NEW YORK – October 19, 2022 – “Doctor Mike” Varshavski showed deft footwork and pop in his punches during a workout in front of New York City media on Tuesday before he ducked out to make his afternoon shift at the Overlook Medical Center in Summit, N.J., where he’s an attending physician. Dr. Mike will balance practicing medicine with training for his professional boxing debut when he takes on Chris Avila in a four-round cruiserweight bout on Saturday, October 29 as part of the Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and SHOWTIME PPV^® event headlined by Jake Paul vs. UFC legend Anderson Silva at Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Ariz., just outside Phoenix.

The Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva Most Valuable Promotions SHOWTIME PPV is available now for purchase in the United States at SHOWTIME.com/ppv and via the SHOWTIME^® app for a suggested retail price of $59.99 (SRP). Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. The official promo for the event was inspired by the 1983 cult classic Scarface and is available to watch and share HERE.

A social media influencer with over 22 million followers, Dr. Mike plans to donate his entire purse on October 29 to the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem, whose executive director, Sharon Joseph, was in attendance during Tuesday’s workout. Dr. Mike, a board-certified family doctor who was named People magazine’s Sexiest Doctor Alive, started his boxing journey nearly 11 years ago after his mom died of leukemia, and he found refuge in the steady routine of training.

During the early days of the pandemic, his popular YouTube page emerged as a reliable source of health information with interviews with Dr. Anthony Fauci and other health authorities. Senator Chuck Schumer has invited Dr. Mike to appear with him at press conferences to discuss health projects that Schumer has championed. Dr. Mike appeared in a YouTube video with super lightweight contender Ryan Garcia who proclaimed that Dr. Mike “beats any YouTuber” after working out with him.

Dr. Mike entertained media at the Last Round gym in Chelsea, Manhattan on Tuesday under the direction of respected head trainer, Thomas Baldwin, and assistant Steve Frank, an 11-year pro who once challenged Bernard Hopkins for the middleweight title in 1996.

Here is what Dr. Mike had to say on Tuesday:

DR. MIKE VARSHAVSKI

“I’m living out my boyhood dream being able to fight on SHOWTIME PPV. Getting to face Chris Avila and getting a taste of what it feels like to be a real warrior inside that ring is a dream come true. I’m looking forward to making my teammates proud and showing all the hard work we’ve done in the gym. I know it’s not as long as some other fighters, but I understand the privilege that comes along with being in this position. I’m going to make the most of this one opportunity that I have to make my patients, my co-workers and all the people that watch my YouTube channel proud to encourage them to stay active, stay fit and to live to the top of their potential so they can stay happy and healthy.

“Not only do I have this connection to boxing for the love of the sport – but also because of how I fell into the sport. About 11 years ago, I lost my mom to cancer in the middle of medical school. I found myself in a dark place. I was fortunate enough to meet my head trainer Thomas [Baldwin] here over 10 years ago. He started training me when I was little kid with braces and a hoodie coming into the gym, just coming in once a week for the love of the sport.

“Over the last year, Thomas [Baldwin] and I kicked it into high gear. I see the work that he puts into training me. He has a family. He has kids. He always makes time to be here for me and that’s always appreciated and with my many other jobs that I have, I make sure to be here every day. I’ve never once canceled on Thomas since we’ve been doing this, and I look forward to continuing that streak.”

How do you balance boxing with your other pursuits?

“The biggest edge I have – and it’s funny that it’s even an edge — is that I don’t have a big family and I don’t have kids so I’m able to dedicate myself to the craft of boxing to make sure I’m there every single day. I make sure to stay super organized with my team that’s here. They help me with my YouTube stuff and everything else that we have in line. The podcast – we’re launching special products at the end of this year. We’re doing this with a very small team but because we’re very passionate we believe in the message: Ethics, motivation.

“Right now, the people that look at YouTube boxers and the sphere of influencers that are getting into the boxing space – there’s a lot of beef, a lot of arguing, name calling, and while that has been successful in boxing – props to Floyd Mayweather and everything he’s created – I’m trying to do this differently. I’m trying to be respectful and a true artist in the sport of boxing, where we’re doing it for the love of the game. I respect my opponent but once we step into the ring, they are my opponent. So, we’re going to go as hard as we can, and I want him to go as hard as he can because I don’t want this to be easy.”

On wanting to face Jake Paul in the future:

“I think there’s a lot of fighters in my size range in the 180-190 range that will be very interesting to take on. Also, we have to keep in my mind that I’m a practicing doctor, so we have to see what the schedule holds, what the timing is, but I like to be optimistic rather than pessimistic, so I think there’s great things on the horizon.

“I think Jake Paul caught a lot of flack for being very inflammatory and instigative, and he had to do that to create a name for himself in boxing because otherwise people really wouldn’t pay attention to him. But now I’m very appreciative of the stuff he’s doing to improve fighter pay. He’s got Amanda Serrano fighting in sold-out Madison Square Garden. He helped her achieve that. I’ve become very close to her family and see how grateful she is for the things he’s helped her as a team achieve. So, if he keeps doing that, then that’s amazing and I want to see only continued success for him.”

# # #

ABOUT PAUL VS. SILVA

International superstar and serial risk-taker Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will face the biggest challenge of his career when he takes on UFC legend and accomplished boxer Anderson “The Spider” Silva in an eight-round bout at a catchweight of 187 pounds on Saturday, October 29 in a Most Valuable Promotions event live on SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Desert Diamond Arena, just outside of Phoenix, Ariz. In undercard action, teenage sensation Ashton Sylve will put his knockout streak on the line against Braulio Rodriguez in an eight-round lightweight bout contested at 133 pounds. Top 118-pound contenders and former world title challengers Alexandro “El Peque” Santiago and Antonio “Carita” Nieves will meet again in a 10-round rematch of their exciting 2016 showdown. Elite UFC striker Uriah Hall and former NFL star running back Le’Veon Bell will make their pro debuts in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 195 pounds. In addition, Chris Avila, a disciple of UFC superstar Nate Diaz, will square off against “Doctor Mike” Varshavski, a board-certified family physician and social media influencer, in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 185 pounds.

NEW YORK – October 13, 2022 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced today thattop 118-pound contenders and former world title challengers Alexandro “El Peque” Santiago and Antonio “Carita” Nieves will meet again in a 10-round rematch of their exciting 2016 showdown on the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva SHOWTIME PPV^® undercard on Saturday, October 29, live from Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Ariz., just outside Phoenix. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. 

Nieves, who previously faced unified junior bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, met Santiago for the first time on the SHOWTIME^® developmental series, SHOBOX: The New Generation^® in August 2016. Highlytouted prospects at the time, they became top contenders in their divisions fighting to a very competitive split decision draw.  Now, ranked in the top-15 in the deep bantamweight division, Santiago and Nieves look to get back into title contention with their upcoming matchup. Santiago, who was stepping up in weight and stepping in as a last-minute replacement, out-landed NABO titleholder Nieves in power punches from rounds six to 10, but the late surge was not enough for the Tijuana, Mexico native to win the contest with the bout resulting in judges’ scores of 96-94 Nieves 96-94 Santiago, 95-95.

The now 26-year-old Santiago (26-3-5, 13 KOs) also showed his potential in September 2018 when he fought former IBF 115-pound World Champion Jerwin Ancajas to a split-draw (118-110 Santiago, 116-112 Ancajas, 114-114). Santiago, who seldom breaks training camp, suffered his first defeat in eight years last November when he squared off against unbeaten bantamweight contender Gary Antonio Russell on SHOWTIME.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me. I’m thankful to my promoter Paco Damián, MVP and SHOWTIME for making it possible,” said Santiago. “It means a lot to me. Antonio Nieves is a world class fighter and I have a lot of respect for him, but we have unfinished business and this time I am not leaving it in the judges’ hands. I’m training very hard and I’m confident that after this fight we will be in line to face any of the great world champions in my division.”

Nieves (20-3-2, 11 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio, displayed his superior boxing skills and hand speed in his last outing against previously unbeaten Filipino prospect Judy Flores earning a convincing unanimous decision victory. Known for his technical skills and ability to measure his opponents, Nieves has never shied away from top opposition. He suffered his first defeat via controversial decision at the hands of Nikolai Potapov on SHOBOX^® in 2017.

“Jake is from my hometown, and I plan to represent Cleveland alongside him on the world stage. This fight will steal the show: it’s Puerto Rico versus Mexico all over again,” said Nieves, whose parents are Puerto Rican. “We fought a super close fight six years ago and since then we both have had similar paths. We have both fought world-class competition, we have both fought for the world championship. We both know that a win here will catapult us back into world-title contention. We both have lost some very close decisions along the way. This fight won’t end in a decision. I’m the bigger man. I will walk him down. He won’t last 10 rounds this time. I’m not leaving this up to the judges.”

In a battle of undefeated heavyweights, Jeremiah “Dream Land” Milton (6-0, 5 KOs) will square off against Quintin Sumpter (5-0, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout in the non-televised portion of the Silva vs. Paul undercard. Milton, a former sparring partner of heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury and contenders Luis Ortiz and Joe Joyce, and Sumpter, a former college football player, were originally scheduled to meet on August 6 on the Paul vs. Hasim Rahman Jr. undercard before the fight was canceled due to Rahman’s inability to meet the contracted weight.

