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.

 

TAMPA, FL – July 18, 2024 – MVP’s Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) and the King of Violence, “Platinum” Mike Perry came face to face for the first time at a press conference held at the Amalie Arena ahead of their bout this Saturday, July 20. Paul vs. Perry, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, is set for an eight-round cruiserweight bout and will be shown live globally on DAZN pay-per-view from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

In the highly anticipated co-main event, boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) will face top-10 ranked IBF, WBO, and WBA talent and KO artist, Stevie “Sledgehammer” Morgan (14-1, 13 KOs) in a 10×2 super lightweight fight. Amanda will test her power and endurance at super lightweight ahead of her clash with Katie Taylor later this year.

MVP’s undefeated phenom and top lightweight prospect H2O Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs) will put his undefeated record on the line yet again against top IBF and WBA ranked prospect Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (16-0, 14 KOs) in a 10 round lightweight bout. Also on the card, Mexican cruiserweight and former WBC world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.  (53-6-1, 34 KOs) returns against Uriah Hall (1-0 Boxing, 18-11, 14 KOs UFC) at cruiserweight and Crescent City, Florida’s Tony Aguilar (12-0-1, 4 KOs) vs. Orlando, Florida’s Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (9-0-1, 7 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight bout, a rematch of their split draw in February 2024 on Most Valuable Prospects 5.

In today’s press conference hosted by renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, Paul, Perry, Serrano, Morgan, Sylve, Bahdi, Chavez Jr., Hall, Aguilar and Marksmen had plenty to say about the upcoming event:

JAKE PAUL QUOTES:

On whether he watched any footage of Perry: He had a boxing match in a triangle that I gained a lot of knowledge from. Lot of openings. It’s gonna be a short night Ariel.

On what he has to look out for in Perry’s skillset: The skills is what pay the bills. And he has no footwork, no head movement, no defense. He’s a great offensive fighter and bare knuckle, but in terms of boxing, he’s going to get picked apart very quickly, and it’s going to be a short night. Like I said, my predictions are never wrong, so I stand on business every single time I manifested into reality. I Jake Joseph Paul will knock out Mike Perry in less than two rounds. It’s going to happen, put money on it.

On what the rationale was to take the fight and the difference between Tyson and Perry: To stay getting experience under the bright lights on my world, on my path to World Championship. And that’s what matters, is getting the experience under the bright lights. And this is a Mike appetizer. Mike warm up, but they’re both killers at the end of the day, and I do have to be sharp. He does have one punch knockout power that I do have to respect. But other than that, it’s going to be easy.

On Conor McGregor telling press that Perry was fighting a ‘dweeb’ in Jake Paul: Well, first of all, he’s big up in BKFC, but you’re going to see what I’m going to do to their best fighter on Saturday night. I’m going to embarrass their entire league. This guy has no skill; those are just brawler idiot street fighter dudes who have no idea what the sweet science is. Conor McGregor can say what he wants, but he won’t fight me either. Once I knock out Mike Perry, Conor McGregor, let’s run it. But you won’t do it because you know what’s going to happen. You saw what I did to Nate Diaz, who you went toe-to-toe with. Conor McGregor, lay off the cocaine, get in the gym, and start winning fights. Then maybe we could have a conversation.

On why he chose to take a dangerous fight despite Mike Tyson’s concerns: This is what I do. I’m here to fight. I love to take risks and do big events. Mike Tyson called and was concerned about this fight jeopardizing the biggest fight of my career. That’s what puts the pressure on me, and I love that. I’m not slowing down for anybody. Mike Perry is not going to be the one to stop me. I’m on a path to World Championship. I’m not slowing down for anybody.

On what his biggest concern with the fight is: He’s unorthodox. That’s about it. So the first 30 seconds to a minute, just find my timing in range. That’s then the fight’s over. That’s really about it.

On whether he’ll fight Perry in MMA: Yes, let’s go after this. After I knock him out on Saturday, let’s sign the contract for some MMA. I’ll choke you out too.

