadian and the #10 WBA-ranked middleweight, Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence (8-6, 6 KOs). Thibeault, a passionate advocate for gender equality in the sport, is making a powerful statement from the opening bell of her professional career as the first female boxer in history to compete in a pro debut under men’s rules—four three-minute rounds—in a middleweight / 160 lbs bout against Spence. The bout will open the main card of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10 on Friday, December 13 in Orlando, FL, available globally as part of the DAZN subscription package, with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter. Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, and fellow Canadian signee Lucas Bahdi will be in attendance to support Thibeault and fellow MVP star Wanna Walton.  



Originally from Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada, Thibeault began her boxing journey at the age of nine, inspired by seeing her father, a former CFL athlete who took up boxing in his offseason, knock out an opponent during a Provincial 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 at the 2012 London Olympics. Since then, the 27-year-old middleweight, a southpaw standing 6 feet tall, has 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. She is now poised to embark on the next chapter of her career, setting a new precedent in the pro ranks as the first female boxer in history to make a pro debut while competing under men’s rules, three-minute rounds, on the main card of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10. 



“I am beyond excited to be part of Most Valuable Promotions,” said Tamm Thibeault. “The moment has come to start a new adventure, and I truly believe that with MVP, I will have the opportunity to bring something great to women’s professional boxing. Amanda Serrano has been an incredible inspiration, championing women’s choice in this sport, and I’m proud to follow her example by competing under men’s rules—with three-minute rounds—against Natasha Spence in my pro debut today. This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to start this amazing journey!” 



“I’m thrilled to welcome another strong female fighter in Tamm Thibeault to the MVP family,” said Amanda Serrano. “Tamm’s impressive accomplishments at the amateur level speak volumes about her talent and potential, and I’m confident she’s destined to become a future superstar. Most importantly, she shares our vision to uplift female fighters and show the world that women deserve recognition, a platform, and equal opportunity in this sport. By stepping into the ring to compete with three-minute rounds in her first pro fight, Tamm is making a bold statement on equality and setting a powerful example for the next generation of women in boxing. Change is coming.”



"Tamm Thibeault has the skills inside and outside the ring to ensure she has a long and successful boxing career," said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. "As a two-time Canadian Olympian and amateur world champion, Tamm has already proven herself as one of the sport's brightest rising stars. Her decision to compete under men’s rules in her professional debut is a groundbreaking moment, and we’re honored to support her as she sets a new standard for what’s possible in women’s boxing. The anticipation for her pro debut on Most Valuable Prospects 10 tonight is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see her continue inspiring athletes worldwide and showcasing her talents in an MVP event in Canada in 2025.



Thibeault joins MVP’s elite roster of superstar athletes and up-and-coming stars including international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul, boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, 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, and top-ranked lightweight “Prince” Lucas Bahdi. 



Founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, MVP aims to give athletes creative control, and aims to identify, grow, and maximize return for its talent partners and events. Together, Paul and Bidarian have architected Jake Paul’s meteoric rise in combat sports. In 2021, MVP signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano, who has since achieved historic milestones, including becoming Puerto Rico’s first-ever undisputed champion and competing in the first unified women’s championship fight contested over 12 three-minute rounds—the men’s championship standard—held in October 2023. Her previous historic clash against Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in 2022 earned recognition as Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year, The Ring’s Event of the Year, and was further nominated for Event of the Year by Sports Business Journal. The event marked a pivotal point in women’s sports history as the first time women have headlined a main event at the world-renowned venue in New York City. 



MVP’s recent collaboration with Netflix broke records with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson mega-event, which is now the most-streamed sporting event ever, peaking at 65 million concurrent streams globally, with 38 million in the U.S. The event drew an average minute audience (AMA) of 108 million live viewers globally, which grew to 125 million (Live+1) over the weekend. Co-headlining the historic card, Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in U.S. history, with an AMA of 47 million viewers domestically and 74 million globally. The event also ranked as the #1 title on Netflix in 78 countries, including the U.S., UK, Brazil, and India, and trended as the #1 topic worldwide on X during the event. Joe Hand Promotions reported that over 1 million viewers watched from 6,000 bars and restaurants in the U.S., breaking commercial distribution records.



For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions, @JakePaul, and @TammThibeault or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions, @JakePaul, and @tammthibeault.

 

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions 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. Since inception MVP has consistently produced the biggest combat sports pay-per-view events. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The company 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which is the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.  

ORLANDO, Fla. – December 12, 2024 – Ahead of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10, rising prospect Antonio Vargas and Winston Guerrero faced off at the public weigh-in for the final time before their showdown for the vacant interim WBA Bantamweight title in the main event. In the co-main event, MVP’s Javon “Wanna” Walton returns to the ring to take on Erik Hanley.

Undefeated Cuban Olympian, Dainier Pero, returns to action against Walter Burns for the vacant WBA Continental USA heavyweight title, and Canadian Olympian and amateur champion Tammara “Tamm” Thibeault makes her professional debut against Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence. 

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The tenth event in the series highlights the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to showcase the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink of MVP and the presenting sponsor of the Most Valuable Prospects series. Most Valuable Prospects is also sponsored by Fansly, Event Ticket Center, Total Wireless and Undisputed. 

See below for official weights and to see what these fighters had to say ahead of tomorrow’s fight night:

MAIN EVENT:  VACANT INTERIM WBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUT  (118 LBS) – 12 Rounds 

Antonio Vargas vs. Winston Guerrero 

Kissimmee, FL Managua, Nicaragua 

18-1 (10 KOs) 22-0 (13 KOs) 

117.2 LBS 117.8 LBS

CO-MAIN EVENT: LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT (135 LBS) – 4 ROUNDS 

Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton vs. Erik Hanley 

Atlanta, GA Rancho Cordova, CA 

1-0-1 (1 KO) 1-1 (1 KO) 

135 LBS 133 LBS

WBA CONTINENTAL USA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE (201+ LBS) – 10 ROUNDS 

Dainier Pero vs. Walter Burns 

Orlando, FL Detroit, MI 

9-0 (7 KOs) 8-2 (6 KOs)

236.8 LBS 225.8 LBS 

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT (160 LBS) 

Tammara Thibeault vs. Natasha Spence 

Shawinigan, CA Cambridge, CA 

Pro Debut 8-6-2 (6 KOs)

160LBS 158.6 LBS 

WBA CONTINENTAL USA SUPER WELTERWEIGHT TITLE BOUT (154LBS) – 8 ROUNDS 

Jeovanny Estela vs. Jocksan Blanco 

Orlando, FL Orlando, FL 

14-1 (5 KOs) 7-0 (4 KOs)

153.6 LBS 153.2 LBS

HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT (201+ LBS) – 8 ROUNDS 

Gurgen Hovhannisyan vs. Patrick Mailata 

Los Angeles, CA Las Vegas 

6-0 (6 KOs) 6-2 (3 KOs)

275 LBS 309.4 LBS 

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT (141 LBS) – 8 ROUNDS 

Hendri Cedeño vs. Luis Hernandez Ramos 

La Romana, DR Chihuahua, MX

14-0 (11 KOs) 23-5 (20 KOs) 

142 LBS 146.2 LBS

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT (164 LBS) – 6 ROUNDS 

Jamar Pemberton vs. Kahlil Mitchell 

Las Vegas Chattanooga, TN 

7-1 (5 KOs) 4-0 (2 KOs) 

162.8 LBS 164 LBS

SUPER WELTERWEIGHT BOUT (155 LBS) – 6 ROUNDS 

Antraveous Ingram vs. Freddy Espinoza 

Kissimmee, FL Chinandega, NI 

8-0 (3 KOs) 10-7 (7 KOs) 

153.2 LBS 156.4 LBS

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT (135 LBS) – 8 ROUNDS 

Fradimil Macayo vs. Oscar Escandon 

Caracas, VE San Jose, CA 

17-1 (13 KOs) 27-8 (18 KOs) 

134.8 LBS 138 LBS

WALKOUT:  WBA CONTINENTAL AMERICAS SUPER WELTERWEIGHT BOUT (154 LBS) – 8 ROUNDS 

Alex Bray vs. Gaston Rios 

Melbourne, FL Buenos Aires, AR 

7-0 (6 KOs) 10-2 (7 KOs) 

154 LBS 151.6 LBS

Antonio Vargas

On how he’s feeling going into the fight and his prediction

“I’m excited. I’m here in my hometown in front of all my friends and family so I’m looking forward to this fight. My prediction is if he comes to fight, it’s going to be a war. I don’t think it’s going to go the distance. My main thing is I’m going to lift up the name that is above every other name and that’s the name of Jesus Christ after I get this victory.”

