Matchroom and MVP Announce a Joint Strategic Partnership

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Jake Paul signs strategic partnership with Eddie Hearn in shock move as pair bury hatchet for women’s boxing

Jake Paul and Eddie Hearn will link up in a surprise move to try and accelerate the growth of women's boxing further.

Paul has been put together a mega stable of female boxing talent for his promotion Most Valuable Promotions, headlined by the likes of Amanda Serrano and Caroline Dubois.

Hearn likewise has a big female stable and helped trailblaze new boundaries in female boxing with Irish superstar Katie Taylor.

Paul and Hearn co-promoted the biggest fights in women's boxing, a trilogy between Taylor and Serrano which brought the sport to unprecedented levels.

But the charismatic pair have been at loggerheads in recent times, with Hearn sueing Paul after he accused Matchroom Boxing of 'fixing' fights, to which they later reached a settlement.

The two promoters hadn't seen eye-to-eye for quite some time, even going back and forth on social media before Paul fought Hearn's heavyweight Anthony Joshua in December.

That is until now.

An olive branch has been extended between the pair for business, as both Matchroom and MVP have announced a joint strategic partnership.

The plan is for the pair to use MVP's stable and Hearn's expertise to continue to globalise and push the boundaries that women's boxing can break.

They plan to create bigger and better opportunities for female fighters, and work closer together than ever before on events.

How Paul and Hearn have reacted to the deal

Paul is delighted to launch a new expansion for his MVPW stable.

And he believes the addition of another promotional powerhouse in Hearn is exactly what was needed.

He said: "Since launching MVPW, our goal has been to build the biggest platform in the world for women's boxing and create transformative opportunities for female fighters at every stage of their careers.

"Partnering with Matchroom Boxing is another major step toward that vision.

"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.

"This is about investing in the future of the sport and creating the premier destination for the world's best female fighters."

Hearn has helped champion women's boxing for almost a decade, bringing it to new levels.

And his new vision with Paul is out of the blue, but makes perfect sense.

He added: “This is a partnership not many would have seen coming. But it is one that makes perfect sense.

"For a long time, Matchroom has singlehandedly carried the flag for women’s boxing.

"In recent years, MVP have done an incredible job too. They now have an unprecedented stable of Champions and continue to break the boundaries for women’s boxing time and time again.

"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.”

Some huge fights will now be on the cards between the stables and beyond.

With fantastic talkers Hearn and Paul behind the next wave of female talent, it is likely they will reach new eyes entirely.

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Skye Nicolson joins Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions

Two-weight world champion Skye Nicolson has signed with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions.

Nicolson (16-1, 3 KOs) had been with Matchroom throughout her professional career, turning pro after competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She also won Commonwealth Games gold in 2018.

The Australian will debut for MVP on August 29 against Miya Yoshido on the Mikaela Mayer-Chantelle Cameron undercard in Birmingham, England [ESPN, Sky Sports].

Nicolson won the WBC featherweight title in 2024 and made two defences before losing the belt in a split decision to Tiara Brown the following year.

She then moved down to junior featherweight, winning four straight fights before claiming the WBC belt at 122 pounds.

The 30-year-old will be the first fighter to compete under the new partnership between MVP and Matchroom.

"Women's boxing is entering a new era, and I want to be right at the centre of it," Nicolson said. "This partnership with MVP and Matchroom gives me the opportunity to chase legacy, compete in the biggest fights out there, and help continue pushing women's boxing forward.

"My goal has always been to test myself against the very best and be involved in the biggest fights in women's boxing. I truly believe this move puts me in the best possible position to do exactly that. I'm excited for what's ahead and can't wait for this next chapter of my career to unfold."

While campaigning at featherweight, Nicolson made no secret of her desire to fight Amanda Serrano, who is also signed with MVP.

She now joins arguably the best roster of women's fighters on the planet, with six of the top 10 on ESPN's women's pound-for-pound list fighting under the MVP banner.