On the decision to choose Perry as the opponent: This came about because he has a crazy fan base. And anytime I would post an Instagram picture over the last like 18 months, one of the top comments would always be fight Mike Perry. Fight. Mike Perry, you’re scared of Mike Perry, and so I love to prove people wrong and take the fights that no one thinks I’m going to take.

On how his skill has improved: This past year has been a different Jake Paul showing up into the gym, learning in the gym, and I really haven’t been able to display my skills because of the first round knockouts, and likely that’ll happen again on Saturday, but I really have so many tools in the shed that I’m ready to pull out and get warmed up as the rounds go on, and just display all the new things we’ve Been working on.

On coming back to Tampa:  There’s magic in this place. I love fighting in Florida and Tampa. The energy when I knocked out Woodley was amazing, one of the best moments of my life. I wanted to come back for another highlight reel KO.

Mike Perry Quotes:

On whether he has to get the win for not only himself but for the MMA community: I’m doing it for everybody, for me, for the fans, for BKFC, for MMA, you know, just mainly for me, because I believe in myself and my boxing ability. I’m a brawling boxing mug, so I’m ready to get in the ring with Jake and have some fun.

On how he has evolved since his last professional fight: I’ve been winning since then. There’s all I know. I’ve been victorious. I’ve been succeeding consistently, and I’ve been getting better every single day. Put this little twerp in his place. He’s new to this game. Welcome. Welcome. You just got here.

In response to Paul saying Perry has no boxing experience: Don’t worry, you’re going to get what you’ve been asking for, the fight to go longer than one round. Imma give you hell in the first round, and you’ll get tired. You’re going to be grasping for air. I made a new word, grasping.

On what makes him different from Diaz and other MMA fighters who Paul has fought: This is my chance to show the world what a real fighter can do in boxing. Those other guys were long past their prime.

Amanda Serrano Quotes:

On the trash talk from Stevie Morgan: Listen, I don’t pay attention to that. That doesn’t win fights, that doesn’t pay my bills. I go out, I train hard, I fight hard, and you’ll see Saturday night.

On if she is looking past Morgan with the Katie Taylor fight coming up: This is my 50th fight and I’ve never overlooked an opponent.

Stevie Morgan Quotes:

On her previous comment that Serrano is the weakest of the fighters at the top: I’m not being disrespectful at all, I’m just stating facts. If I had to fight any of the fighters at the top, Amanda is the one I’d choose mainly because she’ll make me look good… she’s on her way out, she could have retired two years ago.

On if Amanda is overlooking her for Katie Taylor: I don’t think she looks past any opponent, but she shouldn’t be for sure. One thing for sure, I am a professional, been in this game for 15 years, this is my 50th fight, and I never overlooked any opponent.

Lucas Bahdi Quotes:

On what it was like to get the call asking to be on the card: I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this, a big opportunity, a big stage. This is obviously my toughest fight, his toughest fight by two undefeated fighters. It’s gonna be a great fight.

H2O Sylve Quotes:

On what his assessment of Bahdi is: From what I saw in very fundamentally sound, he has a real right hand. I think that’s the best attribute on this side.

Tony Aguilar Quotes:

On the previous split decision ruling in his first match with Marksman and if it would have been different were he in better shape: It wouldn’t have been even close enough, and then even tried to call it a draw, you know, I mean, but Saturday, we will right that wrong, like they said, you know, because it was the wrong decision. But we will make sure they know on Saturday.

Corey Marksman Quotes:

On what he learned from the split decision between him and Aguilar: I’d say, don’t take anything for granted. You know, you might think that you’re in the lead, you might think that you’re winning the fight, but at the end of the day, the judges are the ones that decide that. So you gotta really go out there and take what’s yours.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Quotes:

On his motivation to come back after a three-year break: To be back in boxing is great for me. I’m ready to put on a performance on Saturday.

