Jake Paul's backed Most Valuable Promotions announced a surprise landmark deal for their women's fights to be part of ESPN and their platforms.
Most Valuable Promotions, started by social media star turned boxer Jake Paul five years ago, announced a significant broadcasting move to ESPN on Friday afternoon in New York and a specific new brand for their women's high profile, title fights.
From their official release,
"Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the launch of MVPW, a new global platform for women’s boxing, alongside a landmark multi-year agreement with ESPN as the U.S. home of MVPW events through 2028. With the gold “W” embedded directly within the MVP logo,
MVPW signals that women’s boxing is a foundational pillar of the company’s long-term global strategy and is afforded the same platform and push as men’s boxing. Each event will be sequentially branded beginning with MVPW-01, establishing a clear, year-round schedule showcasing the sport’s most elite female fighters.
The MVPW platform debuts with MVPW-01 on Sunday, April 5, in London, where Sky Sports will broadcast the event live in the United Kingdom and streaming live in the U.S. on the ESPN App as the first event under the new agreement. The platform makes its U.S. linear premiere on Friday, April 17 with MVPW-02, headlined by MVP’s unified super featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KOs) vs. top contender Bo Mi Re Shin (19-3-3, 10 KOs) at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
MVPW-03 will take place Saturday, May 30, in El Paso, Texas, headlined by MVP’s WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han (12-0, 3 KOs) vs. the most decorated two-sport athlete in combat sports history, Holly Holm (34-3-3, 9 KOs). The deal will deliver a mix of linear and streaming distribution, with the majority of events airing on ESPN’s linear channels, a significant milestone for women’s boxing and female sports."
Baumgardner is the most notable name, so far, in the announcement of the three fight cards. She just retained the unified super featherweight titles with a 12 round decision over little know, Leila Beaudoin in Miami on the Jake Paul KO loss to Anthony Joshua in December.
She has won numerous title fights at 130 lb. including upsetting former U.S. Olympian and multi division world champ Mikaela Mayer by split decision in October 2022. Baumgardner also ended up serving part of a one year suspension for PEDs after a July 2023 defense before winning an appeal to lessen the suspension in January 2024.
The statement further detailed her next fight,
"MVPW-02, the inaugural U.S. event for MVPW, will take place live on ESPN on Friday, April 17 at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, headlined by MVP’s unified super featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KOs) vs. WBA #4, IBF #6, and WBO #7 contender Bo Mi Re Shin (19-3-3, 10 KOs). The bout will be contested over 10 three-minute rounds for the unified WBA, WBO, and IBF world titles at 130 lbs.
“New York sets the tone for boxing’s biggest nights. Becoming undisputed there was monumental, and the fans have embraced me from the beginning,” said Baumgardner. “Every fight for me is about elevation; I’m here to dominate and continue building something that lasts beyond belts.
ESPN is where greatness is documented, and I’m ready to perform at that level. This fight is also a special crossover: Two Korean fighters on this kind of stage is something fans don’t see often, and I’m proud to represent every part of who I am.”
Also announced by MVPW for that card in April,
"In the co-main event, MVP’s unified super middleweight world champion Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (16-1, 11 KOs) will make a 10-round world title defense vs. IBF #2 and WBO #5 contender Lani Daniels (11-4-2, 1 KO) at 168lbs."
And for the other two cards the promotion unveiled Friday,
"MVPW-03 will take place on Saturday, May 30 in El Paso, Texas, headlined by the highly-anticipated rematch between MVP’s WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han (12-0, 3 KOs) vs. the most decorated two-sport athlete in combat sports history, Holly Holm (34-3-3, 9 KOs) as the pair return to settle the score following an accidental clash of heads that resulted in a technical decision during their first meeting in January.
MVPW debuts with MVPW-01 on Sunday, April 5 from London, England streaming live in the U.S. on the ESPN App featuring Caroline Dubois vs. Terri Harper and Ellie Scotney vs. Mayelli Flores. Sky Sports will broadcast the event live in the United Kingdom."
“Since inception MVP has strategically focused on creating an umbrella brand as the global home for women’s boxing, with the best fighters in the world, that engages existing boxing fans and attracts untapped fan demographics that embrace women’s sport, and today, we proudly enter a new era,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions.
”Over the past five years, we have invested heavily in female athletes, delivered historic and record-breaking events, and proven that these athletes belong on the biggest stages in the sport. Partnering with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, to launch MVPW across its platforms is a historic milestone, and aligning with the world’s most iconic venue, Madison Square Garden, as we introduce the brand in the U.S. reinforces the scale and ambition behind what we are building."
It is a huge "win" for MVP and women's boxing to get these fight cards on ESPN's main linear network. There is also the streaming ESPN Unlimited app that will be used for the upcoming series.
This is especially after Disney/ESPN dumped Top Rank Boxing in the Summer of 2025 at the end of their long term relationship/contract, saying at that time that there was not a need any longer for a regular boxing series on their platforms.