The Las Vegas-based 6-foot-4 Milton turned pro in August 2020 with a devastating 75-second, first-round knockout of Dennis Vance Jr. The Tulsa, Okla., native was a 2019 U.S. Olympic Trials Silver Medalist. He will face a sizeable challenge in the six-foot, 220-pound Brooklyn born and raised Sumpter who previously played defensive end for the Northeastern State University NCAA Division II football team. Sumpter now trains out of Pittsfield, Mass. Also in action that night, will be top prospect Eliezer Silva (1-0), of Los Angeles, Calif., who made a successful pro debut against Terry Roscoe in a four-round bout last September. He will square off against Phillip “Fresh” Carmouche (2-3), of Las Vegas, in a four-round super welterweight bout.

International superstar and serial risk-taker Paul will face the biggest challenge of his career when he takes on UFC legend and accomplished boxer Silva in an eight-round bout at a catchweight of 187 pounds. In the co-main event, teenage sensation Ashton Sylve will put his knockout streak on the line against Braulio Rodriguez in an eight-round lightweight bout contested at 133 pounds. In undercard action, elite UFC striker Uriah Hall and former NFL star running back Le’Veon Bell will make their pro debuts in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 195 pounds. Chris Avila, a disciple of UFC superstar Nate Diaz, will square off against “Doctor Mike” Varshavski, a board-certified family physician and social media influencer, in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 185 pounds to open the pay-per-view.

The Paul vs. Silva event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow #PaulSilva, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com. 

GLENDALE, ARIZ. – October 13, 2022 – Elite UFC striker Uriah Hall and former NFL star running back Le’Veon Bell sized each other up and placed their names squarely in the Jake Paul sweepstakes during a virtual press conference on Thursday to preview their professional boxing match on Saturday, October 29 as part of the event headlined by Paul vs. UFC legend Anderson Silva at Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Ariz., just outside Phoenix. Both Hall and Bell will make their pro boxing debuts in an event co-produced by Most Valuable Promotions and SHOWTIME PPV in a four-round cruiserweight bout. But they made it clear on Thursday they view their MMA vs. NFL matchup as a prelude to a mega-fight with Paul.

“That’s the only reason why I’m here, man,” the former UFC standout Hall said to combat sports journalist and press conference host Ariel Helwani. “To fight Jake Paul.”

“This is the bridge to get the Jake Paul fight,” said the former Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets running back.

During the media call, Hall and Bell also went back-and-forth over who the better athlete is, whether Bell bit off more than he could chew by facing such a decorated combat sports athlete, how Hall will cope without being able to rely on his kicks in the ring, how Bell said he would help former Steelers and Bucs teammate Antonio Brown prepare for a match with Paul, and more.

The Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva Most Valuable Promotions SHOWTIME PPV is available now for purchase in the United States at SHOWTIME.com/ppv and via the SHOWTIME^® app for a suggested retail price of $59.99 (SRP). The official promo for the event was inspired by the 1983 cult classic Scarface and was released today and is available to watch and share HERE.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

Here is what Hall, Bell and Helwani had to say on Thursday:

URIAH HALL

“I love mixed martial arts and I love to compete. I’m a competitor. My coach called me about this and it piqued my interest. I’m just very competitive so I told him to give me some reasons to do it and he did. So that’s why I’m here. I’m the type of guy that has to be interested in something. If it’s fun and I see something that’s challenging, then I’ll do it.

“No offense but I had never heard of Le’Veon Bell till it was brought up to me. I barely watch my own sport. I didn’t know who he was, and I checked it out. Listen, at the end of the day he’s a stud at what he does and an athlete. What we’re both going out there to do is utilize that platform of a challenge. Yeah, we’re getting paid for it, but it’s a challenge. That he wants to step into that world, kudos to him. I don’t really know, but for me I’m just a competitor at heart.”

What is the reason for taking this fight?

“To fight Jake Paul [laughing]. The mind is not just focused on Jake Paul though. It’s exciting. We had some online exchanges a long time ago and I just wanted to show him what a real fight is.

“I’m here to represent myself. The world’s not going to like you. I have to look out for me at the end of the day. I’m a competitor first. From a business aspect all the other things can come with it, the limelight and all that, I don’t look at that stuff. I have blinders on and I’m just focused. I see him only. He’s in my vicinity and I have a task at hand and something to focus on. My mentality is I’d rather die [than lose] and I have that commitment to myself. I mean, you’d have to kill me. That’s my mentality.

“I don’t look at it like he’s biting off more than he can chew. I think he’s stepping out of his comfort zone. 

“MMA is just grueling on the body. I know when I’m getting ready for an MMA fight you have to train seven different disciplines…And then there’s strength training. And then you’ve got to recover and there’s days you feel like [crap] and then you have to get up and do it again the next day. It’s such a toll on your body. The best way I can explain it is you know how a dog ages like seven years. That’s how it is for a fighter. You just age faster. It’s so much pressure you put on your body. But kudos to these guys for trying to do it.

“As an athlete I just know from a competitive standpoint you want to step out of your comfort zone. Look at Deron Williams. He’s a basketball player and a wrestler and he did it. He had fun with it.  

“Whatever he brings, I have to adjust. In mixed martial arts if someone’s kicking the crap out of me, I’ve got to adjust and punch him or take him down, or vice versa. And that’s why I love mixed martial arts so much. There are just so many other attributes. I feel like boxing is so one-dimensional. You know what to expect. Granted, some people are faster with their hands. But I know he’s fast, and I’m fast. I know he hits hard, and I hit hard too. So I think it comes down to whoever goes out there and imposes their will.

“I’m happy for Anderson. He actually texted me when he found out I was on the card and he was like, ‘Man, I’m so happy I’m going to see you.’ My goal was to train with (him), and I never got the chance and I’ve always wanted to do that. We’ve agreed to do that after this fight. Anderson is just so unique. He’s so dynamic and so smooth in there. I feel like he’s more of a boxer. I watch him move, and I learn everything from this guy. Because he was my hero at one time, and he still is. Anderson was the one who gave me the advice that if you think you’re old, you’re old. It’s a mindset.”

LE’VEON BELL

“This is something that I’ve been wanting to do for the past two or three years. Obviously, I’ve been playing football but once the fight happened with Adrien Peterson – not long after I was on the show with Jake Paul, and he was talking about fighting another running back. And I was like, ‘No, I don’t want to fight another running back.’ So, he brought up Uriah Hall’s name and I thought that would be a great opponent for me, a guy who’s been spectacular in his profession. To step in the ring and move around with him, I knew it would be a great opportunity for me to test my skills and see how good I really am. I didn’t want to keep fighting the same level of guys. I wanted to keep upping the level and Uriah Hall is a great opponent.

“A lot of people feel that I’m biting off more than I can chew. But a lot of people don’t know how seriously I’m taking this because they don’t know exactly how hard I’ve been working. I think it’s going to be a great test and we’ll see what happens but I’m excited.

“Like he said, it’s going to be a great challenge for him [switching to boxing] because a lot of things he was great at, like kicking – he obviously can’t do in boxing. He’s still a great striker, using his hands so he’s taking on a challenge and he’s going to be ready, and I feel like the same with me. I know he’s going to be prepared and ready and he’s going to be in shape, so I have to up my level.

“I feel like I’m one of the better athletes walking around this planet. I’m known for football but even when I was playing football, I was also playing basketball. I’m one of the best basketball players you’ll probably ever meet but people wouldn’t know that because I’m not in the NBA but that’s just how I feel. Anything I pick up and do, I catch on pretty quick, other than golf. But everything else I’ve been the cream of the crop because I get addicted to it and lock it in quickly.

“I feel like I have to handle business with Uriah [to get the Jake Paul fight]. But at some point, yeah [I want that fight]. But mine’s not just limited to Jake Paul.

After hearing Hall admit he used his legs against a boxer inside the ring during sparring and if he’s concerned Hall will do the same October 29

“Yeah, for real. I’m like damn. I don’t know how to defend kicks. I haven’t practiced that. But I know he’s a professional and he will control himself. But if there’s something you’ve done your entire life, it still will be in his head to [do] it. It’s going to be a tough challenge for him. I know that. But I’m not trying to defend leg kicks and sweeps [laughing].

“I feel great physically and I feel like I can do [boxing] for years to come. I don’t know exactly how long but I know it’s not going to be a one-off or a two-off. I’ll be around for a minute, continually trying to get better and find new opponents and sharpen my skills.

“Hands down preparing for a fight [is tougher than preparing for a football game]. Football camps were hard and tough on my body, but that was before I knew about boxing camp and understanding how tough and intense the boxing workouts were. That’s every day. I would say boxing for sure [is tougher].

“This is a much tougher challenge [than Peterson] because Hall’s been fighting for 17 years. When I fought Adrian Peterson, there were times when I thought he was a little timid because maybe it was his first fight. But I don’t think Uriah will be that way. I feel Uriah will be more confident because he’s been facing fighters for 17 years. He’s been hit before, not just by punches but by kicks. I have a guy who’s actually trying to fight me back.