On whether this is a one-off or a comeback: This is definitely a comeback.

Uriah Hall Quotes:

On his decision to come back after a two-year hiatus As an athlete, as a warrior, you still have those tendencies. And time to time, I get a little bored… so when this came up, I got excited.

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, 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.

About Vinik Sports Group/Tampa Bay Lightning/AMALIE Arena:

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning (2004, 2020, 2021) of the National Hockey League and the leasehold rights to AMALIE Arena, the 19,092-seat home in which the team plays its games, were purchased by Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, an entity established by Chairman and Governor Jeff Vinik, in March of 2010. Since that time, the Lightning and the arena have undergone a complete brand and business transformation, featuring a $100 million dollar renovation of the publicly owned facility as well as back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2020 and 2021. AMALIE Arena serves as the centerpiece of the vibrant Water Street district of downtown Tampa, a development spearheaded by Vinik, in a partnership with Strategic Property Partners. In February of 2020, the organization announced the creation of Vinik Sports Group, which now serves as the parent company of the Lightning, AMALIE Arena and other sports and entertainment assets, including management of the Yuengling Center on the campus of the University of South Florida, as well as multi-media rights for USF Athletics. AMALIE Arena hosts over 200 events per year with over 2 million guests walking through the doors, while Yuengling Center hosts over 250 events per year with over 1 million guests. Both have the mission to provide world-class entertainment for sports fans and music enthusiasts alike. 

NEW YORK, NY – June 27, 2024 – Today, MVP unveiled six additional bouts for “Fear No Man”, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry and Amanda Serrano vs. Stevie Morgan marquee event on Saturday, July 20 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, live globally on DAZN pay-per-view. On the pay-per-view card, MVP’s young phenom H2O Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs) will face top IBF and WBA-ranked Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (16-0, 14 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight battle of two of boxing’s top undefeated title contenders as the pair continue breaking the mold by putting their unmarred records on the line early in their careers. The “Fear No Man” pay-per-view card, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential energy, will also feature the return of Mexican cruiserweight and former WBC world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (53-6-1, 34 KOs) vs. MMA star Uriah Hall (1-0 Boxing, 18-11, 14 KOs UFC). Sylve vs. Bhadi and Chavez Jr. vs. Hall round out the five-fight Paul vs. Perry pay-per-view which includes Serrano vs. Morgan and Aguilar vs. Marksman. Leading into the Paul vs. Perry pay-per-view will be MVP’s super middleweight powerhouse Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (13-1, 11 KOs) as Green makes her first appearance of 2024 against Canada’s Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence (8-4-2, 6 KOs) in an 8 round super middleweight bout. Young talent Angel Barrientes (11-1, 7 KOs) will face Puerto Rico’s Edwin Rodriguez (12-8-2, 5 KOs) over 6 rounds at super bantamweight. Also on the card will be Amanda Serrano’s latest signee, 23-year-old Puerto Rican standout, 3x US amateur national champion, and high fashion model Alexis “Chop Chop” Chaparro (1-0, 1 KO), who thrilled in his professional debut in April 2024 and now will take on Kevin Hill (1-1, 1 KO) in a 4 round middleweight bout. Rounding out the card, Tampa boxer Ariel “The Golden Hulk” Perez (3-0, 2 KOs) will take on Dane Guerrero (0-0-1) in a 4 round light heavyweight fight. 

H2O Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs), MVP’s undefeated 20-year-old phenom from Long Beach, California, returns to the ring following his 10-round bout against Brazil’s Estivan Falcao on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects V in February 2024. Sylve, ESPN Ringside’s 2022 Prospect of the Year, will look to test himself against a more experienced, fellow contender in Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (16-0, 14 KOs) live globally on the pay-per-view card of “Fear No Man”, as he sets his eyes on becoming a title contender in the near future. Sylve signed with MVP in 2022 and has been training in boxing since age 6 under his father Ivan.

“I’ve been training hard for a fight on Saturday, July 20, and I’m thrilled to still be able to get in the ring as originally planned,’” said H2O Sylve. “My opponent may have changed, but the result will be the same: I will get the W and continue my path to greatness. It’s an honor to be fighting alongside my MVP teammates another time on this electrifying fight card, and I can’t wait for fans in Tampa to see me take care of business on Saturday, July 20, live on DAZN pay-per-view.”

Canadian boxer Lucas “Prince” Bahdi (16-0, 14 KOs) comes to the ring by way of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The 30-year-old top contender has collected a nonstop string of wins since making his professional debut in mid-2019, winning his first 11 fights by knockout. He fought to 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. Bahdi is a top ranked lightweight by both the IBF and WBA. 

“I’m excited for the opportunity to showcase my skills on the undercard of a Jake Paul fight,” said Lucas Bahdi. “This is the type of platform where I belong. July 20 will be my coming out party in the United States and H2O Sylve better be ready for what’s coming.”

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (53-6-1, 34 KOs) returns to the ring to take on UFC star Uriah Hall, who knocked out Chavez Jr.’s former opponent, Anderson Silva. The pair will face off over 6 rounds, contested at cruiserweight. Chavez Jr., the Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico native and son of former three-division world boxing champion Julio César Chávez, “El Gran Campeón Mexicano,” the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. Chavez Jr. went undefeated in his first 47 fights and became the WBC middleweight world champion in 2011, before being defeated by Sergio Martinez in his fourth title defense. Chavez Jr. last fought in his hometown of Culiacan with a UD win over David Zegarra.

“I’m excited to return to the ring still on Saturday, July 20, and I’m ready to reestablish myself as one of the best in this sport,” said Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. “I was the first Mexican middleweight champion in history and I’m ready to prove that I have it in me to become a champion again at cruiserweight. My return to the ring alongside these phenomenal fighters is an honor, and I plan to win by knockout.”

Uriah Hall (1-0 Boxing, 18-11, 14 KOs UFC) moved from Jamaica to Queens, New York as a child, and began training in MMA at age 16. He first made a name for himself on Bellator, and Ring of Combat, when he won the ROC championship. He went on to take second on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen card, before making his debut in the middleweight division of the UFC in 2013, where he secured a record of 18 wins, 14 by KO, including a TKO of Anderson Silva in 2020. Hall retired from the UFC in 2022 in order to make his cruiserweight professional boxing debut against Le’Veon Bell on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva. Hall earned a unanimous decision win in the bout over the NFL running back-turned-boxer. 

“I’m excited to get back to competing in the boxing ring on Saturday, July, 20,” said Uriah Hall. “I’m ready to challenge myself against a well known boxer and former world champion in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.” 

Joining the “Fear No Man” undercard will be MVP’s super middleweight powerhouse Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (13-1, 11 KOs), making her first appearance of 2024 in the ring. Green, the former standout college basketball star and Team USA boxing silver medalist, boasts an impressive 13-1 record with 11 KO’s and joined MVP in January 2023 after a trailblazing few years in the sport. Shortly after, Green defeated the former unified world champion Elin Cederroos with a vicious sixth round TKO, marking the first and only time Cederroos was ever stopped in her career. Green’s bout against Olivia Curry in August led to a resounding unanimous decision victory as part of the Paul-Diaz undercard. Green raised to #1 ranking in the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF ahead of her latest 10-round women’s championship bout against former undisputed and now-WBC super middleweight champion Franchon-Crews Dezurn for the WBC world and WBA Interim titles. The bout resulted in a disappointing decision loss for Green, and she now returns to the ring to prove her path back to title contender. The Paterson, NJ native will now face Canadian boxer Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence (8-4-2, 6 KOs) on the undercard of Paul vs. Perry and Serrano vs. Morgan on Saturday, July 20. Spence, the 39-year-old experienced fighter from Cambridge, Ontario, will aim to prove her own title aspirations in the ring against Green.

