Jake Paul`s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) has recently made a significant impact in women`s boxing by signing some of the sport`s most accomplished female fighters. Within a span of just two months, MVP announced the addition of prominent names including undisputed women`s junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner, WBC interim junior welterweight titleholder Chantelle Cameron, and former undisputed super middleweight champion Savannah Marshall. These signings coincided with the announcement that the upcoming July 11 trilogy bout between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano would feature an exclusively women`s undercard. MVP has since filled this Madison Square Garden event with compelling matchups, including five title fights.
This event is set to stream on Netflix, which will provide these boxers with unparalleled exposure, potentially reaching the largest viewing audience of their careers. Furthermore, on June 28, former UFC women`s bantamweight champion Holly Holm is scheduled to return to boxing for the first time in over 12 years. Holm, who also signed with MVP, will compete on the undercard of Jake Paul`s fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. At 43 years old, Holm aims to solidify her legacy by once again becoming a boxing world champion, and she remains one of the most widely recognized names in women`s combat sports.
Considering MVP`s substantial investment in women`s boxing, could the sport be on the verge of a major surge in popularity, perhaps akin to the growth experienced by the WNBA in 2024?
While attracting notable names is crucial, the quality of the matchups is equally important. This article takes a closer look at the recently announced fights involving these fighters and explores the potential future paths for MVP`s high-profile female signees.
June 28: Holly Holm vs. Yolanda Vega – Lightweight bout
Holly Holm, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022, is seeking one final title run before permanently retiring. Little is currently known about her opponent, Yolanda Vega. However, if Holm can demonstrate she can still perform at a high level despite her age, she might find herself in contention for a fight against one of the four current lightweight champions.
The current titleholders in the lightweight division are Terri Harper (WBO), Beatriz Ferreira (IBF), Stephanie Han (WBA), and Caroline Dubois (WBC). Three of these four champions have upcoming fights scheduled within the next two months. Harper is set to face Natalie Zimmerman on May 23, Ferreira will defend her championship against Maria Ines Ferreyra on June 7, and Han will defend her title on July 12 against Bexcy Mateus. If Holm wins her return fight, she will likely be positioned to challenge one of the champions in her subsequent bout.
July 11: Savannah Marshall vs. Shadasia Green – Super middleweight unification
What makes this particular matchup highly compelling is the potential for the winner to earn a shot at former undisputed super middleweight champion Claressa Shields. Shields herself is scheduled to defend her undisputed heavyweight title against Lani Daniels on July 26. Shields, a remarkable five-division world champion, has prior history with both Marshall and Green.
Savannah Marshall remains the only fighter to have ever defeated Shields in either amateur or professional competition, having outpointed her at the 2012 AIBA Women`s World Championships. Shields later avenged this amateur loss in the professional ranks by defeating Marshall on points in 2022 to become the undisputed middleweight champion. Shadasia Green has engaged in a public verbal rivalry with Shields in interviews over the past few years and has openly expressed her desire for a fight between them. If Green can achieve an upset victory over Marshall, a potential bout between Green and Shields could become a reality.
Looking at the fight itself, Marshall and Green are arguably two of the most powerful punchers in the women`s sport, boasting a combined total of 21 knockout victories across their 30 professional fights. Marshall is generally regarded as the more technically refined boxer and is expected to enter the fight as the betting favorite. However, she has not competed in a boxing ring since 2023, having taken a detour into mixed martial arts for a fight in the PFL last June. This period of inactivity led to her removal from ESPN`s pound-for-pound rankings. Green`s most recent outing resulted in an uninspiring split decision win against Melinda Watpool on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson event.
July 11: Alycia Baumgardner vs. Jennifer Miranda – Undisputed women`s junior lightweight championship
The decision to place Alycia Baumgardner, ranked No. 8 on ESPN`s pound-for-pound list, in the co-main event slot on the highly anticipated Taylor-Serrano 3 undercard speaks volumes about MVP`s belief in her potential as a major star. The undisputed junior lightweight champion will be 31 years old when she steps into the ring against Jennifer Miranda. Baumgardner possesses significant marketability, thanks to her exciting fighting style and her ability to communicate effectively with the media and fans. While her opponent, Miranda, holds an undefeated record, she has primarily competed in Spain against less experienced opposition. Baumgardner, in contrast, is a battle-tested fighter with notable power, particularly in her right hand.
If Baumgardner successfully defends her title against Miranda, her options for future fights are extensive. She could choose to remain in the junior lightweight division and defend her undisputed status, potentially in a rematch with Delfine Persoon. Alternatively, she could move up to the lightweight division and begin pursuing titles in that weight class. Another intriguing possibility could be a cross-division showdown with Holly Holm.
July 11: Ellie Scotney vs. Yamileth Mercado – Junior featherweight unification
At 27 years old, Ellie Scotney is the youngest of MVP`s recent signees and has yet to face a truly elite test within the boxing ring. Among the Englishwoman`s 10 professional victories, her unanimous decision win over Cherneka Johnson in 2023, which secured her the IBF junior featherweight title, stands out as her most impressive performance to date. Scotney also holds the WBO belt and has a bright future ahead of her, positioning herself as a potential candidate for inclusion on ESPN`s pound-for-pound list. However, she must first overcome the challenge presented by Yamileth Mercado, who is coming off an impressive win against Ramla Ali last June where she defended her WBC title.
Scotney enters the fight as the favorite, with odds listed at -900 by ESPN BET, but she is expected to face a stern test against the more seasoned Mercado. Although both fighters are the same age, Mercado has significantly more professional fight experience, having competed in 17 more bouts, including a decision loss to Amanda Serrano in 2021. A victory for Scotney in her U.S. debut would leave her just one title short of becoming the undisputed champion at 122 pounds. Her potential next opponent could be the winner of the recent fight between Mayelli Flores Rosquero and Nazarena Romero for the WBA title, which Flores Rosquero won by split decision on May 10. Romero is exercising her contractual rematch clause, which will likely delay a potential undisputed title fight involving the winner of Scotney-Mercado until early 2026.
July 11: Dina Thorslund vs. Shurretta Metcalf – Bantamweight unification
The bout between Dina Thorslund and Shurretta Metcalf is potentially the most evenly matched fight scheduled for the Taylor-Serrano undercard. The undefeated Thorslund, 31 years old, is ranked No. 10 on ESPN`s women`s pound-for-pound list and has been a world champion since 2018. The Danish fighter, who holds the WBC and WBO championships, has been dominant throughout her 23 professional victories, rarely losing more than two rounds on a judge`s scorecard. She aims to add Metcalf`s IBF title to her collection, moving closer to unifying the bantamweight division.
Shurretta Metcalf, also signed to MVP, is older than Thorslund at 40, but she has shown significant improvement in her career, compiling a strong 12-1-1 record over the past seven years after a challenging start where she went 2-3. Metcalf is a resilient and tenacious fighter who claimed her IBF title by defeating Miyo Yoshida in October. Should Thorslund defeat Metcalf, a fight against Cherneka Johnson to determine the undisputed bantamweight champion could be the next step. Johnson successfully defended her WBA title in March with a seventh-round technical knockout victory over Nina Hughes and has won two consecutive fights since her decision loss to Ellie Scotney in 2023.