"Skye is one of the most recognizable athletes in women's boxing today," MVP co-founders Paul and Nakisa Bidarian said.

"As a two-division world champion, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Olympian, and one of Australia's biggest stars, she represents the caliber of athlete we're building MVP around.

"Since launching MVPW, our mission has been to create the premier global platform for women's boxing by bringing together the sport's biggest champions and delivering the biggest fights.

"Skye shares that vision and ambition, and together we're excited to help create the defining moments of the next chapter of her career..."

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Skye Nicolson joins Most Valuable Promotions and will defend world title on Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron show

Skye Nicolson will make her MVP debut in a 10-round WBC super-bantamweight title defence against Japan’s two-division champion Miyo Yoshida on Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron bill; watch MVPW-06: UK vs USA live on Sky Sports on August 29

Two-division world champion Skye Nicolson has signed with Most Valuable Promotions.

The 30-year-old Australian will defend her WBC super-bantamweight title against Japan's Miyo Yoshida in her MVP debut on the Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron undercard in Birmingham on August 29, live on Sky Sports.

Nicolson, an Olympian who won Commonwealth Games gold in 2018, is the latest high-profile female boxer to join YouTuber Jake Paul's promotional organisation.

"Women's boxing is entering a new era, and I want to be right at the centre of it," said Nicolson.

"My goal has always been to test myself against the very best and be involved in the biggest fights in women's boxing.

"I truly believe this move puts me in the best possible position to do exactly that. I'm excited for what's ahead and can't wait for this next chapter of my career to unfold."

Nicolson (16-1, 3 KOs) faces three-time, two-division world champion Yoshida (19-5, 1 KO), searching for a fifth successive victory as she takes another step towards unifying the super-bantamweight division.

"Skye is one of the most recognisable athletes in women's boxing today," Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions, said.

"As a two-division world champion, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Olympian and one of Australia's biggest stars, she represents the calibre of athlete we're building MVP around."

The August 29 show at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham will also see Britain's Caroline Dubois defend her WBC and WBO lightweight titles against Amelia Moore on a card made up entirely of bouts between UK and USA female fighters.

Watch Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron, featuring Skye Nicolson vs Miyo Yoshida, in Birmingham on August 29, live on Sky Sports.

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Caroline Dubois could face Elif Nur Turhan after rival lightweight world champion signed for Most Valuable Promotions

Turkish world champion Elif Nur Turhan has signed with Jake Paul and Nikisa Bidarian's Most Valuable Promotions; Caroline Dubois had expressed frustration after being unable to agree terms for a Turhan fight; the Brit could now face Turhan in a WBC, WBO and IBF lightweight title fight

Caroline Dubois could settle her rivalry with Elif Nur Turhan after the Turkish world champion signed for Most Valuable Promotions.

Dubois, who is also signed to MVP, had previously expressed her frustration after being unable to agree a world lightweight unification fight with Turhan, but those negotiations could get simpler now both fighters are aligned in Jake Paul and Nikisa Bidarian's promotional company.

The unbeaten British champion will defend her WBC and WBO lightweight belts against American Amelia Moore on the Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron bill at the bp pulse LIVE arena in Birmingham on August 29, live on Sky Sports, where every fight on the main card will be a UK vs USA contest.

Turhan, who is also undefeated in 14 fights, secured the IBF world lightweight title after a stunning stoppage of Beatriz Ferreira and has since retained her title in victories against Gabriella Tellez and Taylah Gentzen.

"Elif Nur Turhan is an undefeated world champion, a tremendous puncher, and now the first Turkish fighter to join the MVP roster," said MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian.

"The Golden Turkish Warrior is one of the most exciting fighters in boxing given her immense punching power and her relentless aggressive, pressure heavy style.

"Signing Elif will allow us to make some of the most exciting fights in boxing. We look forward to welcoming Elif to MVP and giving her the platform to become one of the biggest stars in women's boxing as we continue building MVPW into the premier global home for the sport."