“I faced a disappointing loss, but I’ve taken the time to reflect, learn, and get back to training these past few months, and I’m going to be a brand-new fighter when I step into the ring at Amalie Arena on Saturday, July 20,” said Shadasia Green. “While I’m still working to win a world title, my only focus right now is on knocking out Natasha Spence. Thank you to MVP and my team for their support, and I’m grateful to be fighting alongside Jake, Amanda, and H2O again on this card. I’m going to remind the world that Shadasia Green is their future super middleweight champion.” 

“Fear No Man promises an unforgettable night of challenges for every fighter on the card,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “We’re thrilled to announce that H2O Sylve will return to face a dangerous unbeaten title contender, both putting their undefeated records on the line. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will bring his storied Mexican boxing legacy to the ring against Uriah Hall after Hall’s decisive win over Le’Veon Bell at MVP’s Paul vs. Silva in 2022. Shadasia Green returns to pursue her championship aspirations hungrier than ever. Additionally, we look forward to showcasing rising stars and local talents, including Alexis Chaparro, the latest protege of Amanda Serrano. It promises to be an electrifying night of boxing at Amalie Arena in Tampa, available exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view.”

In another thrilling undercard matchup Angel Barrientes (11-1, 7 KOs) will face Edwin Rodriguez (12-8-2, 5 KOs) over 6 rounds at super bantamweight. The 21-year-old Barrientes comes to the ring from Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Honolulu, Hawaii. Barrientes most recently secured a decisive first-round knockout against Ernesto Sebastian Franzolini in late May 2024, building his current win streak to 8 fights. Barrientes now looks to add Rodriguez to his slate of wins. Rodriguez, a native of Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, has been boxing since age six. In his years as an amateur boxer, Rodriguez was a standout in the Puerto Rican boxing scene, facing notable boxers including Emmanuel “Manny” Rodríguez, Oscar Valdez, Alberto Machado, Jonathan “Bomba” González, and Angel “Tito” Acosta, among others. He accumulated a record of 201 wins and just 25 losses, taking home a silver medal at the Junior Olympics in Quito, Ecuador, and made the second team of the Puerto Rico National Amateur Boxing Team. Rodríguez made his professional debut in 2012, and has since fought 22 times. He trains with the Galarza family at the Los Galarza gym in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, considered to be a testing ground for rising prospects.

Amanda Serrano’s newest signee, Alexis “Chop Chop” Chaparro (1-0, 1 KO) most recently took home a first-round KO win over Daniel Augare in his pro debut on Most Valuable Prospects 6 in April 2024. The 23-year-old Chaparro, born in Puerto Rico and raised in Ridgewood, New York, is a three-time national boxing champion who competed at both the 2020 and 2024 USA Boxing Olympic trials. The gifted athlete is also a high fashion model, having worked for Versace, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, and Polo Ralph Lauren, among others. Chaparro joins Serrano’s growing roster of Puerto Rican talents including the young undefeated sensation Krystal Rosado (3-0, 1 KO). Chaparro will now face Kevin Hill (1-1, 1 KO) in a four round middleweight bout on the Paul vs. Perry and Serrano vs. Morgan undercard. Hill, the more experienced 35-year-old fighter, comes to the ring from St. Louis, Missouri ready to challenge Chaparro’s speed and skill on Saturday, July 20.

Another Tampa local, Ariel “Golden Hulk” Perez (3-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring following his crowd-raising performance on Most Valuable Prospects 6 in April 2024, set to take on Dane Guerrero (0-0-1) at light heavyweight. Perez dominated in his latest bout against Steven Motley in April, sending Motley staggering multiple times before locking in a stoppage victory in the fourth round. Guerrero, fighting out of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, now looks to add his first professional victory to his record after securing a draw in his professional debut in 2023.