Winston Guerrero 

On what it means to rep his country of Nicaragua and what will happen

“It’s an honor to be representing my country, I take it very seriously. I’m ready for tomorrow. It’s going to be a war. I’m ready to go and I’m going to be looking for the knockout.”

Javon Walton

Why boxing makes everything work for him and his prediction for tomorrow

“This is my roots right here, this is what I do best, this is what I love, and I can’t wait to prove that Friday night. You are going to see my best and that’s all I’m going to say.”

Erik Hanley 

On how tomorrow’s fight will go down

“You guys are just going to have to watch it. You guys are in for a very-skilled, highly-technical fight. I know he’s coming to fight, I’m prepared for that. Wherever the fight takes me, you’re in for a treat.”

Dainier Pero

On his expectations for tomorrow and overall prediction

“I’m ready to go, it’s another step in the journey and I’m ready to bring my all tomorrow. I’m going to go in with a war-like approach and let the chips fall where they may. I’m going to take care of business tomorrow.”

Tamarra Thibeault

When asked about what it means to make her pro debut and prediction going into tomorrow

“I’m just so excited to be a part of this. I’m part of a great team that endorses women’s boxing and I’m ready to make history. I’m here to be the best that I can be and show the world what women’s boxing is about. I’m just going to show out in the ring, she’ll (Natasha) find out. I’m going to let my boxing speak for itself, she has never been against anyone like me.”

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The tenth event in the series highlights the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to showcase the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Most Valuable Prospects is also sponsored by Fansly and Event Ticket Center. 

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

About MVP:

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP has produced Jake Paul’s last four global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Fury match, which surpassed 800,000 Pay-per-view buys worldwide. 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN:

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

NEW YORK, NY – December 5, 2024 – MVP today announced the remaining undercard bouts for Most Valuable Prospects 10, which will take place on Friday, December 13, at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, available globally as part of the DAZN subscription package with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter. On the main card of Most Valuable Prospects 10, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, the 25-year-old undefeated Cuban Olympian Dainier Pero (9-0, 7 KOs) makes his fourth series appearance vs. Michigan’s Walter Burns (8-2, 6 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight bout for the vacant WBA Continental USA heavyweight title. Also joining the main card will be two-time Canadian Olympian and amateur world champion Tammara “Tamm” Thibeault, who will make her highly-anticipated pro debut against fellow Canadian Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence (8-6, 6 KOs) in a 6-round middleweight bout. Most Valuable Prospects 10 will be headlined by a 12-round bantamweight bout between Kissimmee, Florida’s #1-ranked WBA bantamweight contender Antonio Vargas (18-1, 10 KOs) vs. 24-year-old Nicaraguan sensation and the #9-ranked WBA contender Winston “El Fantasma” Guerrero (22-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant WBA interim bantamweight world title. In the co-main event will be MVP’s youngest signee, 18-year-old boxing prodigy and actor Javon “Wanna” Walton (1-0-1, 1 KO), aiming for his second professional win in the rescheduled 4-round super featherweight bout against professional boxer Erik Hanley (1-1, 1 KO). Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 10 are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. 

Headlining the preliminary card will be an 8-round super welterweight showdown between Orlando, Florida’s own 24-year-old Jeovanny “El Rayo” Estela (14-1, 5 KOs) vs. 29-year-old undefeated Jocksan Blanco (7-0, 4 KOs) for the vacant WBA Continental USA super welterweight title. The Most Valuable Prospects 10 preliminary card will also feature an 8-round super lightweight bout between undefeated Dominican sensation Hendri “La Bazuca” Cedeno (14-0, 11 KOs) vs. Mexican powerhouse Luis “Matador” Hernandez Ramos (23-5, 20 KOs) and an 8-round lightweight bout between Venezuelan standout Fradimil Macayo (17-1, 13 KOs) vs. 2x interim world champion Oscar “El Guerrero” Escandon (27-8, 18 KOs). Also on the card will be a 6-round middleweight showdown between Saint Louis, Missouri’s Jamar “J-Money” Pemberton (7-1, 5 KOs) vs. Chattanooga, Tennessee’s Kahlil Mitchell (4-0, 2 KOs). Alongside them will be the previously announced 8-round heavyweight showdown between undefeated 26-year-old Armenian talent Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Samoan fighter Patrick “Magic” Mailata (6-2, 3 KOs).  

Joining the main card to compete for the vacant WBA Continental USA heavyweight title is Cuban Olympian Dainier Pero (9-0, 7 KOs), the 24-year-old 6’5” talent who will make his fourth appearance on the Most Valuable Prospects series following his current five-bout TKO win streak, including on Most Valuable Prospects 5, 6, and 7 earlier this year and most recently over Willie Jake Jr. in October 2024. Pero comes to the ring from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Camaguey, Cuba. With his formidable size, the heavy-hitter seeks to continue his impressive undefeated streak over 10 rounds against American Walter Burns (8-2, 6 KOs). Hailing from Michigan by way of Indiana, Burns comes to the ring off an impressive first-round TKO victory over Moses Johnson in August 2024 and aims to deliver an exciting and hard-hitting showdown against the undefeated Pero.

Also joining the main card of Most Valuable Prospects 10 will be world-class amateur talent Tammara “Tamm” Thibeault, who will make her highly-anticipated professional debut vs. the seasoned Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence (8-6, 6 KOs) in a 6-round middleweight bout. Thibeault enters the ring with an impressive pedigree–the Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada native is a 2x Olympian who competed at both the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympic games, among other accolades, including taking gold at the 2022 IBA Amateur World Championship, 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the 2023 Pan Am Games. Natasha Spence, a fellow Canadian from Cambridge, Ontario, will look to leverage her power and significant professional experience against Thibeault on Friday, December 13. Spence, the #10 WBA-ranked middleweight, makes her return to MVP events following her recent bouts against Shadasia Green on the undercard of MVP’s Paul vs. Perry and Serrano vs. Morgan in July 2024 and Melinda Watpool in September 2024. 

Headlining the Most Valuable Prospects 10 preliminary card will be a thrilling super welterweight showdown between Orlando Florida’s own Jeovanny “El Rayo” Estela (14-1, 5 KOs) and the undefeated 29-year-old Jocksan Blanco (7-0, 4 KOs) in an 8-round battle for the vacant WBA Continental USA super welterweight title. The 24-year-old Estela, of proud Puerto Rican descent, looks to bounce back from his most recent bout, his first-ever career loss in July 2024, and re-establish himself with a strong showing on Friday, December 13. He will face a sharp, tactical opponent in Blanco, from Caracas, Venezuela, who enters the ring with an unblemished record.

Undefeated Dominican prospect Hendri “La Bazuca” Cedeno (14-0, 11 KOs) will face Mexican fighter Luis “Matador” Hernandez Ramos (23-5, 20 KOs) in an 8-round super lightweight bout on the preliminary card. The 26-year-old Cedeno looks to continue his rise in the division and establish himself as a future contender. Standing in his way is the 28-year-old Ramos, a formidable challenger who has proven that he’s capable of taking on the toughest competition. 

Also on the preliminary card, 32-year-old Fradimil Macayo (17-1, 13 KOs) will face seasoned veteran Oscar “El Guerrero” Escandon (27-8, 18 KOs) in an explosive 8-round lightweight clash of Venezuela vs. Colombia. Macayo, who comes to the ring from Carupano, Venezuela, will showcase his power and knockout potential against Escandon as he aims to continue his rise through the ranks and solidify his place as a top contender. Escandon, a 2x interim world champion, will prove no light challenge, bringing his own wealth of experience and ring savvy to the bout. 

Rounding out the preliminary card additions will be a 6-round middleweight showdown between 21-year-old Saint Louis talent Jamar “J-Money” Pemberton (7-1, 5 KOs) vs. Chattanooga, Tennessee’s 28-year-old Kahlil Mitchell (4-0, 2 KOs). Pemberton, currently boasting a three-bout win streak, will aim to prove his title contender aspirations against an undefeated Mitchell.