“That feeling was crazy [of knocking someone out]. I had games where I had 200 yards and three touchdowns but that feeling that I had of knocking someone out tops the cake over any initial feeling I ever had in football. Hands down…I’m done with the football thing because I can’t go back and forth with football and boxing. It’s so hard to try and box and to still do football. Boxing is the kind of thing you have to be all the way in.

“Jake from his first fight to this fight, he’s gotten better each fight. He’s continually gotten sharper. He’s taking the sport seriously. He’s not a guy who’s just talking and obviously Silva is going to be a great test for him. Silva has been doing this for years. He’s a legend so it’s going to be a great challenge for Jake. I’m looking forward to watching it.

“In 2016 or 2017, I started using boxing as an extra workout for football. Over that time, [I went] from doing it once a week to twice a week, to eventually years down the line sparring and becoming more invested in it, I started falling in love with it and as time went on — I started to realize I was good at it.

“Me and [former Steelers and Bucs teammate Antonio Brown] stay in touch all the time. He almost walked me out for my last fight. I would work out with AB [if he ever faced Paul]. For sure.”

ARIEL HELWANI

“I think Uriah Hall is a tremendous striker. I think he is appropriately the betting favorite going into this fight. I think it’s going to be interesting and I think a lot of people are curious to see when his kicks and his knees aren’t available, how’s it going to look? Clearly, Le’Veon has power. I think he’s an incredible athlete.

“I can’t wait for this. I think it’s going to be a really, really fun spectacle. It’s a card that has something for everyone.”

# # #

ABOUT PAUL VS. SILVA

International superstar and serial risk-taker Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will face the biggest challenge of his career when he takes on UFC legend and accomplished boxer Anderson “The Spider” Silva in an eight-round bout at a catchweight of 187 pounds on Saturday, October 29 in a Most Valuable Promotions event live on SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Desert Diamond Arena, just outside of Phoenix, Ariz. In undercard action, teenage sensation Ashton Sylve will put his knockout streak on the line against Braulio Rodriguez in an eight-round lightweight bout contested at 133 pounds. Top 118-pound contenders and former world title challengers Alexandro “El Peque” Santiago and Antonio “Carita” Nieves will meet again in a 10-round rematch of their exciting 2016 showdown. Elite UFC striker Uriah Hall and former NFL star running back Le’Veon Bell will make their pro debuts in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 195 pounds. In addition, Chris Avila, a disciple of UFC superstar Nate Diaz, will square off against “Doctor Mike” Varshavski, a board-certified family physician and social media influencer, in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 185 pounds.

QUINCY, Mass. (October 10, 2022) – Undefeated Pittsfield (MA) Quintin Sumpter (5-0, 3 KOs heavyweight has been preparing a long time for his expected breakout fight on October 29^th against Jeremiah “Dream Land” Milton (6-0, 5 KOs) ) in a 6-round bout on the Jake Paul-Anderson Silva Pay-per-view undercard at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Sumpter was originally slated to fight Milton this past August 6^th on the Paul-Hasim Rahman, Jr. PPV card at the famed Madison Square Garden, but the entire card was canceled because Rahman couldn’t make the agreed upon weight.

Sumpter may still be fighting Milton, however, he’ll be traveling to Arizona instead of the Big Apple.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sumpter moved away in 2006 to attend college.

“It was very frustrating,” Sumpter admitted regarding the Aug. 6^th cancellation. “I got ready to fight and sacrificed a lot, but I’m back on track. I’m disappointed to not be fighting at Madison Square Garden, but I’ve never been to Arizona. It’s still a big fight.”

The 6’ 0”, 220-pound Sumpter will be giving away 4-inches and 10-pounds to Milton, who was a defensive end on Northeastern State University’s football team. Sumpter, though, doesn’t feel that he’s at a size disadvantage against Milton.

“He’s big and strong,” Sumpter commented, “but I’ve been fighting giants at training camp. One guy was 6’ 9”, 300 pounds. I’ll be there (vs. Milton). I’ve trained 8 weeks total for this fight.

“People know me in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Winning this fight will open a lot more eyes for me in boxing.”

“Quintin has done everything right from the onset of his pro career,” Sumpter’s promoter Chris Traietti (Granite Chin Promotions) added. “He is one of those guys that ‘gets it.’ He turned professional at an older age, so he knew right away that we have to move at a rapid but not reckless pace. He took on undefeated Tim Hatfield, then the rugged Tracey Johnson, all within his first 5 fights. Now for his sixth fight, he is going on the road to fight another undefeated prospect, who I’m confident won’t be undefeated after October 29^th. Winning this fight puts ‘Q’ on the ‘national prospect’ stage. The larger promoters will be taking a close look at him. I am never one to put the cart before the horse, so we will see what his options are after the 29^th, and we will make the best decision for the next step in his career.”

INFORMATION:  

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

Instagram: @chinchekker_qt

GLENDALE, ARIZ. – October 5, 2022 – Ashton “H20” Sylve, Most Valuable Promotion’s teenage sensation and one of boxing’s most exciting prospects, promised to make it “eight KOs in eight fights” during a virtual press conference on Wednesday alongside his upcoming opponent Braulio Rodriguez, who vowed to continue the recent string of success for Dominican boxers in the sport. Sylve vs. Rodriguez takes place Saturday, October 29 from Desert Diamond Arena (formerly Gila River Arena) in Glendale, Ariz., just outside of Phoenix, live on SHOWTIME PPV^® in a Most Valuable Promotions event.

Also speaking with the media to preview their October 29 showdown were two of the sport’s most intriguing newcomers, combat sports veteran and Nate Diaz disciple Chris Avila and his opponent, “Dr. Mike” Varshavski, a board-certified family physician and social media influencer with nearly 23 million followers.  Avila, a veteran of both the UFC and BELLATOR, hopes that a strong performance against Varshavski can lead to more opportunities against top boxers while “Dr. Mike” shed light on his motivation behind making his pro boxing debut and revealed that he will be donating his entire fight purse to the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem in New York City.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say on Wednesday:

ASHTON SYLVE

“We came together as a team to figure out what opponent is best for my career path. I don’t want to rush anything. I’m only 18 years old so I don’t want to put anything past the speed that we’re going but we all felt like this is a great step-up fight. Every fighter that I’ve fought was a step-up. This fight will let me showcase my talents and show that I am built for this.

“The message that I’m trying to send is that I’m built for this and that I’ve been groomed for this since the amateurs where I was going overseas and fighting different kinds of fighters and doing everything that has led to where I am now. That message will be sent on October 29.

“The knockout streak will definitely continue. That’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m not going in there with the mindset that I will take him out in the first round but if it comes, it comes. But yes, the streak will continue.

“Rodriguez is an experienced fighter. He knows different techniques. But at the end of the day, I think he is low-key a sloppy fighter. He’s a sloppy and dirty fighter from what I saw from the Ryan Garcia fight. But we will see on October 29.

“This is something I’ve dreamed of my entire life so of course this is going to be big. This is just my eighth fight and being on this platform will put me in the next stage and show everyone who H20 is.

“Jake Paul is a great guy. He is teaching me both the game of boxing and outside of boxing. He’s more like a brother to me. Promotion wise, you see where I’m at and where Amanda [Serrano] is at so those are examples right there.

“I don’t feel any pressure at all being on this stage. I’ve been in the spotlight since I was eight years old. I was recognized by Floyd at an early age. I don’t think there is any pressure from here on out. I’ve been dealing with this type of stuff with my family and friends and the city of Long Beach so stuff like this doesn’t bring any pressure to me.

“I envision the fight as me knocking him out. I don’t see myself on the other side of the table. I respect him of course. But the other side of respect is being earned, so he has to earn it by showing up. For him to fight back, that’s a great thing because I feel like my other opponents didn’t bring the type of pressure he is about to bring so it’s going to be an exciting fight. I can’t wait.

“I always want to put on a phenomenal performance first and foremost, rather than just focusing on having a knockout. But I’m not overlooking him and I believe that breaking him down will be the key to success in this fight. If I break him down, sooner or later the knockout will come.”

BRAULIO RODRIGUEZ

“This is going to be a great fight. It’s going to come down to who takes care of the details best and who is the most ready to fight when the time comes. The goal is to give the fans a great fight and to show that I am here to stay.

“I feel like it’s night and day compared to when I fought against Ryan Garcia – I underestimated him. I didn’t prepare the way I should have. I only had eleven days to prepare for that fight, but that’s not an excuse. I know that I was punished for overlooking how dangerous Garcia could be. Now I’m more mature. I’m ready to show the world best version of myself.  I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. I’m taking Sylve very seriously.

“Ashton can say whatever he wants, but I do agree with him that this fight isn’t going to reach the judges. It’s going to be do-or-die. You knock me out or I knock you out. I know what I’m doing inside the ring, and I know exactly what I have to do to come out victorious in this fight. I see your confidence and I see what you’re saying, but let’s see what happens inside the ring on October 29. The rest is just talk.