Paul vs. Perry and Serrano vs. Morgan: “Fear No Man” is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed by DAZN pay-per–view. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP. Additional information will be announced in the coming weeks. 

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.

About Vinik Sports Group/Tampa Bay Lightning/AMALIE Arena:

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning (2004, 2020, 2021) of the National Hockey League and the leasehold rights to AMALIE Arena, the 19,092-seat home in which the team plays its games, were purchased by Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, an entity established by Chairman and Governor Jeff Vinik, in March of 2010. Since that time, the Lightning and the arena have undergone a complete brand and business transformation, featuring a $100 million dollar renovation of the publicly owned facility as well as back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2020 and 2021. AMALIE Arena serves as the centerpiece of the vibrant Water Street district of downtown Tampa, a development spearheaded by Vinik, in a partnership with Strategic Property Partners. In February of 2020, the organization announced the creation of Vinik Sports Group, which now serves as the parent company of the Lightning, AMALIE Arena and other sports and entertainment assets, including management of the Yuengling Center on the campus of the University of South Florida, as well as multi-media rights for USF Athletics. AMALIE Arena hosts over 200 events per year with over 2 million guests walking through the doors, while Yuengling Center hosts over 250 events per year with over 1 million guests. Both have the mission to provide world-class entertainment for sports fans and music enthusiasts alike. 

NEW YORK, NY – June 18, 2024 – Today, MVP announced that international superstar Jake “El Gallo” Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) will return to the ring for “Fear No Man,” a cruiserweight battle against the incredibly dangerous bare knuckle champion boxer and MMA star “Platinum” Mike Perry (5-0, 3 KOs BKFC) on Saturday, July 20 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, live on DAZN pay-per-view. Paul vs. Perry will be an eight round cruiserweight bout, as Paul faces his most dangerous opponent to date and puts it all on the line in an incredibly risky fight against the baddest bare knuckle boxer of all time ahead of his bout with the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson. Boxing trailblazer and unified featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) will also return to the ring against Tampa, Florida’s top-10 ranked IBF, WBO, and WBA talent and KO artist, Stevie “Sledgehammer” Morgan (14-1, 13 KOs) in the co-main event. Serrano vs. Morgan will be a super lightweight battle, contested over 10, two-minute rounds as Serrano aims to display her power at super lightweight against the powerful puncher, Morgan, ahead of her clash with Katie Taylor on Friday, November 15. Tickets for Paul vs. Perry and Serrano vs. Morgan at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL will go on sale Wednesday, June 19th at 12pm ET on Ticketmaster.com. 

“Fear No Man” is presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy. The undercard will also feature the rematch of Crescent City, Florida’s Tony Aguilar (12-0-1, 4 KOs) vs. Orlando, Florida’s Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (9-0-1, 7 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight bout. Further undercard fights will be announced in the coming days. 

Jake “El Gallo” Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) has shown tremendous growth as a boxer on his path to becoming a world champion, and now will face his most dangerous opponent to date, Mike Perry, on Saturday, July 20. Perry’s formidable knockout power and fearless mentality will pose a true risk and test for Paul as the 27-year-old aims to prove he has what it takes in the ring against his second youngest opponent to date, the 32-year-old Perry, who is one of the world’s most feared fighters and the baddest bare knuckle boxer of all time. Paul will nevertheless put it all on the line ahead of his bout against the Baddest Man on the Planet, Mike Tyson on Friday, November 15. 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. 

Since headlining his first fight, Paul has broken records at every arena he’s fought at during his professional career, including his first fight at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, Paul vs. Woodley II, which set the record for the highest combat sports gate in the arena’s history. Paul now returns to challenge his own record at Amalie Arena.