“Most Valuable Prospects 10 rounds out an immensely impactful year from MVP, in which we’ve provided a stage to both today’s biggest stars and tomorrow’s upcoming champions. It could not be more fitting that MVP’s final event of 2024 returns to our mission to provide a platform for young and female prospects in this sport,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of MVP. “We are especially excited to feature the professional debut of a standout amateur talent and two-time Olympian in Tamm Thibeault against Natasha Spence in a battle for Canadian dominance and we are proud to welcome back Danier Pero for another heavyweight thriller against Walter Burns. This will be a night of nonstop action featuring the long-awaited return of MVP’s Wanna Walton, an incredible interim world title fight in Vargas vs. Guerrero, and sensational local and international talent from top to bottom on this card. Thank you to Boxlab Promotions, DAZN, and CELSIUS for an incredible second year of partnership with the Most Valuable Prospects series. We look forward to renewing the series in 2025.”

“Caribe Royale is once again thrilled to be working with the team at MVP on this stacked card. Multiple titles will be on the line including what should be a very exciting interim world title bout between Vargas and Guerrero,” said Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions and Managing Director of the Caribe Royale Resort. “Our goal is to continue to bring world class entertainment to Central Florida and partnering with Jake and Nakisa is part of that initiative. It will be a great night of action and coupled with the World Boxing Association convention happening at the same time will make Orlando, Caribe Royale, and Most Valuable Prospects the focus of the boxing world on Friday, December 13th.”

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The tenth event in the series will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2024. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly and Event Ticket Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects as well.

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

About MVP

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

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

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

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) has announced today that “Prince” Lucas Bahdi (18-0, 15 KOs) will be the newest signee to MVP’s growing roster of world-class fighters. Bahdi, MVP’s first Canadian signee, is a top-ranked lightweight by both the IBF and WBA and recently proved himself among the best title contenders in the lightweight division when he scored a knockout-of-the-year contender win over H2O Sylve on the main card of Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry in July 2024. Most recently, Bahdi further cemented his reputation as a rising force in the division by following up his win over Sylve with a decision victory over previously undefeated Armando Casamonica (14-1, 3 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight bout, featured on the undercard of MVP’s historic Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Bahdi, born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has gone undefeated since making his professional debut in mid-2019, winning his first 11 fights by knockout. The 30-year-old top contender had unanimous decision wins against Diego Fabian Eligio and Diego Andrade Chavez in 2022 before resuming his knockout streak. In May 2023, Bahdi defeated Jesus Amparan to claim the IBF North American Lightweight title. 

“Signing with an innovative promoter, who puts fighters first, is one of the goals I’ve been working towards since I turned professional in 2019,” said “Prince” Lucas Bahdi. “I’m thrilled to be joining the Most Valuable Promotions team because I know that Jake Paul’s vision for boxers’ careers inside the ring and outside the ring will take me to where I want to be… a world champion and a star. Fighting on the Paul vs. Tyson undercard was just the beginning. I’m excited to keep showing the world what I’ve got.”

“Lucas Bahdi is an exceptional talent and a relentless competitor who embodies everything MVP stands for—passion, dedication, and doing the unexpected,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “With his impressive knockout power and undefeated record, Lucas has already made waves in the lightweight division, and we’re excited to work with him as he continues his journey toward becoming a world champion and global star. We look forward to Lucas Bahdi headlining an MVP event in Canada in 2025.”

Bahdi joins MVP’s elite roster of superstar athletes and up-and-coming stars including international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul, boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, 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, and India’s most successful professional boxer Neeraj Goyat. 

Founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, with the mission to give athletes creative control, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its talent partners and events. Together, Paul and Bidarian have architected Jake Paul’s meteoric rise in combat sports. In 2021, MVP signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano, who has since achieved historic milestones, including becoming Puerto Rico’s first-ever undisputed champion and competing in the first unified women’s championship fight contested over 12 three-minute rounds—the men’s championship standard—held in October 2023. Her previous historic clash against Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in 2022 earned recognition as Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year, The Ring’s Event of the Year, and was further nominated for Event of the Year by Sports Business Journal. The event marked a pivotal point in women’s sports history as the first time women have headlined a main event at the world-renowned venue in New York City. 

MVP’s recent collaboration with Netflix broke records with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson mega-event, which is now the most-streamed sporting event ever, peaking at 65 million concurrent streams globally, with 38 million in the U.S. The event drew an average minute audience (AMA) of 108 million live viewers globally, which grew to 125 million (Live+1) over the weekend. Co-headlining the historic card, Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 became the most-watched professional women’s sports event in U.S. history, with an AMA of 47 million viewers domestically and 74 million globally. The event also ranked as the #1 title on Netflix in 78 countries, including the U.S., UK, Brazil, and India, and trended as the #1 topic worldwide on X during the event. Joe Hand Promotions reported that over 1 million viewers watched from 6,000 bars and restaurants in the U.S., breaking commercial distribution records.

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

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions 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 four global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Fury match, which surpassed 800,000 Pay-per-view buys worldwide. 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

ORLANDO, FL – November 8, 2024 – Today, MVP announced that MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10 will take place on Friday, December 13, 2024 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, available globally as part of the DAZN subscription package with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter. The main card of Most Valuable Prospects 10, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy and sponsored by Fansly and Event Ticket Center, will be headlined by a 12-round bantamweight bout between Kissimmee, Florida’s #1-ranked WBA bantamweight contender Antonio Vargas (18-1, 10 KOs) vs. 24-year-old Nicaraguan sensation and the #9-ranked WBA contender Winston “El Fantasma” Guerrero (22-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant WBA interim bantamweight world title. Joining the card as the co-main event is MVP’s youngest signee, 18-year-old boxing prodigy and actor Javon “Wanna” Walton (1-0-1, 1 KO), aiming for his second professional win in the rescheduled 4 round super featherweight bout against professional boxer Erik Hanley (1-1, 1 KO). Also on the card will be an 8 round heavyweight showdown between undefeated 26-year-old Armenian talent Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Samoan fighter Patrick “Magic” Mailata (6-2, 3 KOs). 

Proud Puerto Rican and hometown favorite from Kissimmee, Florida, Antonio Vargas (18-1, 10 KOs) is currently ranked #1 worldwide by the WBA. Vargas returns to MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects series following his appearance vs. Hernan Marquez on the historic Serrano vs. Ramos and Most Valuable Prospects 3 card in October 2023. Vargas made a defining start for himself in the pro ranks with his early knockout power following his pro debut in 2017. The 28-year-old fighter most recently defeated Jonathan Rodriguez in February 2024, and now aims to secure his ninth consecutive victory and first interim world title as he faces off against Guerrero in a 12-round men’s interim championship fight on Friday, December 13. His opponent, Winston “El Fantasma” Guerrero (22-0, 13 KOs), a 24-year-old rising star, hails from Managua, Nicaragua. Known for his agility, resilience, and strategic precision, Guerrero has accumulated an impressive undefeated record of 22 wins since turning pro in 2018. He now puts his undefeated record on the line as he fights for his first interim world title.

Joining the Most Valuable Prospects 10 card in the co-main event is Javon “Wanna” Walton (1-0-1, 1 KO). Walton signed with MVP on Friday, December 13th and fought to a split draw in his global debut in MVP’s marquee event in March 2024. As the youngest-ever athlete to sign with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Walton has continued to excel as a boxer. Walton began boxing at the age of four, and at age eight became one of America’s youngest amateur prospects. His skill and hard work earned him the title of multi-time Junior Regional Champion and two-time Junior Olympic national silver medalist. The Atlanta native is also a world-renowned actor who captured international attention with his debut role as the beloved drug dealer “Ashtray” in the HBO Max Emmy-winning series Euphoria starring alongside Hollywood icons Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, and has since continued to co-star in numerous other film and TV titles. He trains under his father and coach, DJ Walton. Walton will face 31-year-old professional boxer Erik Hanley (1-1, 1 KO) in the co-main event of Most Valuable Prospects 10. Hanley, a fierce competitor, comes to the ring from Rancho Cordova, California by way of Oceanside, New York, ready to challenge Walton’s rise to professional stardom. Hanley most recently secured a KO victory in the ring in February 2024. 

“I’m incredibly thankful for the support of my team and fans as I got back to full health and training this past month, and I’m grateful for the chance to get back in the ring on Friday, December 13 after having to reschedule this fight,” said Wanna Walton. “I’ve put in the hard work, and I’m ready to show the world the new and improved Wanna Walton. Thank you to Erik Hanley, MVP, and my team for the commitment to honoring our fight agreement and making this fight happen.”