“When it comes to the Ryan Garcia fight, I was not in the proper shape. I overlooked the fight and underestimated Garcia and I paid the price. I’ve also won plenty of fights by knockout. I shouldn’t be defined by just that one loss. I’m in a new stage of my life where I feel at peace and I’m in great physical and mental shape right now. Ashton Sylve is a great opponent and we’re going to put on a great show. When it comes time to show my worth, trust me, I’m going to show that I am willing and able to show that I am the real deal.

“Dominican boxing is on fire right now. My compatriot Edwin De Los Santos was an underdog against Jose Valenzuela and he came out with the win. Alberto Puello and Hector Garcia were great and proved why they are champions. I hope that I can join that club now by proving that I am a quality fighter. With all due respect to Sylve, I’m a professional fighter who has a lot of talent. I know what I can do and I hope to continue the Dominican line of success and make everybody proud.

“My strategy is focused on Ashton’s inexperience because he has never fought against somebody of my quality or my experience. Put the Ryan Garcia fight aside and I have a 95 percent knockout rate. 18 out of 20. Ashton, don’t get cocky. If you do, then boxing and life will surprise you in ways that you least expect. I have firsthand experience in that given how I underestimated that Ryan Garcia fight. My experience can be the deciding factor in this fight.

“I just want to win and don’t care whether it’s by knockout or decision. I respect Ashton a lot and know that he has tremendous talent. I know that it’s not going to be easy, but I’m going in there like it’s do-or-die. I’m going to have my arm raised in the end and I don’t care how.”

CHRIS AVILA

“I’m excited to fight on this card against a good opponent. I’m ready to showcase that I’m a real boxer and I’m just happy to be able to fight on such a good card. I’m excited to go out there and put on a good show for everybody.

“I do believe Dr. Mike is playing a dangerous game. I’m not overlooking anybody. It’s a dangerous game. It’s the fight game, so I’m ready.

“I think this is just the next step that’s going to line me up for better fights that I want and deserve. I plan on fighting real competition and real boxers after this fight. I want to get back to facing real competition, but I’ll fight anybody at the end of the day. Why not take this fight?

“I saw a little bit of his fight against [iDubbbz]. I’m sure he’s got a little bit of a skillset. I’m taking him seriously.

“I plan to go in there and look for the finish like I always do. It’s whatever. I don’t care about what anybody says. We’re boxing. I believe in myself and believe I can do whatever I want.

“There’s no extra pressure because people expect me to win and knock him out. I take my stuff very seriously. I’m taking this fight, going to get it done, and then I want to line myself up for a real fight after this and get back to fighting high-level competition. I’m not overlooking this guy at all, though. I’m taking him seriously. I want to get in there with a vet, somebody like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. I was in talks to fight him a while back and I would like to get in there with him.

“I’ve been fighting real fighters my whole career. I’ll fight anybody. Whoever wants to fight me, what’s up? I ain’t tripping.

“I just want to show the boxing world that I’m a real boxer. I’ve been in the game for a while. It’s just the beginning for me. I’m always going to be fighting. I’m still young. I still have a lot in me. It’s just the beginning.”

“DR. MIKE” VARSHAVSKI

“I’m extremely excited to be a part of this event and to be on SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View. It’s obviously a dream for any fighter and I realize the blessing and opportunity I have in front of me, so I’ve been working extremely hard with my coaches and making sure I’m putting in the valuable work while maintaining my day job as a physician.

“I do suspend that Hippocratic oath of do no harm when I step into the ring, but I respect the fight game. I have incredible respect for Chris Avila and the work he’s put in as a combat veteran. When I was younger, I would frequently throw around words that this fighter is not that good or this fighter is amazing or this fighter is a bum, but being in the fight game to the small degree that I am now, I realize the work that all fighters put in, so I have tremendous respect for everyone that steps into the ring.

“Twenty-three million followers, in a very successful day job — I’m doing this to inspire people to reach their full potential. I’m trying to lead by example to show you should take on challenges when it’s a challenge you feel you can accomplish, and this is something I’ve always wanted to take on.

“I fell in love with boxing 11 or 12 years ago when my mom passed away and I was really struggling to find ways to stay active and healthy and boxing became a passion of mine. I was doing it for fitness, which is what I recommend to my viewers. Not everyone has to step into the ring to enjoy what boxing can deliver, but over the last year or two I’ve been training very hard and sparring with amateurs and professionals. I understand this isn’t a game. I know that people can get really hurt. I’m not only a boxer but I’m also a doctor at the end of the day, so I know the dangers involved with stepping into the ring.

“This is my pro debut. I had an exhibition fight earlier this year that was comfortable and now I’m drastically stepping up the quality of opponent that I’m going to be competing against. Chris is a veteran in the fight game, he’s never been knocked out, he’s a tough guy, he comes from a tough training background. I didn’t want to go in and have an easy fight and fight other YouTubers that didn’t have any training or experience. If I want to do this for real, I need to see what it’s like and this was a great opportunity, so I’m grateful for Chris for giving me this opportunity.

“In May I stepped into a main event that was sold out with over 100,000 pay-per-view buys. I did quite well. It was a five-round fight. The judges gave me every round. The quality of the competition — I felt I could handle more. It would be cool to fight YouTubers if it was about raising clout, making money. That’s not what this is about for me. In fact, I’m donating my entire fight purse to the Harlem Boys & Girls Club of New York. This is a challenge that I set for myself and that I take quite seriously.

“I’m confident going into this fight because of my coach, Thomas Baldwin, who has really guided me on this journey. What’s interesting about this relationship is that even though he’s been training me for 10 years, I take care of his family as their physician. He entrusts me with their lives, so I then entrust my life to him. He believes I’m ready, so I believe I’m ready.

“To me this is about reaching the top of my potential, which is something I tell all my viewers to do, and I get a lot of joy inside that ring. I can’t imagine doing something else right now. Despite the fact I’m working two or three days a week in the hospital, filming two and three days a week for the YouTube channel, just launched a new podcast with a new guest Steve-O, coming out next week that I’m really excited about – I still continue training twice a day, six days a week, just like any other professional, making sure I eat right, and making sure I rest. It’s just a true passion and I truly want to give my one last shot before I age out of competitive fitness.

“The game of life is inherently dangerous. Whatever we choose to do — whether it’s crossing the street, driving to work, taking an airplane, skydiving, there’s inherent risks all around us. The goal as a doctor is to balance those risks with enjoyment of life and for me this is a risk that is calculated and that I’m willing to take for the passion of the sport. And to be frank, I’m not going to be a boxer for 10-15 years and take punishment. If I do this, it will be for the next few years as a really strong passion of mine and to see how far I can go. So, this is a risk that I’ve calculated well for my family and friends.” 

#          #          #

ABOUT PAUL VS. SILVA

International superstar and serial risk-taker Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will face the biggest challenge of his career when he takes on UFC legend and accomplished boxer Anderson “The Spider” Silva in an eight-round bout at a catchweight of 187 pounds on Saturday, October 29 in a Most Valuable Promotions event live on SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Desert Diamond Arena, just outside of Phoenix, Ariz. In undercard action, teenage sensation Ashton Sylve will put his knockout streak on the line against Braulio Rodriguez in an eight-round lightweight bout contested at 133 pounds. Chris Avila, a disciple of UFC superstar Nate Diaz, will square off against “Doctor Mike” Varshavski, a board-certified family physician and social media influencer, in a four-round cruiserweight bout contracted at 185 pounds. 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow #PaulSilva, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

NEW YORK – September 20, 2022 – One of boxing’s most exciting prospects, Ashton “H20” Sylve and two of its most intriguing newcomers, Chris Avila and Mikhail “Doctor Mike” Varshavski highlight the SHOWTIME PPV undercard on Saturday, October 29 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) headlined by Jake “The Problem Child” Paul vs. UFC legend Anderson “The Spider” Silva at formerly Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., just outside Phoenix. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

Teenage sensation Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs) will increase his level of competition and put his knockout streak on the line against durable Braulio Rodriguez (20-4, 17 KOs) of the Dominican Republic in an eight-round lightweight bout contested at 133 pounds. Avila, a disciple of UFC superstar Nate Diaz, will look to make a statement against “Dr. Mike” Varshavski, a board-certified family physician and social media influencer with nearly 23 million followers. Their four-round cruiserweight bout is contracted at 185 pounds.

The first prospect signed by MVP, Sylve of Long Beach, Calif., has stopped all his opponents in four rounds or less, demonstrating hair-trigger reflexes. The 18-year-old recently knocked out Giovanni Gutierrez in the first round of his MVP debut at lightweight in May. He fought three times in 2021 and twice thus far in 2022. A gifted amateur who turned pro at 16 with over 100 wins and 10 national titles to his credit, Sylve first rose to fame as an eight-year-old when a training video made by his father, Ivan, went viral, leading to an invite to Floyd Mayweather’s storied gym in Las Vegas. 

“This is a dream come true and I’m really excited for the opportunity to put on a spectacular performance on SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View,” Sylve said. “This is my toughest opponent yet and I’ve been training hard. I’m looking forward to introducing the world to H2O on October 29th.”

Sylve is facing an experienced opponent in Rodriguez, who has scored knockouts in all but three of his wins thanks to an aggressive, swing for the fences style. When he’s lost, it has come against top-flight opposition. Rodriguez has shared the ring with lightweight contender Ryan Garcia and title challenger Christopher Diaz. He dropped a split decision to then undefeated prospect Alberto Mercado and a unanimous decision to then unbeaten Carlos Diaz, the first blemish of his career after scoring 15-straight knockouts to start his pro campaign.

“I’ve fought on big stages before and I’m going to take full advantage of this great opportunity to show fans what I’m capable of,” Rodriguez said. “I’m thankful for this chance. October 29^th can’t come soon enough.”

A veteran of both the UFC and Bellator, Chris Avila (1-1 as a boxer) has made the walk for 17 professional fights and has never been stopped or hurt during his time in the cage and ring. Making his second appearance on a Jake Paul card, the 28-year-old Stockton, Calif., native is an everyday training partner of Nate Diaz, and signature member of the Nick Diaz Army. As was the case in Tampa, Fla., when Avila beat Anthony Taylor in a super middleweight boxing match last December, Diaz and more than 40 members of the Nick Diaz Army will once again be present for Avila when he takes on “Dr. Mike.” With a reputation as an aggressive fighter, Avila’s calling card overhand right landed him two first round KOs in 2021 in MMA fights, and a 3-0 combat sports record for the year. 

“Hmmmm, let’s see. I am giving him a height advantage, a reach advantage and a medical degree advantage,” Avila said. “It’s whatever though. If he wants to go to boxing fantasy camp, then I’m glad to give him the lesson he wants. A real fight against a real fighter who is not here to play games or clout chase for Instagram.”

It’s a good bet Avila has never faced anyone with a bedside manner like “Dr. Mike” Varshavski. Voted “Sexiest Doctor Alive” by People Magazine, the 6-3 Varshavski will attempt to prescribe a steady diet of right hands to Avila in his pro boxing debut. A fitness nut with over 10 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, “Dr. Mike” bloodied and battered YouTube personality Ian “iDubbbz” Washburn this past May in the main event of Creator Clash to walk away with a victory in the exhibition bout. If “Dr. Mike” puts forth a similar effort on October 29, the prognosis could be grim for Avila. “Dr. Mike” donated his entire purse in May to help relief efforts in Ukraine and plans to donate his purse on October 29 to a Boys & Girls Club of NYC.

“As a practicing physician, I’ve taken an oath to ‘do no harm,’ but when those ‘exam’ gloves come off and the boxing gloves slide on, all bets are off,” Dr. Varshavski said. “With one win under my belt, I’m hungry to add more. And this pro fight with Chris Avila could be just what the doctor ordered.”

The Paul vs. Silva event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.  

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Los Angeles – September 12, 2022 – In a press conference that broke new ground for the amount of respect and appreciation on display, Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and Anderson “The Spider” Silva showed that fighters don’t have to exchange insults to spread the word on a matchup that promises to deliver fireworks. The two sat for Monday’s kickoff press conference to hype their mega fight on Saturday, October 29 at Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. live on SHOWTIME PPV contracted for eight rounds at a catchweight of 187 pounds. Paul and Silva even posed for photos together with Paul’s brother Logan to recreate a snapshot the trio took 13 years ago.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, September 14 at 1 p.m. ET and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, The press conference was hosted by former BELLATOR MMA and UFC world title contender and Silva rival Chael Sonnen and streamed live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube event page HERE and on Paul’s YouTube event page HERE.

A press tour that started Monday in Los Angeles at the NeueHouse Hollywood will continue Tuesday at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., with both Paul and Silva taking center stage once again.

Paul has made no secret of his admiration for Silva, an MMA legend who holds the UFC record for the longest title reign in the organization’s history (nearly seven years) and the most consecutive UFC victories (16) and has now successfully transitioned to boxing. Silva announced his return as a world-class boxer in June 2021 when he soundly defeated former middleweight boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., via split decision that wasn’t as close as the scores indicated. 

Silva has also voiced his appreciation for Paul and what he’s been able to accomplish in boxing in such a short time. The Sports Illustrated 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year, Paul last fought December 2021 when he recorded one of the year’s most spectacular knockouts – a one -punch KO of former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in front of a sold-out crowd on SHOWTIME PPV. 

Despite the mutual admiration, Paul predicted the bout won’t go past five rounds and pledged to get a spider tattoo if Silva wins on October 29.

Here’s a sampling of what the participants had to say at Monday’s press conference:

JAKE PAUL

“I signed up for the hardest sport in the world and I love it. That’s what I’m built for, and I love a challenge. I grew up idolizing (Silva). For me this is even surreal that I’m even sitting here, I need to take a moment to be like, ‘Is this real with all the cameras?’ I was sitting on a couch watching this guy as a kid and here we are.

“Anderson Silva is the nicest person, and we love him. If my opponent is a di**head, I’m going to treat him like a di**head and beat his ass. But I respect this man, I’m still going to knock him out, but respectfully knock him out.

“I’m built for this, sparring world champions in the gym getting ready for Anderson. Obviously he’s a southpaw, my first time going up against a southpaw. But I love this, man. I truly feel I was put on earth and destined to box, and this will be my biggest stage yet and biggest test yet. But I’m a young man and I’m excited to get this experience under my belt because the fights are just going to keep on getting bigger. This is just the start.

“Only been preparing as a pro really for three years, I made my pro debut less than three years ago. But time management is crucial. We have the best coaches, the best nutrition, and we just work hard man, that’s been the key to my success and the key to my brother’s success is just nonstop work every single day, showing up and being present you know? And to be honest man I’m addicted to this, so no matter how hard I have to work (I do it).

“This is it. This is a make-or-break moment. I know I have someone who just beat a world champion of boxing right in front of me.

“Played them like a fiddle (the MMA community). Got them watching. In my pocket.

“If you beat me, I’ll get a spider tattoo.

“I have an opponent who is a real professional who will make weight and I won’t have to worry about doing a whole training camp.

“On the inside he gets a little shifty. We have sparring partners who will imitate him. He is the first southpaw I’m facing.”

“It won’t go more than five.”

ANDERSON SILVA

“First of all, guys, everyone needs to respect this guy. Why? Because it opens the door for everyone to think about something new and I’m so excited and so happy to be here. How many years ago did you come to take a picture with your brother? I fought a lot in my entire life and I’m here again with the new generation. That’s the proof that everyone can do anything in their life if you believe in yourself and you have the passion and love.

“The energy involved in this fight is so amazing. A lot of people think about, ‘Anderson you’re crazy, why do you do that?’ You know what, that’s a good challenge for me because Gabriel and Elias and my son Kalyl beat me every day in the boxing training and I say, ‘I can do that, I think I can do that you know?’

“Boxing in my life is very special because I grew up watching a lot of boxing and training with Brazilian coaches. I come to this sport to show my respect to the sport and the professional fighters. I’m happy to be here to continue my job at 47.

“First of all, my motivation is that I love it. I love combat sports. Second of all, I have five kids. I love challenges my entire life. Every single time people ask me why I do this, I say I’m doing something I love.

“I train every day. I won’t stop training. I keep working because that’s my life. I will pass this to the new generation, do your best.

“You don’t need to get a spider tattoo. I know you’re my fan. I’m your fan too. Big fan. I hate tattoos bro. I don’t have tattoos.

“It’s the same energy, a fight is a fight. I’m training and doing my best.”

# # #

The Paul vs. Silva event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.  

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

NEW YORK – September 6, 2022 – Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and SHOWTIME SPORTS^® today announced that international superstar and serial risk-taker Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will face the biggest challenge of his career when he takes on UFC legend and professional boxer Anderson “The Spider” Silva at Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday, October 29 live on SHOWTIME PPV. The bout will be contested over eight rounds at a catchweight of 187 pounds. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, September 14 at 1 p.m. ET and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

Often compared to the Muhammad Ali and Pelé of mixed martial arts, Silva authored one of the strongest resumes of any MMA fighter before returning to pro boxing in 2021. Silva holds the UFC record for the longest title reign in the organization’s history: 2,457 days; the most consecutive UFC victories: 16 and the most finishes in UFC title fights: nine. Known for his superb striking ability in the cage, Silva (34-11, 1 NC in mixed martial arts) has found success as he’s transitioned to boxing in a remarkable second act of his career. The Brazilian announced his return as a world-class boxer in June 2021 when he soundly defeated former middleweight boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., via split decision that wasn’t as close as the scores indicated. 

After scheduled bouts with pro boxers Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr. were scuttled, Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) will square off against arguably a far tougher opponent. With deft footwork and an educated jab, Silva showed against Chavez that he is near the peak of his striking powers in what shapes up to be one of the most intriguing bouts of 2022.

“Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva is the most versatile fighter the world has ever seen,” said Paul. “Just a year ago he outclassed boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and showed the world why he is often referred to as the greatest fighter of all time. Every expert, from MMA to boxing, has said Jake Paul won’t fight Anderson Silva. They said Jake Paul is afraid of Anderson Silva, and Jake Paul would lose to Anderson Silva. Well, to all the non-believers – Jake Paul is fighting Anderson Silva. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to share the ring with the greatest UFC striker of all time. On Saturday, October 29, I will walk humbly into the ring, touch gloves with a living legend and do my best to exterminate ‘The Spider.’”

“I know that in life everything has its purpose,” Silva said. “Nothing comes just by chance. So, I thank God for my health, my family and my team for providing me with this opportunity to continue doing the thing that I love the most. I believe this will be the biggest combat event of the year and will truly make history in the sport forever. See you on October 29.”

“Jake Paul continues to take on challenges that other professional fighters at his experience level and popularity never have,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder MVP. “Jake appreciates the platform that he has and always aims to provide fans with a compelling product that drives engagement. Anderson Silva is unequivocally the most exciting striker in UFC history. Those abilities have translated into his professional boxing career, and he most certainly has the ability to end Jake’s unbeaten streak. It’s an honor for Most Valuable Promotions to have one of the GOATs of combat sports headline our event. He is already a Hall of Famer in our books.”

The two fighters will go face-to-face for the first time during back-to-back press events on Monday, September 12 in Los Angeles and on Tuesday, September 13 in Phoenix. Paul, who has done inspiring charity work with his Boxing Bullies foundation, is looking forward to supporting boys and girls in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. “I am excited to bring this massive event to Phoenix and give back to the local community through my Boxing Bullies foundation,” said Paul.

After establishing himself as an all-time great in MMA from 1997 to 2020, Silva has continued to impress with his latest boxing run. He most recently knocked out fellow MMA legend Tito Ortiz in 81 seconds in September 2021 with a huge counter-right hand followed by a left to move his boxing record to three wins, one loss, with two wins by knockout. That followed his dazzling effort against Chavez, who entered their matchup with 58 fights and 34 knockouts and had gone toe-to-toe with some of boxing’s best – champions like Canelo Alvarez, Sergio Martinez and Danny Jacobs. It mattered little as Silva repeatedly let his hands go in combinations, displaying a fluency in the boxing ring that seemed to confound Chavez and doesn’t bode well for Paul. Silva’s only loss in boxing came in 1998 in his boxing debut.

The Sports Illustrated 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year, Paul last fought December 2021 when he recorded one of the year’s most spectacular knockouts – a one -punch KO of former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in front of a sold-out crowd on SHOWTIME PPV. Paul next booked a fight with undefeated cruiserweight Tommy Fury, brother of heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury, on August 6. However, Fury withdrew for the second time in eight months when he was denied entry into the United States.

Paul next secured a fight with Rahman Jr., a 12-1 heavyweight who is the son of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. But the event was canceled when Rahman and his team indicated a week before the bout that they were unable to make the weight limit. In the weeks that followed, Paul and Most Valuable Promotions rescheduled three of the bouts from that event and agreed to pay the other undercard fighters 50 percent of their purse amounts.

The Paul vs. Silva event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.  

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.

Katie Taylor has blasted Jake Paul’s suggestion that the rematch of the mega Madison Square Garden showdown with Amanda Serrano should be at 126lbs or a 130lbs catchweight.

Taylor (21-0, 6 KO’s), who edged out Serrano back in April to retain her Lightweight crown in an epic fight for the ages, spoke on Matchroom Boxing’s new podcast Flash Knockdown and stood firm that the rematch will only happen at Lightweight.

“What is that about?”, said Taylor. I’ve never heard such nonsense in all my life. I’ve never heard someone say something as stupid as that to be quite honest. I think they’re just trying to play a few games. I’m pretty sure Jake knows I’m not going to get down to 126, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a situation in boxing where the champion wins but has the rematch in a lower weight division. It is real nonsense! I don’t know if he’s playing games or it is naivety but the rematch is going to be at 135lbs.

“I don’t think Amanda’s recent fight falling through will delay or effect the rematch. I was hoping for the rematch to happen straight after the last fight but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen until next year now. 

“I just want to be involved in the biggest fights possible but I’m not sure who I’m going to be fighting next right now but I’m planning on returning to the ring this year in November / December. The team have been talking to the likes of Cris Cyborg. I only had two or three days off after the Serrano fight so I’m just itching to get back in the ring!”

As well as speaking about the Serrano rematch, Taylor also reflected on the first fight with her Puerto Rican dance parter and her memories of the London Games, admitting the whole experience in New York surpassed the emotions she felt when she captured Olympic Gold ten years ago this week.

“I never thought anything would surpass the London Olympics but I think that night at Madison Square Garden did surpass it! It was definitely the most special experience of my career to date. The atmosphere between the Irish and the Puerto Rican fans was incredible, you couldn’t even hear the bell ringing! It was history making and a huge moment for the sport.

“In big fights there is always the possibility that you’re going to get hurt at some stage but that’s where all the training and preparation comes into play. I put myself in the trenches everyday and that’s what allows you to show your heart and your courage in the ring. I’m just glad I was able to get through those tough moments in the fifth round and then come on stronger as the fight went on.

“Thinking about the Olympics, it does and it doesn’t feel ten years ago. I can definitely remember the day as if it was yesterday but a lot has happened in those ten years. It was my childhood dream coming to pass, I was going into the competition with so much pressure on me and the weight of the nation on my shoulders. When I won gold it was just a feeling of relief more than anything!

“I remember putting on my Olympic kit and thinking how I’d dreamt of this moment. Looking at the Olympic Rings on my shorts and knowing I was about to walk out to represent my country at the Games, it was so special.

“Everyone in Ireland assumed I was going to win gold, I don’t think I slept for a second the night before the final! I don’t think anything will ever compare to the pressure I felt at the Olympic Games. If I got through those games, I can get through anything in life! When I started boxing at ten years old there was no real such thing as women’s boxing but now at home in Ireland when you see all the young girls in the gyms, that means everything to me.

Listen to Flash Knockdown ep2, out now via Apple Podcasts & Spotify. 

NEW YORK – July 28, 2022 – SHOWTIME SPORTS has announced the global distribution partners, pay-per-view price and telecast team for the upcoming SHOWTIME PPV co-headlined by global superstar Jake “The Problem Child” Paul vs. Hasim Rahman Jr. and Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano vs. Brenda Carabajal on Saturday, August 6 live from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tickets are on sale and available at www.msg.com. Click HERE to watch and share the promo video.

The pay-per-view event kicks off at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and is widely available for purchase and live streaming in the United States at SHOWTIME.com/ppv and via the SHOWTIME app for a suggested retail price of $59.99 (SRP). All U.S. consumers who purchase the event through the SHOWTIME app or SHOWTIME.com can watch it live through the SHOWTIME streaming service app on any supported devices including Apple iOS and tvOS devices, Android Mobile, AndroidTV, Roku, Amazon FireTV, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox One, LG Smart TV, as well as online at SHOWTIME.com. The event is also available for purchase in the U.S. via satellite and telco systems through DIRECTV^®, DISH, Sling TV, Vubiquity and on the Sony PlayStation™ store.

In Canada, viewers can purchase and access the event via traditional cable and satellite distributors (Bell, Rogers, Shaw and SaskTel/TELUS) as well as on FITE, who has distributed all of Paul’s previous fights and will offer the event in most regions around the world outside of the U.S. Liberty and Claro TV will offer the event in Puerto Rico. Joe Hand Promotions is the commercial distributor within the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

DAZN will broadcast the event in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as part of the monthly subscription and ESPN LatAm will be the exclusive cable, satellite, internet/digital carrier in Latin America. Paul vs. Rahman Jr. is also available down under via FOX Sports Australia.

Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) and Rahman Jr. (12-1, 6 KOs) will meet after the two erupted during the kick-off press conference over who was the better man during sparring sessions they had in 2020. Paul, a YouTube star and influencer-turned-pro boxer trains under the tutelage of Danny Smith and B.J. Flores in Puerto Rico and was named the Sports Illustrated 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year. Rahman Jr. is the son of the former two-time heavyweight champion and has trained under boxing sages like Emanuel Steward, Calvin Ford and now Yoel Judah, father and trainer of the former two-division world champion Zab Judah.

The other half of the dual main event features seven-division women’s champion Serrano, (42-2-1, 30 KOs) of Brooklyn, who will defend her featherweight titles against Argentina’sCarabajal (18-5-1, 9 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight bout. Serrano made history in April when she and Katie Taylor were the first women to headline a main event at MSG. In the co-feature, teenage sensation,18-year-old Ashton Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs) of Long Beach, Calif., will face Braulio Rodriguez of the Dominican Republic in an eight-round lightweight bout. Knockout artist Brandun Lee (25-0, 22 KOs), of La Quinta, Calif., will face Will Madera in a 10-round super lightweight to open the pay-per-view telecast.

Veteran sportscaster and SHOWTIME boxing host Brian Custer will host the four-fight pay-per-view telecast alongside the most versatile voice in combat sports Mauro Ranallo, with International Boxing Hall of Famer Al Bernstein and former junior middleweight champion and SHOBOX^® commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving as expert analysts. Leading combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani will serve as ringside reporter. Two more Hall of Famers will round out the SHOWTIME PPV telecast team – boxing historian Steve Farhood will serve as unofficial scorer and world-renowned Jimmy Lennon Jr. will serve as ring announcer. Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins and SHOBOX announcer and combat sports expert Brian Campbell will provide analysis for the international feed.

The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. Four-time Emmy^® award winner David Dinkins Jr. will serve as executive producer and Bob Dunphy, son of legendary Hall of Famer Don Dunphy, as director. The pair has produced the three highest-grossing pay-per-view events of all time (Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-McGregor, Mayweather-Canelo).

In the leadup to the dual headliner, SHOWTIME SPORTS will offer an installment of its Emmy^® Award-winning series ALL ACCESS, bringing fans behind the scenes as Paul prepares to face the first full-fledged boxer of his career and Rahman Jr. prepares for his first big moment in the spotlight.  The series also features Serrano as she trains in her hometown and shakes off the remnants from her last fight in advance of her title defense. ALL ACCESS: PAUL VS. RAHMAN premieres on Saturday, July 30 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT with ALL ACCESS: PAUL VS. RAHMAN EPILOGUE premiering on Saturday, August 13. 

The event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian and promoted by Holden Boxing.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.  

Las Vegas – July 27, 2022 – The verbal jabs continued one week ahead of the Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr. mega-fight as Rahman Jr. participated in an open media workout Tuesday night at DLX Boxing in Las Vegas. He wasted little time dissing Paul as a “mockery of our sport” saying he respected Paul’s work ethic, but that he is looking to “expose him for the fraud he is.”

The cruiserweight clash scheduled for eight rounds will take place on Saturday, August 6 live on SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tickets can be purchased at www.msg.com.

Here is what the principals had to say Tuesday night: 

Hasim Rahman Jr.

“We’ve had an amazing camp and I just want to thank my team. From my track coach to my strength and conditioning, all my coaches have been there for me. Just taking care of every little thing down to my nutritionist preparing my meals. Everyone is in sync and we’re ready to go.

“There’s nothing Jake Paul does that concerns me. I’m just super confident going into this fight. I feel like this guy is not at my level. He made a mistake picking me.

“Being in Vegas is amazing. My family and I came here because of boxing and we’ve been training for what could be the biggest fight of the year. It’s on me now and I have Vegas on my back. I have a lot of support and this is my home. I love it here. There’s not a better place to be and then to go from here to go to the mecca of boxing next week is just a beautiful thing. It’s poetry in motion.

“Fighting in Madison Square Garden happened so fast – I didn’t think it would happen so fast. But it’s here and I’m ready and I know what I signed up for. We’re going to go in there and make it look easy.

“I respect his work ethic but come August 6 I look to expose him for the fraud he is.

“It’s similar to when my father knocked out Lennox Lewis. He had a target on his back. I’m looking to do the same thing and to get that target on my back so I can fight for a world championship.

“I just have one final message: Jake Paul is going to fall!”

Hasim Rahman Sr. 

“We’re looking forward to knocking Jake out. I feel like when you get a certain status you start feeling you’re invincible. You start thinking you can do it all. But it’s one thing to say something, and another thing to go out there and do it. So when he has to go out and do it, he’s going to realize it wasn’t as easy as he thought it was going to be. Once he wakes up.

“I just feel like we don’t have to look for a KO. I just feel like we have superior boxing skills. His boxing IQ is much great than Jake Paul’s and I just personally feel like the knockout is going to come.

“Timing beats speed. We got the bigger, stronger fighter. We’ve got the reach advantage. We control the distance of the fight. We control how this fight goes. If we want to make it a slugfest, we will make it a slugfest. If we want to make it a boxing clinic, we’ll make it a boxing clinic. It all depends on what style we want to fight. The fight you are going to see will be dictated by us.

“We’re not really concerned with Jake Paul’s power. We don’t need to show how good our chin is. We don’t need to show what his right hand can do. What we can do is take his right hand away from him. We aren’t going to get hit with the right hand, but if we do we are going to fire back with our own counter. It’s going to be an interesting fight. Jake Paul can fight. Don’t get it twisted. But I’m not impressed by the knockouts he’s had. I don’t really feel like he’s knocked out a fighter yet.”

Yoel Judah, Rahman Jr.’s trainer

“I see Rahman Jr. is going to win in the sixth round. He’s confident and he’s doing everything by the book. He wants this fight. Jake made a big mistake.

“We’ve been working on everything. Movement, speed, and mainly stamina. We know he has really good punching power, and legs. So, if we get good stamina, we know we are good.

“Jake has a problem. He’s tried to cripple us to get to 200 pounds, then to not go over 214. The best thing about Jake Paul is he’s probably going to be in great shape. But you’re fighting a real boxer now. Good punching power and good combinations and someone who is not afraid of you and who is going to bring the fight to you.

“I’ve been with Hasim about four, five years. He’s right there. He’s where he’s supposed to be for this fight. I see him three years from now fighting for a world championship.”

The Paul vs. Rahman and Serrano vs. Carabajal event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.  Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

SHOWTIME SPORTS^® will bring fans inside the ropes and behind the scenes with its Emmy- award-winning series ALL ACCESS: PAUL VS. RAHMAN, which will premiere this Saturday, July 30. An ALL ACCESS:  PAUL VS. RAHMAN EPILOGUE will follow on August 13. 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

#  #  #

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.  

QUINCY, Mass. (July 21, 2022) – Undefeated Pittsfield (MA) heavyweight Quintin Sumpter (5-0, 3 KOs heavyweight is preparing to shock the boxing world August 6th when he fights Jeremiah “Dream Land” Milton (5-0, 4 KOs) ) on the Jake Paul-Hasim Rahman, Jr. undercard, at famed Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“This fight can propel my career,” Sumpter said. “It can be life changing. I know that I need to be a dog on August 6th. I want to show people who don’t know me what I am. It’s surreal. I’m going to shock the world!”

Sumpter was born and grew up in New York City, Brooklyn to be exact, before moving to go to college in 2006. Returning home to fight at arguably the most famous boxing venue in the world, along with gaining added exposure because he’s’ fighting on the Jake Paul platform, is a tremendous opportunity for him.

“Unexplainable,” Sumpter initially responded to a question about fighting at MSG. “So many big fights have been at Madison Square Garden. I never thought that I’d be able to show my talent there. I never really thought I’d fight at Madison Square Garden.

“Whether you agree on not, Jake Paul is a boxer once he steps into the iron ring, and he is bringing a lot of attention to boxing.”

“When the opportunity was presented to Quintin and his trainer,” Granite Chin Promotions president Chris Traietti remarked, “they jumped on it. Quintin has developed that AAA mentality (anyone, anytime, anyplace) that separates him from the pack. In his 6th pro fight, regardless of the outcome – I have all the confidence in the world he is going to win – he has accomplished more than 90-percent of the people who turn pro in New England. He is the type of guy that makes a promoter’s job easy. He can fight and he wants to fight, real fights, not these fluff fights like so many others want to boost their fragile egos on social media. I’m proud of him and after August 6th, the boxing world is going to know who Quintin Sumpter is.”

The 6’ 0”, 220-pound Sumpter will be much smaller, physically speaking, than the 6’ 4”, 230 lbs. Milton, who was a defensive end on Northeastern State University’s football team. Sumpter, however, doesn’t care if he’s fighting at a size disadvantage against Milton.

“I’m not really concerned,” Sumpter spoke about being smaller than Milton. “I train with people a lot bigger than him. I’m light on my feet and move well. I’m not concerned with him. Once we step into the ring, he has to deal with me.”

Sumpter vs. Milton is scheduled for 6 rounds.

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

Instagram: @chinchekker_qt

NEW YORK – July 21, 2022 – Two of boxing’s most exciting prospects, Ashton “H20” Sylve and Brandun Lee, will highlight the SHOWTIME PPV undercard on Saturday, August 6 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) co-headlined by Jake “The Problem Child” Paul vs. Hasim Rahman Jr. and Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano vs. Brenda Carabajal live from Madison Square Garden. Tickets are on sale and available at www.msg.com.

Teenage sensation,18-year-old Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs), and knockout artist Lee (25-0, 22 KOs) will make their SHOWTIME PPV and Madison Square Garden debuts against stern competition. Sylve, of Long Beach, Calif., will face the durable Braulio Rodriguez of the Dominican Republic in an eight-round lightweight bout, while the 23-year-old Lee, of La Quinta, Calif., will face Will Madera in a 10-round super lightweight bout opening the pay-per-view telecast.

Sylve, the first prospect signed by MVP, is facing an experienced opponent in Rodriguez, who is 20-4 and has scored knockouts in all but three of his victories thanks to his aggressive and big-swinging style. When he’s lost, it has come against top-flight opposition. Rodriguez has shared the ring with lightweight contender Ryan Garcia and title challenger Christopher Diaz. He dropped a split decision to then undefeated prospect Alberto Mercado and surrendered a unanimous decision to then unbeaten Carlos Diaz –the first blemish of his career after scoring 15-straight knockouts to start his pro campaign.

In Sylve, Rodriguez is facing an elite talent. The undefeated teenage sensation has stopped all of his opponents in four rounds or less, demonstrating hair-trigger reflexes, high boxing IQ and heavy hands. He recently knocked out Giovanni Gutierrez in the first round in May in his MVP debut at lightweight. He fought three times in 2021 and twice thus far in 2022. A gifted amateur who turned pro at 16 with over 100 wins and 10 national titles, Sylve first entered the public consciousness as an eight-year-old when a training video made by his father, Ivan, went viral and led to an invite to Floyd Mayweather’s famed gym in Las Vegas. 

