Most Valuable Promotions and ESPN: A New Era for Women's Boxing

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, has announced a multi-year broadcast deal with ESPN, marking a significant advancement in women's boxing. This partnership aims to elevate the visibility of female athletes in the sport, with several high-stakes title fights scheduled, including Alycia Baumgardner defending her WBO, IBF, and WBA junior lightweight titles against Bo Mi Re Shin on April 17, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Hollywood Reporter

Alycia Baumgardner, currently ranked No. 7 in ESPN's pound-for-pound women's boxing list, is positioned as a central figure in MVP's strategy to promote women's boxing. She gained notoriety for her knockout victory over Terri Harper in 2021 and her unification win against Mikaela Mayer in 2022. Other notable fighters include Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper, who are set to face off on April 5, 2026, in a lightweight unification bout, and Shadasia Green, who is on track for a potential megafight against Claressa Shields.

Most Valuable Promotions Secures ESPN Broadcast Deal, Igniting Women’s Boxing Landscape with High-Stakes BoutsESPNHollywood Reporter

The April 5 event in London will feature Caroline Dubois against Terri Harper, with the winner likely to pursue a lucrative fight against Baumgardner. Additionally, Chantelle Cameron will challenge Michaela Kotaskova for a vacant junior middleweight title, aiming for a trilogy bout with Katie Taylor later this year. In the super middleweight division, Shadasia Green will defend her titles against Lani Daniels, with aspirations for a future showdown against Shields.

Most Valuable Promotions Secures ESPN Broadcast Deal, Igniting Women’s Boxing Landscape with High-Stakes Bouts

Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian emphasized the importance of the ESPN partnership, stating, “MVPW brings together some of the most accomplished and dynamic championship athletes in boxing, competing on a stage that reflects the magnitude of their talent.” Rosalyn Durant, ESPN's executive VP of programming and acquisitions, added, “We’re proud to bring these championship matchups to ESPN and the ESPN App and further elevate women’s boxing for fans across the country.”

Hollywood ReporterMost Valuable Promotions Secures ESPN Broadcast Deal, Igniting Women’s Boxing Landscape with High-Stakes BoutsESPN

Despite the excitement surrounding the new deal, some critics question whether MVP's focus on high-profile events will overshadow the development of less mainstream female fighters. Concerns have been raised about the sustainability of interest in women's boxing if it relies heavily on star power rather than a broader range of talent.

Hollywood Reporter

While the MVP-ESPN deal is expected to enhance the profile of women's boxing, there are varying opinions on how effectively it will achieve this goal. Some sources suggest that the focus on marquee matchups may limit opportunities for emerging fighters, while others argue that increased visibility will ultimately benefit the entire sport.

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• “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,” — Jake Paul, Co-founder of MVP

Hollywood Reporter

The multi-year agreement between MVP and ESPN is poised to usher in a new era for women's boxing, providing a prominent platform for its top athletes and generating substantial interest through a compelling schedule of championship and high-profile matchups.

Hollywood Reporter