Most Valuable Promotions, founded by Jake Paul, has recently made significant waves in women`s boxing by enlisting some of the sport`s top talents. Following the announcement of an all-female undercard for the highly anticipated trilogy bout between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano on July 11, MVP moved quickly to sign prominent fighters including undisputed junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner, WBC interim junior welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron, and former undisputed super middleweight champion Savannah Marshall. They have since populated the Madison Square Garden fight card with compelling matchups, featuring five championship fights.
This event, set to stream on Netflix, promises to expose these athletes to an enormous global audience, likely the largest they`ve ever competed before. Furthermore, on June 28, former UFC women`s bantamweight champion Holly Holm is scheduled to return to the boxing ring for the first time in over a decade. The 43-year-old Holm, also recently signed by MVP, will compete on the undercard of Jake Paul`s fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Holm aims to solidify her legacy by potentially becoming a world champion in boxing once again, leveraging her status as one of the most recognizable figures in women`s combat sports.
With MVP`s substantial investment and focus on women`s boxing, could the sport be poised for a surge in popularity, perhaps mirroring the significant growth experienced by the WNBA in 2024?
While attracting big names is crucial, the quality of the matchups is equally vital. Let`s delve into the announced fights and explore the potential future paths for these high-profile boxers now under the MVP banner.
June 28: Holly Holm vs. Yolanda Vega – Lightweight Bout
Holly Holm, a 2022 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, is seeking one final push for a world title before retiring. Limited information is available about her opponent, Yolanda Vega. However, if Holm can defy her age, she might find herself challenging one of the four current lightweight titleholders. The champions include Terri Harper (WBO), Beatriz Ferreira (IBF), Stephanie Han (WBA), and Caroline Dubois (WBC). Three of these champions are scheduled for fights within the next two months. Should Holm secure a victory, she will likely be fast-tracked towards facing a champion in her subsequent bout.
July 11: Savannah Marshall vs. Shadasia Green – Super Middleweight Unification
A significant storyline for this fight is the potential for the winner to challenge former undisputed super middleweight champion Claressa Shields. Shields herself is scheduled to defend her undisputed heavyweight title on July 26 against Lani Daniels. Shields, a five-division world champion, has a history with both Marshall and Green. Marshall remains the only person to have ever defeated Shields, achieving this feat in the amateur ranks in 2012. Shields later avenged this loss professionally in 2022 to become the undisputed middleweight champion. Green has also engaged in verbal sparring with Shields over the years, making a potential matchup between them highly anticipated if Green can pull off an upset against Marshall.
Looking at the fight itself, Marshall and Green are widely regarded as two of the hardest punchers in women`s boxing, with a combined total of 21 knockouts in 30 bouts. Marshall possesses superior technical skills and is generally considered the favorite. However, she has been inactive in boxing since 2023, a factor that led to her removal from some pound-for-pound lists. Her recent activity included a detour into mixed martial arts. Green`s most recent outing was a somewhat underwhelming split decision win against Melinda Watpool on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson undercard.
July 11: Alycia Baumgardner vs. Jennifer Miranda – Undisputed Junior Lightweight Championship
Alycia Baumgardner, ranked as ESPN`s No. 8 pound-for-pound fighter, being placed in the co-main event slot on the stacked Taylor-Serrano 3 undercard demonstrates MVP`s belief in her potential as a star. The undisputed junior lightweight champion, who will turn 31 soon, is highly marketable due to her exciting fighting style and charismatic personality. While her opponent, Jennifer Miranda, is undefeated, her record has been built primarily against lesser opposition exclusively in Spain. Baumgardner, in contrast, is a proven fighter with significant power in her right hand.
Assuming she defeats Miranda, Baumgardner will have numerous options for her next fight. She could remain at junior lightweight to defend her undisputed status, potentially in a rematch against Delfine Persoon, or move up to the lightweight division to begin pursuing championships there. A potential clash with Holly Holm could also be a possibility on the horizon.
July 11: Ellie Scotney vs. Yamileth Mercado – Junior Featherweight Unification
At 27 years old, Ellie Scotney is the youngest fighter among MVP`s recent high-profile signings and is still relatively untested at the elite level. Among her 10 victories, her 2023 unanimous decision win over Cherneka Johnson, which earned her the IBF junior featherweight title, is her most impressive. Scotney, who also holds the WBO belt, has a bright future and is on the verge of breaking into ESPN`s pound-for-pound rankings. However, she must first overcome the challenge posed by Yamileth Mercado, who is coming off a notable win over Ramla Ali last June that saw her defend her WBC title.
Scotney enters the fight as the favorite (-900 according to ESPN BET), but the seasoned Mercado is expected to provide a tough test. Despite being the same age, Mercado boasts 17 more professional fights and has shared the ring with Amanda Serrano in a decision loss in 2021. A win for Scotney in her U.S. debut would leave her just one title short of becoming the undisputed champion at 122 pounds. A fight against Mayelli Flores Rosquero, the WBA titleholder who recently won a split decision against Nazarena Romero, could be next. However, Romero has activated her rematch clause, likely pushing any potential undisputed title fight involving the Scotney-Mercado winner until early 2026.
July 11: Dina Thorslund vs. Shurretta Metcalf – Bantamweight Unification
The matchup between Dina Thorslund and Shurretta Metcalf is arguably the most competitive bout on the Taylor-Serrano undercard. The undefeated Thorslund, 31, is ranked No. 10 on ESPN`s women`s pound-for-pound list and has been a world champion since 2018. Throughout her 23 victories, the Danish fighter, who holds the WBC and WBO titles, has been largely dominant, rarely losing more than two rounds on judges` scorecards. She aims to add Metcalf`s IBF title to her collection, moving closer to becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion.
Metcalf, also signed to MVP, is older at 40 but has shown significant improvement in her career after a difficult start (an initial 2-3 record followed by a 12-1-1 run over seven years). Metcalf is a gritty fighter who claimed her IBF title by defeating Miyo Yoshida last October. If Thorslund is victorious against Metcalf, she could next face Cherneka Johnson to determine the undisputed bantamweight champion. Johnson successfully defended her WBA title with a seventh-round stoppage in March and has won two consecutive fights since her 2023 decision loss to Ellie Scotney.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow