Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the company co-founded by social media influencer Jake Paul, has responded to critics of women's boxing following the success of the Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano fight at Madison Square Garden. The event, held on 11 July, was the first all-women's boxing card at the venue and drew a sold-out crowd of 19,721. Taylor secured a clear-cut victory over Serrano, solidifying her status as one of the greatest female boxers.
MVP, which orchestrated and marketed the event, has faced scrutiny over its focus on women's boxing. Nakisa Bidarian, MVP's co-founder and former UFC chief strategy officer, defended the company's approach, emphasising the growing popularity of women's sports. 'Social media is the most important currency in the world today,' Bidarian said, noting that younger generations consume content primarily through platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
Critics have questioned MVP's reliance on Jake Paul's celebrity status. Paul, who has 28.4 million Instagram followers and 20.9 million YouTube subscribers, has built a boxing career that blends social media influence with traditional fighting. His fights, including a controversial win over 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November, have drawn massive audiences. However, some argue that MVP's success hinges on Paul's personal brand rather than the broader sport.
Bidarian acknowledged the challenge, stating, 'We’ve been fortunate to have Jake as the head of our spear.' But he insisted that MVP is building a sustainable promotional model. The company has promoted several small fight cards on DAZN and is working to establish itself independently of Paul's ring appearances. The Taylor-Serrano fight, which was part of the undercard for Paul's Tyson bout, became the most-watched women's sporting event in US history after streaming on Netflix.
Despite the criticism, MVP continues to expand its portfolio. Netflix has purchased rights to stream a third Taylor-Serrano fight and the upcoming Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford bout. Bidarian remains confident in the company's direction, even as Paul's fighting career winds down. 'Once he stops boxing, MVP's biggest money-making vehicle will be gone,' one industry observer noted, but the company is betting on long-term growth in women's boxing.
