Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing have announced a “strategic alliance” aimed at growing women’s boxing, as reported by ESPN.

The agreement calls for the two promotional companies, which have previously worked together on select fights, to formalize a longer-term collaboration rather than compete for talent and opportunities in isolation. A joint statement said MVP and Matchroom will “work together to identify career-defining opportunities for elite female athletes, support the continued growth of world championship competition …”

MVP, co-founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021, has built a women’s boxing roster spanning six of the top 10 fighters on ESPN’s pound-for-pound list: Amanda Serrano, Mikaela Mayer, Chantelle Cameron, Caroline Dubois, Alycia Baumgardner and Ellie Scotney. Matchroom, led by Hearn, has guided the careers of undisputed champion Katie Taylor and other title holders, and has maintained a significant promotional presence in both the U.S. and the UK.

The two companies’ prior collaborations include the three fights between Taylor and Serrano. The second of those bouts, held on the undercard of Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson, drew an estimated audience of around 74 million, according to Netflix. The third, an all-female card at Madison Square Garden, drew a sold-out crowd of over 19,000, generated a $2.63 million gate, and attracted a television audience of nearly six million.

“Historically, Matchroom played an instrumental role in elevating women’s boxing globally, and together we have an opportunity to create even bigger moments for the sport and the athletes driving it forward,” Paul and Bidarian said in a joint statement. “This is about investing in the future of the sport and creating the premier destination for the world’s best female fighters.”

Hearn called the pairing unexpected but necessary for the sport’s growth. “This is a partnership not many would have seen coming. But it is one that makes perfect sense,” he said. “For a long time, Matchroom has singlehandedly carried the flag for women’s boxing. In recent years, MVP have done an incredible job too. For our female fighters to chase legacy and to fight the best, this new alliance is integral, and we are fully committed to working together with MVPW to continue to grow women’s boxing.”

The alliance follows a period of expansion for MVP. In February, the promotion secured a broadcast partnership with Sky Sports, returning live boxing to the UK network after the conclusion of its prior deal with promoter Ben Shalom’s BOXXER. That agreement extended MVP’s international footprint while its U.S. fights remain on DAZN. Bidarian has said women’s boxing has been MVP’s “core strategy” since the company’s founding, citing his experience at UFC watching Ronda Rousey outdraw male stars as evidence that women’s boxing could produce comparable breakout figures.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Check Out Our Podcast