“When Paul vs. Tyson was rescheduled, I knew immediately that I wanted to still fight on Saturday, July 20. Now, as I prepare for my fight against Iron Mike, there’s no better opponent for me than Mike Perry,” said Jake Paul. “He’s a proven knockout artist who has shown to be a maniac in and out of the ring. This is the perfect experience for me to gain in advance of facing Mike Tyson. But getting that experience comes with risk. Those who know me know I’m a risk taker and while ‘Platinum’ Perry might try to end me, I’m Titanium Jake Paul and I fear no man. I’m going to get the W and give everyone a preview of what I’m bringing to the ring against Mike Tyson. Tune in on DAZN PPV as I return to Tampa and send ‘Platinum’ Perry the Platypus back to bare knuckle for good.”

“Platinum” Mike Perry (5-0, 3 KOs BKFC), one of the most dangerous fighters in combat sports, steps into the ring with Jake Paul following his fearsome career across the UFC, Triad Combat, and bare knuckle boxing. Following his 14-win career in the UFC, boasting 11 wins by knockout, Perry made his Triad Combat debut in November 2021, taking on 27-3, 21 KOs seasoned boxer Michael Seals, demonstrating his ability to handle power punchers and outworking Seals to a split decision victory in the bout. Less than three months later, Perry made his bare knuckle boxing debut with BKFC, securing his first win over Julian Lane in 2022, which he followed with a thrilling win over dynamic striker Michael “Venom” Page later that year. Perry’s bout with former UFC champion Luke Rockhold in April 2023 ended decisively with a second-round knockout, highlighting Perry’s striking power and relentless pressure from the opening bell. In his BKFC “King of Violence” title fight in December 2023 against Eddie Alvarez, the first-ever fighter to become a champion in both UFC and Bellator, Perry displayed his vicious power yet again with a second round TKO due to corner stoppage. Perry earned the 2023 Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Male Fighter of the Year and in April 2024, he expanded his undefeated record to 5-0 with a first-round KO of UFC veteran Thiago Alves. The bout served as the latest testament to the power, tenacity and skill Perry will bring to the ring against Jake Paul on Saturday, July 20 for “Fear No Man”.

“Jake Paul claims he fears no man, but on Saturday, July 20, the world will see the truth: he just made the worst mistake of his life in trying to get through me before Iron Mike,” said Mike Perry. “I’m going to make it look easy on Saturday July 20th, and I’m going to teach Jake Paul the most he’s ever learned about fighting.”

Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs), 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. In honor of her trailblazing achievements inside and outside the ring, Serrano was also recently awarded the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Female Fighter of the Year for 2023. Following her bout against Stevie Morgan on Saturday, July 20, Serrano is set to face Katie Taylor in the most anticipated women’s boxing rematch in modern history, for the undisputed super lightweight women’s championship. Taylor vs. Serrano will be the co-main event of the rescheduled Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson mega-event at AT&T Stadium on Friday, November 15. 

“I’ve already been preparing for a fight on Saturday, July 20, and even though I’ll now be waiting a little longer for my rematch with Katie Taylor, this is an opportunity for me to face another tough boxer in Stevie Morgan in Tampa,” said Amanda Serrano. “My opponent has 13 KOs, more than almost every other active female boxer, but I fear no woman – I embrace the war. I look forward to seeing all my Puerto Rican fans in Tampa for my 50th professional fight to show the world my skills at super lightweight, live on DAZN PPV.” 

Stevie Morgan (14-1, 13 KOs), the 34-year-old 5’8” lightweight talent, has established herself as a formidable force in the boxing world. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Stevie was an athlete throughout her school years, excelling in track and field, basketball, and football. Her journey into boxing began just a year before her first amateur fight, under the guidance of coach John Cassella. As an amateur, Stevie quickly rose to prominence with around 40 fights and accolades such as Outstanding Female Boxer and Florida Golden Gloves Champion. Stevie made her professional debut on June 18, 2022, with Brandi Mccain’s One One Six Promotions in Memphis, Tennessee. Under the expert training of Monyette Flowers at Flowers Boxing Lab, she has continued to build on her amateur success as a professional. Now in just her second year as a pro, she is currently ranked by the WBC and is in the top 10 of the IBF, WBO, and WBA world rankings. 

“We’ve been training for an opportunity like this, and I want to give full respect to Amanda for all she has done in her career and for women’s boxing,” said Stevie Morgan. “In this sport, though, in order to make a name, you have to take a name. I have 13 KOs and nothing will be sweeter than making Amanda Serrano number 14. Come fight night on Saturday, July 20 there will be fireworks!” 

“The stakes are high for every single one of MVP’s fighters stepping into the ring on Saturday, July 20. For Jake and Amanda, the pressure is on to emerge with a W against two very dangerous opponents in Mike Perry and Stevie Morgan,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “Jake Paul is facing a monster in Mike Perry. Amanda Serrano is going in there with a fighter who has 13KOs in 15 fights. Nothing is a given for our two superstars. We also have an incredible lineup of undercard fights coming together, the first of which features highly talented lightweight prospects Aguilar vs. Marksman. This fight will see these young talents putting their undefeated records on the line and working to set a new precedent for hopeful title contenders in the sport. We are excited to return to Tampa and put on another heart racing night of fights.”

Joining the undercard will be a battle of two of boxing’s up-and-coming lightweight prospects, Tony Aguilar (12-0-1, 4 KOs) vs. Corey Marksman (9-0-1, 7 KOs). The two were longtime amateur rivals before turning pro, and now look to secure Florida bragging rights during the bout. The 25-year-old Aguilar, a Crescent City, FL native, returns to the ring off his latest three thrilling fights on MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects series, including his initial bout against Marksman on Most Valuable Prospects 5 in February 2024. He proudly represents his Mexican heritage in the ring, and is a relentlessly hard-working fighter who will look to keep the action high and his opponent guessing in his eagerly-anticipated rematch against Orlando, Florida’s Marksman. In the pair’s recent faceoff, the 23-year-old Marksman matched Aguilar’s energy and met the challenge with his own aggression and power. Aguilar, promoted by boxing legend Christy Martin, and Marksman fittingly fought to a split draw, a decision each will look to right in their favor on Saturday, July 20 in their first major PPV appearances.

“It’s great to have Jake Paul back on DAZN in another action packed, high risk fight,” said Jared Kass, SVP North America of DAZN. “With an unprecedented number of top-tier fights every year of DAZN, we are pleased to be adding another huge fight to our already packed summer schedule. Watch the fight exclusively live Saturday, July 20, only on DAZN PPV.”

Paul vs. Perry and Serrano vs. Morgan: “Fear No Man” is produced and marketed by MVP with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter and is distributed by DAZN pay-per–view. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker of lifestyle energy drink, is the exclusive energy drink sponsor of MVP. Additional information will be announced in the coming weeks. 

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. 

Vinik Sports Group/Tampa Bay Lightning/AMALIE Arena:

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning (2004, 2020, 2021) of the National Hockey League and the leasehold rights to AMALIE Arena, the 19,092-seat home in which the team plays its games, were purchased by Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment, an entity established by Chairman and Governor Jeff Vinik, in March of 2010. Since that time, the Lightning and the arena have undergone a complete brand and business transformation, featuring a $100 million dollar renovation of the publicly owned facility as well as back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2020 and 2021. AMALIE Arena serves as the centerpiece of the vibrant Water Street district of downtown Tampa, a development spearheaded by Vinik, in a partnership with Strategic Property Partners. In February of 2020, the organization announced the creation of Vinik Sports Group, which now serves as the parent company of the Lightning, AMALIE Arena and other sports and entertainment assets, including management of the Yuengling Center on the campus of the University of South Florida, as well as multi-media rights for USF Athletics. AMALIE Arena hosts over 200 events per year with over 2 million guests walking through the doors, while Yuengling Center hosts over 250 events per year with over 1 million guests. Both have the mission to provide world-class entertainment for sports fans and music enthusiasts alike.