Also on the Most Valuable Prospects 10 card will be the 8 round heavyweight showdown between undefeated 26-year-old Armenian-American talent Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Samoan Patrick “Magic” Mailata (6-2, 3 KOs). Hovhannisyan looks to send yet another fighter into early retirement following his latest matchup in May 2024 against Luis Pascual, in which Pascual quit on his stool after the second round. Hovhannisyan, the 26-year-old 6’7” talent fighting out of Los Angeles, CA by way of Yerevan, Armenia, burst onto the world amateur scene in 2016, facing off with numerous top amateur fighters. His 2021 bout with Bakhodir Jalolov, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist at super-heavyweight, resulted in a narrow split decision loss. Feeling his power would be a better fit for the professional ranks, Hovhannisyan turned pro later that year. Following an unlucky streak in 2022 where multiple matches fell through at the late stages, Hovhannisyan’s eye-catching knockout of prospect Michael Polite-Coffee in October 2022 made his mark as a serious future title contender. Hovhannisyan is trained by legendary trainer Joe Goosen. His opponent, Patrick Mailata, comes to the ring from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Apia, Samoa. A fellow heavy-hitter with knockout power, the 29-year-old hopeful contender Mailata looks to restore his winning streak following a disappointing split-decision loss against Antonio Mireles in 2023. 

“Our upcoming Most Valuable Prospects 10 card yet again showcases some of the brightest young talent in boxing, ready to prove they belong on the big stage. We can’t wait for fans to see the skill they’ll bring to the ring on Friday, December 13,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of MVP. “We’re thrilled to feature the interim WBA bantamweight world title fight between two standout contenders, Antonio Vargas, who makes his Most Valuable Prospects series return, and the undefeated Winston Guerrero. We also look forward to the return of MVP’s own Wanna Walton, whose talent and dedication have made him a standout in both boxing and acting, as he steps back into the ring to face a strong opponent in Erik Hanley. A big thank you to Boxlab Promotions, DAZN, and CELSIUS for helping us bring another incredible night of boxing to Orlando. We look forward to revealing the rest of this exceptional card soon.”

“Caribe Royale is once again proud to be hosting the next installment of the Most Valuable Prospect Series. This time is special, as the World Boxing Association’s Annual Convention will be held during the event and the card will feature several title fights, which will be announced shortly. None bigger, however, than the Interim World Title Fight for a former American Olympian and Kissimmee resident, Antonio Vargas,” said Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions and Managing Director of the Caribe Royale Resort. “As the premier all-suite hotel in Central Florida, we strive to bring entertainment to not only our guests from around the world, but also the Central Florida community. This is just another example of our approach to being a fabric in the Orlando community. We wish Jake all the best in his upcoming bout on November 15th and are proud to be partners with him, Nakisa, and the entire MVP team. Get your tickets early, as this will be a dynamite night of fights!”

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The tenth event in the series will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2024. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly and Event Ticket Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects series.

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

About MVP

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

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

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

NEW YORK, NY – August 26, 2024 – MVP today announced that 18-year-old boxing prodigy and actor Javon “Wanna” Walton has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled co-main event bout at Most Valuable Prospects 8 due to a medical infection. Walton, who was set to face professional boxer Erik Hanley in a 4-round super featherweight fight, has been declared medically unfit to compete due to the infection. The event, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy and sponsored by Fansly and Event Ticket Center, will still take place on Friday, September 6, at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, and will be available globally as part of the DAZN subscription package with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter.

“Javon’s well-being is our top priority,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of MVP. “While we are disappointed that he will not be able to compete at Most Valuable Prospects 8 on Friday, September 6, we are confident that he will make a full recovery and return to the ring stronger than ever. We appreciate the support from his family, fans, and the boxing community during this time.”

Despite Walton’s withdrawal, the event will still feature a stacked card, headlined by a 10-round super lightweight showdown between Kevin Brown (5-0, 3 KOs) and John Bauza (18-1, 8 KOs) for the WBA Super Lightweight Continental Americas title. The main card will also include Hendri Cedeno (13-0, 10 KOs) vs. Enriko Gogokhia (13-1-2, 8 KOs) in an 8-round super lightweight fight and Yoelvis Gomez (7-1, 6 KOs) in an 8-round middleweight bout. The preliminary card will also feature Bree Howling (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Beata Dudek (4-3, 4 KOs) in an 8-round bantamweight clash. Harley Mederos (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Nikolai Buzolin (9-9-1, 5 KOs) in a 6-round lightweight bout, and Antraveous Ingram (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Cruse Stewart (8-3, 6 KOs) in a 6-round junior middleweight bout.

MVP and Boxlab Promotions are working to identify a suitable replacement fight for the co-main bout on Most Valuable Prospects 8. More details will be announced in the coming days.

Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 8 are still available at Ticketmaster.com.

For further updates, follow us on X via @MostVPromotions and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @DAZNBoxing.

About MVP

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

About DAZN

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

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

NEW YORK, NY – August 20, 2024 – MVP today announced that 18-year-old boxing prodigy and actor Javon “Wanna” Walton (1-0-1, 1 KO) will be facing professional boxer Erik Hanley (1-1, 1 KO) over 4 rounds at super featherweight in the co-main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 8. The event will take place on Friday, September 6 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, available globally as part of the DAZN subscription package with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter. The main card of Most Valuable Prospects 8, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy and sponsored by Fansly and Event Ticket Center, will be headlined by a 10-round super lightweight showdown between Boxlab Promotions’ rising Cuban star Kevin Brown (5-0, 3 KOs) and seasoned Puerto Rican contender John Bauza (18-1, 8 KOs) for the WBA Super Lightweight Continental Americas title. Joining the main card will be 26-year-old Dominican talent Hendri “La Bazuca” Cedeno (13-0, 10 KOs) vs. Enriko “Gudan” Gogokhia (13-1-2, 8 KOs) in an 8 round super lightweight fight. The 26-year-old rising Cuban standout Yoelvis “La Joya” Gomez (7-1, 6 KOs) will also compete in an 8 round middleweight fight on the main card. Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 8 are available now at Ticketmaster.com.

Javon “Wanna” Walton (1-0-1, 1 KO) aims for his second professional win on Friday, September 6. Walton signed with MVP in July 2023 and fought to a split draw in his global debut in MVP’s marquee event in March 2024. As the youngest-ever athlete to sign with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Walton has continued to excel as a boxer. Walton began boxing at the age of four, and at age eight became one of America’s youngest amateur prospects. His skill and hard work earned him the title of multi-time Junior Regional Champion and two-time Junior Olympic national silver medalist. The Atlanta native is also a world-renowned actor who captured international attention with his debut role as the beloved drug dealer “Ashtray” in the HBO Max Emmy-winning series Euphoria starring alongside Hollywood icons Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, and has since continued to co-star in numerous other film and TV titles. He trains under his father and coach, DJ Walton. Walton will now take on 30-year-old professional boxer Erik Hanley (1-1, 1 KO) in the co-main event of Most Valuable Prospects 8. Hanley, a fierce competitor, comes to the ring from Rancho Cordova, California by way of Oceanside, New York, ready to challenge Walton’s rise to professional stardom. Hanley most recently secured a KO victory in the ring in February 2024. 

In an 8-round super lightweight bout on the main card, 26-year-old talent Hendri “La Bazuca” Cedeno (13-0, 10 KOs) will take on Enriko “Gudan” Gogokhia (13-1-2, 8 KOs). Cedeno, from La Romana, Dominican Republic, turned professional in May 2021, collecting an impressive 13 wins in just under three years before joining Team Combat League’s Philly Smoke in April 2024. Cedeno is promoted by Boxlab Promotions and now returns to the professional ranks to take on a true test in Gogokhia. The seasoned Gogokhia, a Georgian-born Ukrainian, began his career in kickboxing in Europe before moving to the United States and taking up boxing in 2016. He fights out of Woodland Hills, California and will look to end Cedeno’s undefeated run at Most Valuable Prospects 8.

Also on the main card will be the 26-year-old rising Cuban standout Yoelvis “La Joya” Gomez (7-1, 6 KOs), who will compete in an 8 round middleweight fight against a to-be-announced opponent. Gomez comes to the ring from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Havana, Cuba following a strong start to his professional career since his professional debut in 2019. A hopeful future title contender, Gomez will seek to demonstrate his knockout power in the ring on Friday, September 6. He is promoted by Boxlab Promotions and Warriors Boxing.

