As Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) approaches its fifth anniversary on August 29, the company is shedding the lingering skepticism that once dogged its early days in the combat sports industry. Founded in 2021 by social media mega-influencer Jake Paul and his business partners, the promotion burst onto the scene with a headline-grabbing debut in Cleveland, Ohio, featuring Paul squaring off against former MMA champion Tyron Woodley. That initial event set the tone for a company that would quickly become known for high-profile, unorthodox matchups designed to capture mainstream attention.
Just under four months later, MVP doubled down on the formula with a Paul-Woodley rematch in Tampa, Florida. For a long time, the promotion’s most notable headline remained Paul’s heavily publicized bout against heavyweight legend Mike Tyson—a fight that arrived at a time when Tyson was well past his prime, drawing both massive viewing figures and sharp criticism from traditionalists.
For boxing purists, MVP’s early output felt like an anathema to the sport’s traditions, relying heavily on internet culture, entertainment spectacles, and personalities that skirted the boundaries of conventional athletic competition. Critics frequently dismissed the company as a brash upstart more interested in viral moments than sporting integrity. Yet, as MVP celebrates its five-year milestone, a parallel identity has emerged that tells a completely different story about the promotion’s trajectory and ambitions.
The upcoming anniversary fight card offers a clearer lens into MVP’s long-term future than any of the viral spectacles of its past. The main card features an all-women’s lineup of five high-stakes bouts, anchored by Mikaela Mayer challenging Chantelle Cameron to unify the WBA, WBC, and WBO light-middleweight titles. The primary support bout showcases British star Caroline Dubois defending her WBC and WBO lightweight titles against Amelia Moore.
What was once dismissed by critics as a short-lived gimmick is now being recognized as a major player in the sport—and arguably the premier UK promoter of women’s boxing.
"Respect, I think, is the biggest change. I’ve seen and felt it," Dubois told BBC Sport, reflecting on the shifting perception of female fighters within the industry. "I remember coming into the scene of the sporting world and if you say you’re a female boxer, people will look at you like ‘ah’ – but now people are like ‘OK, let’s see you fight’ – it’s not a joke, a gimmick, a side caricature. It’s part of the real deal."
Building Momentum and Securing Elite Talent
The transformation of MVP’s roster has been swift, drawing top-tier talent away from traditional promotional powerhouses. Fellow Briton Chantelle Cameron notably left promoter Queensberry to sign with MVP last year. Cameron’s journey with her new promoter has moved at a rapid pace; her WBC interim title fight against Patricia Berghult in November 2024 served as a co-main event in Birmingham, followed just eight months later by a clash against Jessica Camara at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden.
This weekend, Cameron returns to the BP Pulse Arena in Birmingham, this time taking center stage in the outright headline fight—her biggest appearance since her historic 2023 double-header against Irish superstar Katie Taylor.
"MVP are taking over women’s boxing," Cameron told BBC Sport. "They’ve been amazing. Everything they’ve said they’ll do, they’ve done. They got me my world title shot. They got me my Mayer fight. It’s all been so quick – it’s just my third fight with them."
Before joining Queensberry, Cameron campaigned under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing banner, a tenure highlighted by her monumental victory over Katie Taylor before Taylor avenged the defeat in an immediate rematch. While Cameron cherishes those historical nights, her career had subsequently hit a plateau.
"The Katie Taylor fights were great fights and both will always go down in history," she recalled. "But it dipped. I lost momentum. Went on the shelf. I couldn’t get the names, couldn’t get the fights, nobody wanted to fight me. I wanted the fights, but they just weren’t happening."
Cameron and Dubois are far from alone on MVP’s books. The promotion has quietly assembled a formidable stable of elite female fighters that includes Mikaela Mayer, Terri Harper, Amanda Serrano, Alycia Baumgardner, and former undisputed super-bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney.
The Art of Promotion and Entertainment
The question remains: why has MVP become the destination of choice for elite female boxing talent? Part of the answer lies in the company’s willingness to embrace modern promotional tactics that encourage fighters to step outside their comfort zones and build their personal brands.
Since signing with MVP, Caroline Dubois has actively cultivated a more brash and vocal persona. Prior to her previous outing, she publicly called out Terri Harper, sparking a wave of verbal sparring and an intense face-off that drew significant media attention. While some traditionalists might view such theatrics as tacky, the strategy yielded tangible results, propelling Dubois from fighting at the modest Park Community Arena in Sheffield to major international stages in Miami and London’s historic Olympia.
"They’ve helped me get to that next level," Dubois said. "I want to be involved in the best, the biggest and the most important fights in boxing. Jake [Paul] brings the social influencer dynamic. He gave me tips and pointers and how I should build these fights. We’re entertainers, that’s what we are. It’s always good to get that insight from someone who is technically outside of the sport. He has that fresh mindset. MVP have that on lock."
While Dubois defends her titles this weekend, Harper—who lost a hard-fought decision to Dubois in April—is looking to begin her own professional rebuild earlier on the card against Miranda Reyes. Harper admitted she seriously considered retirement following a 2024 defeat to Sandy Ryan, but her competitive fire remained intact after the loss to Dubois.
"I’m nearly 30 now and I now really want to enjoy it," Harper told BBC Sport. "It’s my last roll of the dice to see how far I can push to become a four-weight world champion. MVP have delivered the fights I want, and a greater audience."
Balancing Spectacle with Sporting Legacy
MVP continues to lean heavily into its digital roots, blending serious athletic competition with internet culture, such as an ‘MVP x TikTok Live’ event spearheaded by Amanda Serrano. However, for the promotion to sustain its current momentum within women’s sport, the reliance on major arena events and elite championship fights must remain central to its business model.
For fighters who have spent years grinding through the lower rungs of the sport, the scale of the current platform is staggering. Dubois reflected on her journey from grassroots boxing to global media giants. "I remember my first amateur fight in Camden, or walking into the gym when I was nine years old at Repton," she said. "Now I’m fighting there and I’m talking about headlining and talking about fighting on Netflix."
While an organization led by Jake Paul will always prioritize noise, talk, and spectacle, veterans like Cameron and Mayer believe the partnership is genuinely moving the needle for women’s athletics. Cameron remains an outspoken advocate for structural parity in the sport, pointing to rules as a vital battleground for the future.
"I’m an advocate for three-minute rounds," Cameron said. "We’ve got a long way to go, but if more women started doing what the men do, we can start saying they give us the opportunity for equality for women’s boxing."
Both Cameron and Mayer bring institutional memory that stretches far back into an era when women’s boxing struggled for basic recognition, funding, and television time. They understand the immense labor still required to secure the sport’s long-term future.
"In order for a sport to develop, they need to compete and women are a step behind because we weren’t allowed to even compete in the Olympics until 2012," Mayer noted. "It’s not going to happen overnight, but this is what we needed to take women’s boxing to the next step."
