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

Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) has unveiled MVPW, a novel women’s boxing promotion highlighting 43 signed fighters including several world title holders and top contenders. The inaugural event, MVPW1, happens on April 5 in London with a lightweight title unification match featuring UK-based fighters Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. The league represents a significant investment in women’s boxing and includes a broadcasting agreement with ESPN in the United States and Sky Sports in the UK. The news arrives as MVP continues its expansion in female boxing, with super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner scheduled to defend her WBO, WBA, and IBF championships against Bo Mi Re Shin on April 17 in New York as section of the launch series.

A New Age for Women’s Professional Boxing

The introduction of MVPW constitutes a watershed moment for women’s boxing, indicating unparalleled support from major organizations to women competitors at the highest levels of the sport. Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, founding partners of MVP, emphasized their five-year track record of financial backing in women boxers, providing what they call historic and record-breaking events. This new league structure provides a unified venue for women boxers to compete on major stages, addressing long-standing disparities in marketing backing and media visibility that have historically benefited male boxers. The collaboration with ESPN and Sky Sports ensures these athletes will gain major media exposure, a crucial factor in developing audience engagement and generating revenue opportunities.

While MVPW represents a major step forward, concerns persist about how the organization will function and develop. Bidarian clarified that the organization emphasizes competitor well-being and quality competition over establishing a restrictive framework that would limit fighters to dedicated involvement within MVP. He indicated openness to collaborating with major sanctioning authorities like the major boxing sanctioning bodies rather than creating a competing belt system. This approach indicates MVP aims to work within boxing’s existing regulatory framework while championing improvements that allow expanded fight opportunities and consistent promotional strategies to improve boxing and expand viewership.

• MVPW1 features Caroline Dubois versus Terri Harper across London
• Alycia Baumgardner protects three titles on April 17 in New York
• Amanda Serrano stands as MVP’s flagship seven-division titleholder
• League comprises 43 signed fighters across multiple weight classes

Initial Events and Championship Matchups

MVPW’s debut schedule showcases the league’s commitment to featuring top-tier championship fights across various weight divisions. The early weekends of April and May will establish MVPW as a serious contender in professional boxing, with title defenses and high-stakes unification matches drawing international attention. These carefully curated matchups reflect MVP’s strategy of matching elite fighters against formidable challengers, creating compelling narratives that appeal to both devoted boxing enthusiasts and casual sports fans seeking quality competition.

The opening events cover three continents, highlighting MVPW’s international aspirations and the universal appeal of women’s professional boxing. From London to New York to Texas, the league is presenting itself as an global leader equipped to provide elite-level content across different territories. Each card features fighters at the height of their abilities, many possessing championship belts or pursuing championship opportunities, confirming that every bout has serious consequences for rankings and subsequent opponent pairings.

The April Opening Days

MVPW1 launches on April 5 in London with a lightweight unification clash between British opponents Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. This domestic clash anchors the league’s first event, capitalizing on strong domestic interest and establishing MVPW’s credentials in a boxing-obsessed country. The victor will secure lightweight dominance and become a marquee attraction for the emerging league, establishing the standard for subsequent events.

Just twelve days after, April 17 brings MVPW’s second significant event to New York, where super-featherweight titleholder Alycia Baumgardner defends her WBO, WBA, and IBF titles against Bo Mi Re Shin. This triple-title defense showcases the level of competition MVPW is providing from its opening month, positioning the league as a destination for championship boxing competition and drawing significant media coverage and viewership.

May’s Texas Showdown

MVPW3 concludes the opening month of events on May 30 in El Paso, Texas, showcasing a highly anticipated rematch between WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han and Holly Holm. Following their January technical decision, this return bout provides closure and clarity in a tough division. The Texas venue expands MVPW’s geographic reach while delivering another title-level matchup that strengthens the league’s commitment to elite female boxing talent.

Navigating Sanctioning Bodies and League Structure

While MVPW marks a major achievement for women’s boxing, questions remain about how the league will function within boxing’s traditional sanctioning framework. MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian emphasized that the organization prioritizes athlete well-being and matchmaking logic over strict sanctioning requirements. He stated the league is “not really about sanctioning bodies” but rather about the fighters involved, signaling a willingness to work alongside established organizations like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF rather than against them. This partnership strategy distinguishes MVPW from other promotional ventures that have come into conflict with boxing’s regulatory organizations.

The league’s framework remains deliberately adaptable, with Bidarian indicating MVP’s openness to introducing its own belt in the future while preserving collaborations with current regulatory organizations. Unlike UFC-style exclusive formats where fighters compete exclusively within one organization, MVPW appears designed to enable champions to protect their championships across multiple platforms. This blended approach could transform women’s boxing by merging the promotional muscle and worldwide reach of a unified league with the legitimacy and standing of established world titles, possibly providing female fighters unmatched chances for prominent fights and professional growth.

• MVP respects sanctioning bodies but prioritizes strategic fighter pairings and expansion objectives
• MVPW may launch its own title belt while partnering with established bodies
• League structure allows fighters to compete across various venues and sanctioning bodies

Star Power and Monetary Commitment

MVP’s commitment to women’s boxing extends far beyond promotional rhetoric, with the organization boasting a roster of 43 signed fighters that includes multiple world champions and top contenders. The league’s flagship fighter is seven-division champion Amanda Serrano, whose presence alongside other top-tier competitors at the debut press conference underscored MVP’s commitment to showcasing the sport’s leading women boxers. This assembly of elite fighters signals MVP is willing to invest substantial capital to establish MVPW as a legitimate and compelling alternative to conventional promotional approaches, positioning women’s boxing at the forefront of their growth strategy.

The monetary investment is additionally demonstrated by the broadcast partnerships established with ESPN in the United States and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, offering MVPW with high-quality broadcast platforms that ensure visibility for competing athletes. Co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian indicated they have “invested heavily in female athletes” over the past five years and produced “landmark and unprecedented events,” showcasing a proven history of supporting women’s boxing at the elite level. These collaborations and funding represent a pivotal turning point for female boxers, offering exceptional prospects for worldwide visibility and monetary rewards that traditional promotional structures have traditionally withheld from them.

The Future Direction for MVPW

MVPW’s inaugural schedule demonstrates ambition across multiple continents, with MVPW1 taking place on April 5 in London featuring a lightweight title fight between British rivals Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper. Just 12 days later, super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will protect her WBO, WBA, and IBF titles against Bo Mi Re Shin in New York, solidifying MVPW’s presence in the United States market. The third event on May 30 in El Paso, Texas will showcase WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han against Holly Holm in a eagerly awaited rematch, signaling MVP’s intention to build compelling narratives and recurring matchups that sustain fan interest throughout the inaugural season.

However, key organizational questions persist without clear answers about how MVPW will operate long-term. While MVP’s initial statement described the series as a “global platform,” later online references to a “league” format introduced uncertainty about the organization’s long-term direction. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian has indicated MVP acknowledges current sanctioning bodies like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF, suggesting MVPW will operate as a promotional vehicle rather than a closed UFC-style system restricting fighter movement. This approach emphasizes matchmaking flexibility and maximizing world champions within the MVPW brand, though it leaves unresolved whether the organization will eventually pursue its own championship belts.