On the preliminary card, top-10 WBA ranked Bree “Bam Bam” Howling (7-0, 2 KOs) will face Hungary’s Beata Dudek (4-3, 4 KOs) in an 8-round bantamweight bout. The 26-year-old Howling comes to the ring from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Following her professional debut in September 2019, Howling has worked up an impressive undefeated 7-0 record, advancing to #8 on the WBA’s world rankings of top female bantamweight talents. Howling is promoted by Boxlab Promotions and Kings Promotions and now aims to continue her undefeated streak on Friday, September 6. She will take on Beata Dudek, the 31-year-old from Miskolc, Hungary by way of Nové Zámky, Slovakia. Dudek steps into the ring on Friday, September 6 ready to leverage her taller 5’7” stature and knockout power against the smaller 5’4” Howling. 

In a 6 round lightweight bout on the preliminary card, 24-year-old Harley “Dennis the Menace” Mederos (6-0, 5 KOs) will take on Russia’s Nikolai Buzolin (9-9-1, 5 KOs). The young talent Mederos comes to the ring from Brooklyn, NY ready to prove he has what it takes to become a title contender. Buzolin, coming to the ring from Brooklyn, NY by way of Tyumen, Russia, will aim to ruin Mederos’s undefeated streak, leveraging his additional professional experience against the younger Mederos. 

Returning to the Most Valuable Prospects series will be local talent Antraveous Ingram (7-0, 2 KOs), who will take on Cruse “Hitman” Stewart (8-3, 6 KOs) over 6 rounds at junior middleweight on the preliminary card. Ingram, the 25-year-old from Kissimmee, Florida, most recently took home a unanimous decision victory over Luis Solis on Most Valuable Prospects 6 in May 2024. His opponent, Stewart, comes to the ring from Maple Grove, Minnesota by way of Rock Island, Illinois. Stewart will make his Most Valuable Prospects debut as he looks to leverage his power and experience to earn his ninth professional win. 

“Most Valuable Prospects 8 on Friday, September 6 marks the highly anticipated return of Wanna Walton” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of MVP. “Wanna will be testing himself against a strong fighter in Erik Hanley in the co-main event as he continues to prove his standout star potential and looks to collect his second professional win. We’re proud to feature an incredible women’s fight between Canadian top-ranked WBA contender Bree Howling vs. a relentless athlete in Beata Dudek. As we continue to develop this series and identify the next big names in boxing, we’re excited to welcome back multiple promising talents to the series, including Kevin Hayler Brown in our main event and Antraveous Ingram on our preliminary card. We appreciate Boxlab Promotions, DAZN and CELSIUS for their continued commitment to bringing this incredible night of boxing to Orlando.”

“Caribe Royale is once again excited to be working with MVP to bring this exciting event to Central Florida,” said Amaury Piedra, Managing Director of Caribe Royale Resort and President of Boxlab Promotions. “From top to bottom, this is a stacked card culminating with the WBA title bout featuring a Cuba vs. Puerto Rico battle. In addition, there are great bouts ranging from female prospects to future stars like Yoelvis Gomez, Wanna Walton, and hot local prospect Antraveous Ingram. Caribe Royale prides itself on bringing world class entertainment to Central Florida both for our guests and locals alike, this is just another step in that direction. It’ll be an action packed evening for local attendees and those watching on DAZN as well!”

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The eighth event in the series will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2024. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly and Event Ticket Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects as well.

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

About MVP

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

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

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

ORLANDO, FL – July 20, 2024 – Today, MVP announced that MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 8 will take place on Friday, September 6 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, available globally as part of the DAZN subscription package with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter. The main card of Most Valuable Prospects 8, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy and sponsored by Fansly and Event Ticket Center, will be headlined by a 10-round super lightweight showdown between rising Cuban star Kevin Brown (5-0, 3 KOs) and seasoned Puerto Rican contender John Bauza (18-1, 8 KOs) for the WBA Super Lightweight Continental Americas title. Joining the card as the co-main event is MVP’s youngest signee, 17-year-old boxing prodigy and actor Javon “Wanna” Walton (1-0-1, 1 KO), aiming for his second professional win.

Kevin Brown (5-0, 3 KOs), the current WBA Continental Champion, is on the fast track to a world title and looks to continue his meteoric rise in the super lightweight division with a landmark victory on September 6. The undefeated prospect from Camaguey, Cuba, now training in Las Vegas, NV under the guidance of world-renowned trainer Ismael Salas, is eager to seize this title opportunity early in his professional career. He is currently ranked #14 in the world by the WBA.

“I’m feeling very grateful for the opportunity to be fighting for the WBA Continental Americas title in only my sixth professional fight,” said Kevin Brown “I’ve trained hard, and I’m going into this fight with full confidence. This is my moment to shine, and I’m ready to bring that belt home.”

John Bauza (18-1, 8 KOs), from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, currently training in North Bergen, NJ, is equally enthusiastic about the title opportunity. Bauza will look to leverage his greater professional experience on Friday, September 6 in Orlando, confident that he will claim the WBA Super Lightweight Continental Americas title fight and progress onwards to even bigger opportunities in the coming months. 

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” said John Bauza. “I want to show the world what I’m made of, and this fight is a huge chance for me to showcase my talent and to continue representing my lovely island, Puerto Rico. We are going to bring the Caribbean fire to the ring.”

Joining the main card as the co-main event is Javon “Wanna” Walton (1-0-1, 1 KO). Walton signed with MVP in July 2023 and fought to a split draw in his global debut in MVP’s marquee event in March 2024. As the youngest-ever athlete to sign with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Walton has continued to excel as a boxer. Walton began boxing at the age of four, and at age eight became one of America’s youngest amateur prospects. His skill and hard work earned him the title of multi-time Junior Regional Champion and two-time Junior Olympic national silver medalist. The Atlanta native is also a world-renowned actor who captured international attention with his debut role as the beloved drug dealer “Ashtray” in the HBO Max Emmy-winning series Euphoria starring alongside Hollywood icons Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, and has since continued to co-star in numerous other film and TV titles. He trains under his father and coach, DJ Walton.

“I’m beyond excited to step back into the ring in the co-main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 8,” said Wanna Walton. “This fight represents a huge opportunity for me to show how much I’ve grown as a boxer in the past six months and to prove that I belong at this level. I can’t wait to give my fans around the world a great show on Friday, September 6.”

“Our upcoming Most Valuable Prospects 8 card will feature some of the top young prospects in the game who are ready to prove they belong on the big stage, and we can’t wait for fans to witness the talent they bring to the ring on Friday, September 6,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of MVP. “Kevin Brown’s rapid rise in the super lightweight division has been incredible, and John Bauza’s experience and determination will make for an exciting matchup in this battle of Cuba vs. Puerto Rico. We’re equally excited to see Wanna Walton, whose talent and dedication have already made him a standout in both boxing and acting, step back into the ring to show the world what he can do. Ultimately, we are looking to grow these top prospects into stars on the biggest stages, as exemplified by Most Valuable Prospects veterans Tony Aguilar and Corey Marksman, who tonight make their pay-per-view debuts on MVP’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry card. Friday, September 6 continues our mission to identify these rising stars. Thank you to Boxlab Promotions, DAZN and CELSIUS for their dedication to bringing another incredible night of boxing to Orlando, and we look forward to unveiling the rest of this exciting card soon.”

“Kevin has been training relentlessly, and we believe he will come out victorious,” stated Amaury Piedra, managing director of Caribe Royale and President of Boxlab Promotions, who co-promotes Kevin Brown with Warriors Boxing. “This is a great chance for him to show how skilled and determined he is in front of a big audience. We can’t wait to see him do an amazing job.”

The Most Valuable Prospects series is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed globally by DAZN. The eighth event in the series will continue the commitment from MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to highlight the world’s best up-and-coming boxing talent. All events within Most Valuable Prospects will take place on Friday nights in 2024. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP and the Most Valuable Prospects series. Fansly and Event Ticket Center have also joined on to sponsor the Most Valuable Prospects as well.

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

About MVP

MVP was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. One year into its inception, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. MVP have produced Jake Paul’s last five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

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

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

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – January 30, 2024 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced international superstar Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) will face professional boxer Ryan “The Rhino” Bourland (17-2, 6 KOs) on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the legendary Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico as Paul continues to face more experienced opponents on the path to becoming a world champion. Paul vs. Bourland, an 8-round cruiserweight fight, will be the co-main event alongside Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) vs. Nina Meinke (18-3, 4 KOs), presented by CELSIUS Live Fit. Essential Energy, which marks Amanda Serrano’s first fight in Puerto Rico since becoming the island’s first undisputed world boxing champion, male or female. Bourland, Paul’s toughest match to date, brings years of experience and success to the ring against Paul in his 20th professional bout with more wins and knockouts than any of Paul’s previous opponents. Serrano vs. Meinke, featuring Paul vs. Bourland, will be offered as part of the DAZN subscription package to ensure it is affordable and accessible to fans worldwide, with Jake Paul also set to donate his full fight purse to his nonprofit, Boxing Bullies, to renovate youth boxing gyms across Puerto Rico. Tickets are now on sale at Ticketera.com.

Paul vs. Bourland will mark Paul’s first entrance into the ring this year following his most impressive performance to date on Friday, December 15, in which he secured a viral, first round knockout of three-time Golden Glove winner Andre August for his ninth professional win. Paul showed tremendous growth as a boxer on his path to becoming a world champion and added another highlight to his already impressive reel. Since turning pro in 2020, Paul has collected multiple accolades for his commitment to the sport of boxing, including ESPNRingside’s 2021 Knockout of the Year, Sports Illustrated’s 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year, ESPNRingside’s 2022 Viral Moment of the Year, and was the cover of Sports Illustrated’s “The 50 Most Influential Figures in Sports” issue, awarded specifically for his groundbreaking work to revolutionize the sport through equitable pay, providing a platform for young fighters, and his support of female boxers. Paul also recently announced a partnership with USA Boxing ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, continuing his mission to elevate the sport and its future champions.

Paul also continued his record-breaking streak in his latest fight by achieving the highest recorded gate for a boxing event in Orlando’s history. Paul vs. August also broke the record for highest average ticket price, matching the average ticket price of Paul’s latest fight vs. Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The upcoming Serrano vs. Meinke and Paul vs. Bourland event is expected to be yet another record-shattering night for Paul, Serrano, and Most Valuable Promotions.

“I’ve always said my goal is to become a world champion. I beat a pro boxer in December in the first round, someone who’s been boxing their entire life, and what did I do next? I went straight back to camp to get ready to face my next opponent, a professional boxer who has twice as many professional fights under his belt than I do,” said Jake Paul. “It’s a new year, it’s an even better me, and I’m facing an even more experienced, seasoned boxer on Saturday, March 2 as co-main to the Puerto Rican GOAT, Amanda Serrano. I’m fighting for experience, not for the money, and to show my love for this beautiful island I’ll be donating my entire fight purse from this event to my nonprofit Boxing Bullies to help renovate gyms across Puerto Rico.”

Ryan “Rhino” Bourland, born June 17, 1988 has a professional boxing record of 17-2-0 (6 KO). He grew up in Vallejo, California where he started learning how to box in the sixth grade. Ryan had over 15 amateur bouts, was a Golden Gloves Champion and fought in the National Junior Olympics. Ryan’s professional boxing record began at age 25. Ryan was recognized as Northern California’s Fighter of the year by Inside The Ropes Boxing in 2016. In 2018 Ryan won the regional light heavyweight GBO title in his fight against Jose Hernandez II. Throughout Ryan’s career he has always given back to the community by coaching boxing to local youth and adults. Ryan was featured sparring in the movie “Pride Jewel” (2022). Bourland comes to the ring vs. Paul off a three-fight winning streak, including his latest bout against Santario Martin, which Bourland ended with a decisive fifth round knockout. Martin previously went the distance with Paul’s last opponent, Andre August. At 17-2 with six KO’s, Bourland has proven his tenacity and skill in the ring. With just two losses in his professional career, Bourland is a determined and steady fighter and is Paul’s toughest opponent to date. 

“Jake Paul steps into the ring with his social media clout, but let’s not mistake followers for experience or skill,” said Ryan Bourland. “While he’s been busy chasing likes, I’ve been honing my craft for years, stepping into the ring and beating real boxers. On Saturday, March 2 I will shock the world and put an end to Jake Paul’s boxing career.”

“Jake Paul has broken record after record and in this fight, he’s once again showing what a tremendous person he is as well,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “Not only is Jake taking on yet another more experienced professional boxer in Ryan Bourland, but he’s also supporting Amanda Serrano as she headlines this historic event at the legendary Coliseo de Puerto Rico, demonstrating his and MVP’s commitment to equality in the sport. I applaud Jake’s continued commitment to giving back to the youth after he announced he is donating his entire purse from this fight to Boxing Bullies so the organization can continue their mission of renovating boxing gyms to give boys and girls a positive environment to learn. The world continues to watch Jake, and he continues to deliver. Thank you to DAZN for working with us to make this event available to fans around the world and to Celsius for their continued support and partnership. Serrano vs. Meinke featuring Paul vs. Bourland is going to be historic and we can’t wait to bring this amazing card to Puerto Rico.”

Also featured on the Serrano vs. Meinke and Paul vs. Bourland card on Saturday, March 2 will be Javon “Wanna” Walton, who will make his highly-anticipated global debut as MVP’s latest signee, WBO junior flyweight world champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14 KOs) vs. fellow Puerto Rican talent Rene Santiago (12-3, 9 KOs), and finally in a battle of Puerto Rico vs. Mexico, the young, super flyweight sensation Kystal Roado (2-0, 1 KO), is set to face 5-0 Gloria Munguilla in the toughest test yet of her career. Rosado’s fight will be 4 x 3:00, following Amanda’s lead of fighting 3 minute rounds. The event marks Amanda Serrano’s first fight in Puerto Rico since becoming undisputed champion, with a sellout crowd expected to honor her as Puerto Rico’s first-ever undisputed world boxing champion, male or female. Serrano will fight for the second time at 12×3, the men’s championship standard, in defense of her unified IBF, WBO, WBA, IBO, and Ring Magazine featherweight world titles. In a true commitment to change for women’s boxing, Serrano recently vacated her WBC title, as the sanctioning body does not support women’s choice for 12×3.

Serrano vs. Meinke is MVP’s latest women’s championship fight as the company works to establish equity across the sport. The bout follows Amanda Serrano’s first-ever 12×3 unified championship fight in October and the Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green vs. Franchón Crews-Dezurn WBC super middleweight and WBA Interim world title bout in December. 

Serrano vs. Meinke will air live globally on DAZN. Spartan Boxing INC. will serve as the official licensed promoter of Serrano vs. Meinke. This event is sponsored by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy. For more information, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @MostVPromotions, and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @JakePaul, @rhino707, @MostValuablePromotions, and @DAZNBoxing.

How to watch DAZN 

• Visit DAZN.com and follow the steps to sign up now
• Once signed up, download the DAZN app to watch on any device
• Go to the app store on your chosen device, search ‘DAZN’ and download the DAZN app  
• DAZN is available on your phone, tablet, smart TV, streaming devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles. 
• Connect multiple devices to your account to watch at home or on the go  

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions 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 five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.? Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.? 

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.? DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.?

?

DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.?

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to a ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.   

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.??

NEW YORK, NY – December 21, 2023 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) will make her long-awaited return to Puerto Rico vs. IBF mandatory challenger Nina Meinke (18-3, 4 KOs) on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the legendary Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, live globally on DAZN. This event, sponsored by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, marks Amanda Serrano’s first fight in Puerto Rico since becoming undisputed champion, with a sellout crowd expected to honor her as Puerto Rico’s first-ever undisputed world boxing champion, male or female. Serrano will fight for the second time at 12×3, the men’s championship standard, in defense of her unified IBF, WBO, WBA, IBO, and Ring Magazine featherweight world titles. In a true commitment to change for women’s boxing, Serrano recently vacated her WBC title, as the sanctioning body does not support women’s choice for 12×3. 

Co-headlining alongside Serrano will be international superstar Jake “The Problem Child” Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) who will continue his path towards becoming cruiserweight world champion in his 10th professional fight fresh off his first-round KO of professional boxer Andre August. Making his highly-anticipated global debut on the Saturday, March 2 card will be MVP’s latest signee, multi-talented featherweight boxer, actor, and model Javon “Wanna” Walton. Also competing on Serrano vs. Meinke will be Serrano’s first two signed Puerto Rican fighters, WBO junior flyweight world champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14 KOs), who will make his third defense of his title, and the young super flyweight sensation Krystal Rosado (2-0, 1 KO). Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, December 27th at 9:00am ET on Ticketera.com. There will be a kickoff press conference on Thursday,  January 18th in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico as part of the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. The press conference will feature all of the star athletes from the event.

Amanda Serrano, the first-ever Puerto Rican undisputed world champion, started her current featherweight title reign by defeating Heather Hardy in a brutal 10-round fight in 2019 to win the WBO belt, and has since defended her WBO belt six times. Serrano offered Hardy redemption in August 2023, but successfully defended her undisputed featherweight world champion title for the first time in a decisive 10 round unanimous decision victory. Serrano also won a blood-soaked war against WBA featherweight champion Erika Cruz in February 2023, which made her the undisputed featherweight champion. Serrano’s decisive win against Cruz followed her previous win over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England that added the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO, WBC, and IBO featherweight belts. Her historic clash against Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in 2022 earned recognition as Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year and The Ring’s Event of the Year and was further nominated for Event of the Year by Sports Business Journal. Most recently, Serrano took home a unanimous decision victory against her mandatory WBO challenger Danila Ramos, making history in the first-ever women’s unified world championship to be fought over 12, three-minute rounds, equal to any men’s championship fight, and marking the first time a women’s fight has gone the full 12×3. Serrano threw a career high of 1103 punches in the bout.

“It is absolutely a dream come true to fight and headline at home at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, and it is my biggest honor to have been the first-ever undisputed champion, male or female, from our beautiful island,” said Amanda Serrano. “I’m excited to prove my greatness and make history again in the ring at the Choliseo over 12, three-minute rounds. Thank you to the IBF, WBO, WBA, IBO, and Ring Magazine, Most Valuable Promotions, and my team for making this possible. A special thank you to Jake Paul, who gave me an opportunity to fight as his co-main many times and allowed me to show my skills to the world. I am honored to have Jake as my co-main for the first time.”

Nina “The Brave” Meinke, the Berlin, Germany native, comes to the ring ready to rise to the challenge Serrano presents and make history as the second-ever women’s unified championship fight set for 12 rounds with three minute rounds. The IBF mandatory featherweight challenger has garnered recognition throughout Europe following a series of interim title fights, most recently claiming the WBA Gold World Featherweight title against Japan’s Kimika Miyoshi in June 2023 and the IBF Inter-Continental Featherweight title against Laura Ledezma in October 2023. 

“My team and I have wanted this fight for a long time,” said Nina Meinke. “Finally we got it and I am happy, well trained and motivated to be the first female boxer from Germany to go the 12 round distance. Amanda Serrano is an outstanding person who has already made such a big change to women’s boxing and the fight for equal rights, so I am more than proud to be a part of that movement. Of course I am going to support it with all my heart and show the world women are just as capable in going 12 rounds at 3 minutes. I will be the best version of myself on this day and I am ready to make it a great fight! And new!” 

Jake Paul makes his triumphant return to the ring on Saturday, March 2nd following his first round KO obliteration of Andre August on December 15th, a jaw dropping right uppercut sure to be a KO of the year contender. Paul’s co-main appearance on Serrano vs. Meinke will continue to showcase Paul’s ongoing journey to become a world champion. Facing his first loss at the hands of Tommy Fury in February by a contentious split decision, Paul found himself back on top in August, defeating Nate Diaz by unanimous decision, before his first-round finish against August. In just three years since turning pro, Paul has collected multiple accolades, including ESPNRingside’s 2021 Knockout of The Year, Sports Illustrated’s 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year, and ESPNRingside’s 2022 Viral Moment of the Year. Paul also earned distinction on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s August 2023 issue, “The 50 Most Influential Figures in Sports,” for his success in the ring, his groundbreaking work to revolutionize pay equality in boxing, and his support of female fighters and boxing prospects through Most Valuable Promotions alongside co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. 

“Fighting for the first time at home in Puerto Rico alongside one of the greatest fighters ever, Amanda Serrano, promises to be the event of a lifetime,” said Jake Paul. “I’m honored to be the co-main event on Amanda’s homecoming card, and I could not be more excited to bring this historic event to Puerto Rico as I continue my path to becoming a world champion. Our latest MVP signee, Wanna Walton, is making his global debut on this card, Bomba Gonzalez and Krystal Rosado are continuing their rise to stardom, and the whole island of Puerto Rico will finally get a chance to properly celebrate the greatness of Amanda Serrano. She is going to sell more tickets in one event than Katie Taylor did in two in Dublin. This is going to be the biggest night of boxing the Choliseo has ever seen and the world will be watching.” 

17-year-old Wanna Walton signed with MVP in July 2023, and has since remained an amateur boxer in development. As the youngest-ever athlete to sign with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Walton has continued to excel as a boxer and now will make his global debut in MVP’s first marquee event of 2024. Walton began boxing at the age of four, and at age eight became one of America’s youngest amateur prospects. His skill and hard work earned him the title of multi-time Junior Regional Champion and two-time Junior Olympic national silver medalist. The Atlanta native is also a world-renowned actor who captured international attention with his debut role as the beloved drug dealer “Ashtray” in the HBO Max Emmy-winning series Euphoria starring alongside Hollywood icons Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, and has since continued to co-star in numerous other film and TV titles. He trains under his father and coach, DJ Walton.

“I’ve been training most of my life for this moment, and it is an honor to make my global debut beside my fellow MVP athletes Amanda Serrano and Jake Paul,” said Wanna Walton. “Nakisa and the whole MVP team have become like a second family to me, and they are incredible mentors who truly believe in my talent. I’m ready to prove them right in the ring on Saturday, March 2 and start my path to greatness and I couldn’t be more excited to do it in Puerto Rico.”

Also starring on the Saturday, March 2 Serrano vs. Meinke card will be two other local Puerto Rican athletes. Amanda Serrano’s first signed fighters, WBO junior flyweight champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez and young sensation Krystal Rosado, will each feature on the main card of Serrano vs. Meinke. The 32-year-old Gonzalez made his professional debut in 2011 following an impressive amateur career in which he collected gold medals at both the 2008 Youth World Championships and the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games at flyweight. Bomba Gonzalez won his first title in just his ninth fight as a professional, and has gone on to hold the WBO junior flyweight title since 2021. Rosado, the young 21-year-old sensation, made her MVP and professional debut at MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects II show in August 2023, stunning fans with a ferocious second-round KO against Tarrethia Dixon. Rosado went on to compete on MVP’s historic Serrano vs. Ramos card in October 2023, earning her decisive second win over Hungary’s Kata Pap.

“First, I want to thank God for this big opportunity. I want to thank my managers, Amanda Serrano and Jordan Maldonado, MVP, and the WBO for giving me this opportunity to defend my title on my island of Puerto Rico,” said Bomba Gonzalez. “This is big. Fighting on this card with Amanda Serrano is going to be a highlight of my career and hopefully, I can continue fighting at home in Puerto Rico.”

“I’m happy and honored to get this opportunity to fight again on the undercard with my manager and PR boxing queen Amanda Serrano,” said Krystal Rosado. “Also being on a card with Jake Paul is incredible, and if that wasn’t enough, it’s in the Choliseo where even most of the greats from my island haven’t fought in. I’m also proud to be on the same card alongside my managerial teammate Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez who will defend his title in a tough fight. This card is one that I wouldn’t have missed if I wasn’t on it. Thank you God, Amanda, and MVP for making this humble up-and-comer’s dream come true. To all my fans, I won’t disappoint!”

“It is an honor for Jake and I to work with Amanda on her historic return to Puerto Rico. While she fought in San Juan during the pandemic, this event on Saturday, March 2nd will be her true homecoming. A massive event for a massive Puerto Rican icon,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “The magnitude of this event is such that Jake Paul demanded he be the co-main to Amanda for the first time, which reflects the starpower and legacy of Amanda Serrano in boxing and in Puerto Rico. We are also thrilled to bring Wanna Walton to the stage for his MVP global debut, and are certain he’s going to put on an incredible show and prove that he is one of the most talented future superstars of this sport. With Bomba and Krystal on this card, too, we’ll be featuring some of the most exciting talent from start to finish on this unforgettable night of boxing from San Juan to the world. This will undoubtedly be the most viewed Puerto Rican boxing event in history.”

“We are thrilled to be broadcasting this unmissable double-header on DAZN in March 2024,” said Alfie Sharman, VP DAZN. “Amanda Serrano and Jake Paul are two of the biggest names in boxing, and to have them join our already stacked new year schedule once again highlights DAZN as the global home of boxing. Watch these excellent matchups exclusively live only on DAZN.”

Serrano vs. Meinke marks the latest in MVP’s series of significant women’s championship fights as the company works to establish equity across the sport. The event follows Amanda Serrano’s first-ever 12×3 unified championship fight vs. challenger Danila Ramos in October and the Paul vs. August special championship feature of MVP’s Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green vs. Franchón Crews-Dezurn for the WBC and WBA super middleweight world titles. Spartan Boxing INC. will serve as the official licensed promoter of Serrano vs. Meinke. 

For more information, follow on Twitter via @Serranosisters, @JakePaul, @MostVPromotions, and @DAZNBoxing or on Instagram via @serranosisters, @JakePaul, @MostValuablePromotions, and @DAZNBoxing.

How to watch DAZN 

• Visit DAZN.com and follow the steps to sign up now
• Once signed up, download the DAZN app to watch on any device
• Go to the app store on your chosen device, search ‘DAZN’ and download the DAZN app  
• DAZN is available on your phone, tablet, smart TV, streaming devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles. 
• Connect multiple devices to your account to watch at home or on the go  

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions 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 five global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Diaz 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

About DAZN

DAZN is a leading digital sports platform in Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Japan, Canada, US and the UK.? Its wide range of exclusive content includes top-flight football from the world’s most popular competitions – Bundesliga, English Premier League, J.League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions League, in addition to the biggest sports from around the world – Formula 1, NFL, NBA, MotoGP and the UFC.? 

DAZN is the NFL’s global partner and, from the 2023 season, will be the only place for fans around the world to watch every NFL match through the NFL Game Pass International add-on subscription. DAZN is a global home for boxing and combat sports through its partnerships with Matchroom Boxing the Professional Fighters League, and a global home for Women’s Football with UEFA Women’s Champions League and Finetwork Liga F.? DAZN is adding more and more sport to its platform to create a destination for sports fans.?

?

DAZN is reimagining the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, bet, play, share, socialize, and buy tickets, NFTs and merchandise. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN.?

DAZN is available on most connected devices including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles, ensuring that fans have access to a ground-breaking rights catalog and slate of incredible content. In the UK and globally, DAZN can be accessed on Samsung, LG, Sony and Panasonic Smart TVs and on Games Consoles including PlayStation and Xbox. Subscribers also have access to DAZN on their Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV and can find the app on their iPhone, iPad, and android mobile devices. DAZN is available as an Amazon Channel on Amazon Prime TV and can be viewed on Channel 429 on Sky in the UK and Ireland.   

DAZN is a global, privately-owned company with employees in over 25 countries. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit?www.dazngroup.com.??

NEW YORK, NY – July 24, 2023 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced it has signed Javon “Wanna” Walton, boxing prodigy and actor best known for his role as “Ashtray” on the Emmy-winning series Euphoria. Fighting at 125 pounds, Walton has over 80 amateur bouts under his belt, which include wins in multiple junior amateur tournaments and five Georgia state titles. MVP, founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021, will utilize Bidarian’s media, sports and finance acumen to advise Walton on brand building, content creation, and marketing of events along with Paul’s viral content creation and marketing genius. MVP will advise him as he finishes out the remainder of his amateur career and prepares to make his professional debut in 2024. Walton will make his first MVP appearance as a participant in the open workouts on Wednesday, August 2nd, in Dallas, TX, as part of the Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz fight week.

“I’ve been training so hard and working for the majority of my life for this moment. MVP feels like family and that’s very important to me. I know they can help me reach my goals in professional boxing and do it in a way that feels special to me.” said, Walton.

Walton, who turned 17 two days ago, will remain an amateur boxer in development with MVP, and will join MVP’s elite roster of superstar athletes and up-and-coming stars including Jake Paul, undisputed Featherweight World Champion Amanda Serrano, prolific top boxing prospect Ashton Sylve, and power-puncher Shadasia Green. As the youngest-ever athlete to sign with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Walton will continue to excel as a boxer and compete in MVP’s future marquee events and Most Valuable Prospects showcase series. He will continue training under his father and coach, DJ Walton.

Walton got his start at the age of four when he became one of America’s youngest amateur prospects. His skill and hard work earned him the title of multi-time Junior Regional Champion and two-time Junior Olympic national silver medalist. In addition to his boxing chops, Walton was also a USA Gymnastics-ranked elite rising star and was named to their exclusive Future Star program at age eight, one of only seven in the southeast. Walton continued on to compete at the elite level in trampoline and floor tumbling (TNT), finishing with top three in the nation with a silver medal in all-round in 2016. Walton is the first and only athlete in the state of Georgia to hold the youth gymnastics all-around and USA Boxing/Silver Gloves boxing champion state titles simultaneously. 

The Atlanta native is also a world-renowned actor who captured international attention with his debut role as the beloved drug dealer “Ashtray” in the HBO Max Emmy-winning series Euphoria starring alongside Hollywood icons Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney. Walton’s credits also include roles in Season 3 of Netflix’s Umbrella Academy, the Amazon Prime Video series Utopia, MGM’s SAMARITAN, where he starred opposite Sylvester Stallone, and BRON Studios and MGM’s animated comedy The Addams Family 2, where he made his voice acting debut as Pugsley Addams. Walton will also star in Hulu’s upcoming true-crime mini-series release, Under the Bridge, where he plays a main character alongside Riley Keough. 

Walton has garnered an impressive social audience of over 13 million followers across his platforms and has become one of the most marketable names for premiere athletic and consumer brands. At only eight years old, he was the youngest athlete identified by Under Armour and became one of seven athletes to be crowned ‘NEXT,’ Under Armour’s youth athlete elite development program. Walton was also featured in the advertising campaign for the Muhammed Ali Collection in 2018 and was prominently highlighted in UA’s Will Finds A Way campaign alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. 

“We see this as an incredible opportunity to make a big impact on Wanna’s entrance into professional boxing. The way Nakisa and Jake have been able to disrupt the boxing promotion business in such a considerably short period of time is inspiring. We’re honored to be MVP’s youngest signee.” Said Walton’s coach and father, DJ Walton

In addition to acting, Wanna has attracted the attention of major brands like Essentia Water and PSD Underwear. Drake’s OVO then tapped Walton to model another of their collaborations with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Additional brand partnerships for the young star include collaborations with Gap and Venmo, as the face of its new teen card. 

“Wanna Walton is uniquely positioned to become the face of combat sports over the next decade. With an unmatched blend of skills and pedigree, strong values, and a large highly engaged fan base before turning pro, he embodies a true superstar in the making,” said MVP co-founders Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul. “We’re honored to welcome Wanna into our family of exceptional athletes and under MVP, he will be headlining global pay-per-view events in no time. MVP is leading a new era of boxing and Wanna is the future. We can’t wait to see his greatness unfold.”

Founded with the mission to give athletes creative control, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its talent partners and events. As one of the most successful and iconic creators in the world, Paul has one of the largest followings on YouTube, with over 70 million followers across his digital platforms – creating an invaluable built-in marketing system that coordinates with his efforts in the ring. His co-founder, the former CFO of UFC, former CEO and Co-Founder of Fertitta Capital and founder of BAVAFA Sports, Bidarian, has demonstrated a deep understanding of corporate finance, content creation and operational strategy working together to build successful businesses. 

Together, Paul and Bidarian have architected Jake Paul’s meteoric rise in combat sports. In 2021, MVP signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano and since signing with the company, she has become Undisputed Featherweight Champion. Her historic clash against Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in 2022 earned recognition as Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year, The Ring’s Event of the Year and was further nominated for Event of the Year by Sports Business Journal. The event marked a pivotal point in women’s sports history as the first-time women have headlined a main event at the world-renowned venue in New York City. MVP’s other signees include the prolific undefeated young boxing prospect Ashton “H20” Sylve and one of boxing’s most powerful female punchers, Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green.

For more information, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul @MostVPromotions and @OnwardWanna, or on Instagram via @JakePaul, @MostValuablePromotions, and @OnwardWanna.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions 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 four global pay-per-view events, including the recent Paul vs. Fury match, which surpassed 800,000 Pay-per-view buys worldwide. 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, recently earning a nomination for Event of The Year by Sports Business Journal. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.