Lee is also no stranger to turning heads with his athletic achievements. The winner of 15 of his last 16 fights by knockout, Lee has shown both one-punch power and the ability to outbox his opponents. He recently dominated tough veteran Zachary Ochoa in April and has quickly established himself as a force at 140 pounds. The child of a Mexican mother and Korean father, Lee has emerged as a vocal spokesperson for the Asian-American community.

Trained by his father Bobby, Lee has kept up a busy schedule, fighting four times in 2020, three times in 2021 and now twice in 2022. He was also an accomplished amateur, going an estimated 195 amateur fights with only five losses and capturing gold at the prestigious 2015 U.S. Junior National Championships at 145 pounds.

Co-headlining the night of action on August 6 are Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) and Rahman Jr. (12-1, 6 KOs), who will meet after erupting during the July 12 kick-off press conference over who was the better man during sparring sessions they had in 2020. The son of the former two-time heavyweight champion, Rahman Jr. had approximately 100 amateur fights and has trained under boxing sages like Emanuel Steward, Calvin Ford and now Yoel Judah, father and trainer of the former two-division world champion Zab Judah. Rahman Jr. is undisputedly the first full-fledged boxer that Paul has faced. 

The Sports Illustrated 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year, Paul is coming off one of the best knockouts of last year when he demolished Tyron Woodley in the sixth round with a perfectly placed right hand that went viral and was the No. 1 trending video worldwide on YouTube following their December 18 bout. A YouTube star and influencer-turned-pro boxer, the Cleveland native, who is just 25 and started his pro boxing journey in January 2020, is fighting out of Puerto Rico under the tutelage of Danny Smith and B.J. Flores.

The other half of the dual main event features seven-division women’s champion Serrano, (42-2-1, 30 KOs) of Brooklyn, who will defend her featherweight titles against Argentina’sCarabajal (18-5-1, 9 KOs) in a 10-round dual main event. Serrano made history in April when she and Katie Taylor were the first women to headline a main event at MSG in a lightweight bout. Now she returns to her natural weight in front of her hometown fans.

The Paul vs. Rahman Jr. and Serrano vs. Carabajal event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.  Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

SHOWTIME SPORTS^® will bring fans behind the scenes and inside the ropes with its Emmy^® Award-winning series ALL ACCESS. ALL ACCESS: PAUL VS. RAHMAN will premiere on Saturday, July 30 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT with ALL ACCESS EPILOGUE premiering on Saturday, August 13. 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.  

New York – July 13, 2022 – Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr. didn’t waste any time expressing their dislike for each other during a heated and at times frenzied press conference on Tuesday, vowing to knock the other out ahead of their cruiserweight clash scheduled for eight rounds on Saturday, August 6 live on SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tickets went on sale at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday and can be purchased at www.msg.com. The press conference was streamed live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and Jake Paul’s YouTube channel.

For the first time in his colorful and storied career, Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) will take on a full-fledged boxer in Rahman Jr., who is 12-1 with six knockouts, had around 100 amateur fights and has been trained by such greats as Emanuel Steward, Calvin Ford and now Yoel Judah.

Just four months after her epic match with Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden, Brooklyn’s seven-divisionworld champion Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano will return to the same venue and to her natural weight to defend her Featherweight World Titles against the hard-hitting Argentine Brenda “La Pumita” Carabajal co-headlining the event on August 6. 

Serrano was on hand on Tuesday and said she was looking forward to fighting at 126 pounds after she fought Taylor in April at 135. Rounding out the SHOWTIME PPV undercard are separate bouts involving two of the sport’s most exciting prospects — unbeaten knockout artist Brandun Lee (25-0, 22 KOs) and quick-fisted Ashton Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs).

The press conference was hosted by the combat sports expert Ariel Helwani, who guided the heated back-and-forth discussion between Paul and Rahman Jr. Their animosity stems from sparring sessions they held before Paul’s first two fights in 2020 and who got the upper hand in that action. Rahman claims he only used one hand in the sparring in an effort to work with him. Paul referenced leaked footage of their sparring in which Paul appears to land a number of heavy blows to demonstrate the action was heated and not at all controlled. Rahman Jr. claims the footage was edited to make Paul look good. 

The subject of Paul’s boxing resume also came up with Rahman stating that Paul built his career off of pummeling former MMA and NBA athletes. “That’s why your next on the list,” Paul responded. “That’s why I’m fighting you.” Hasim Jr. was flanked on the dais by his famous father, the former two-time heavyweight champion, Hasim Sr., who rose to prominence knocking out Lennox Lewis in 2001 in South Africa to become the unified titleholder. Paul referenced Rahman Sr., saying he wouldn’t be able to fight his son’s battle on August 6.

“You’re not in the ring sir,” Paul said. “And that’s what your son doesn’t understand. He thinks he’s you and that’s his biggest mistake and on August 6 I’m ending the legacy that your whole family has.”

Here’s a sampling of what the participants had to say at Tuesday’s press conference:

Jake Paul

“He’s going to get beat up by a singer, a musician, a seashell collector, an amateur, a Disney boy, a YouTuber, I’m all of these things.”

“I beat him in sparring and he knows that too. We have the footage.”

“You’re probably a little nervous about what happened (when we sparred). But under the lights with 10-ounce gloves is going to be different. That’s why I do this sport. I don’t do this sport to spar, I do this sport to fight and when he gets under the lights at Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 fans, you’ll see what the result is.”

“It’s bring-your-kid-to-work day.”

“We know he’s going to come out southpaw so it’s me fighting a southpaw for the first time. But other than that, nothing really changes in my preparation. I spar professional fighters in the gym all the time, two to three times a week for the past three years, guys way better than him, so nothing really changes. We’re prepared for this.”

“You got beat (in sparring) and you know it.”

“This is 100 percent a tougher fight (than facing Tommy Fury). This is what I do. I take hard challenges and challenge myself more and more and increase the level of opposition and give the fans what they want. People say fight a real boxer – here we go. This guy is bigger than me, he has more experience. There’s no reason that I should win this but I’m proving to the world and proving to the kids out there that if you truly put your mind to something and you’re dedicated, then you will win.”

Hasim Rahman Jr.

“This is such a huge opportunity for me. I never once second-guessed or even doubted the outcome of this fight.”

“I’m the one giving you credibility. None of your other opponents gave you any credibility.”

“I’m here to end this façade that he’s calling a career so we’re going to see on August 6^th Jake Paul fall. You’re definitely going to see that.”

“They put the footage that they want to put out. Did you put out footage where you turn around and ran away from me in the ring? You turned your back and ran. You’re going to see on August 6^th.”

“Who have you fought? You haven’t fought anybody. You fought champions in the NBA and MMA but no boxers.”

“I will be using both hands on August 6. I only used one hand when I sparred him. He can’t even spar anyone with one hand. He’s not even on my level. I boxed this man with one hand behind my back and I promise you he turned his back and ran from me. I was trying to help you. He’s definitely barking up the wrong tree. I’m going to mess you up.”

“I think that I haven’t reached my full potential yet and that I can definitely have performed better in all of my fights, so on August 6 we’re going to come fully prepared.”

“I’m not worried about the weight. I was just in camp for a fight and then I got right back into the gym. The weight is not a factor. I’ve fought at 200 pounds for years in the amateurs, so losing the weight is exciting for me. It will open some doors for me in the boxing ring.”

Amanda Serrano

“I’m truly honored to have such a fast turnaround. The fight with Katie Taylor was a huge event, not just for females but for boxing in general. I’m super happy to be back at MSG with my manager Jake Paul and we get to show the world that we’re fighters and he gets to take off his promoter turtleneck and put on his boxing boots to show that he’s a fighter as well.”

“These (featherweight belts) are my babies. I work super hard for these belts. I went up to 135 my last two fights to get this fight with Katie Taylor. I’m not a legitimate 135-pounder. I’m a featherweight and that’s why I need to defend these titles and after this one it’s onto the next one against the other champions.”

“Jake Paul is fighting Hasim Rahman Jr. for a reason. We’re so much alike in the game of boxing, and I know he has all the heart and courage to go out there and do it. He’s training as if he’s fighting for a world title, so I have all the faith in his work ethic and he has that hammer and that hammer can neutralize any opponent.”

Hasim Rahman Sr.

“I’m excited like everyone else. I just don’t know how I’m going to feel when Jake’s 100 million fans hate my son (when he beats him). They’re going to hate him.”

“I think he’s been disrespectful (looking past my son) because – Jake is a real fighter and we respect that. I just think that he’s moving too quick. I think he picked the wrong guy at the wrong time.”

Stephen Espinoza, President of SHOWTIME SPORTS

“Jake could have taken an easier touch. But that’s not him. After Tommy Fury pulled out of the fight, Jake went looking for an even bigger challenge and they found a tougher challenge than they probably should have taken, someone who’s bigger than Jake, more experienced as an amateur, more experienced as a pro. Why take a fight that almost everyone around you is telling you not to take? Well, there’s one reason, Jake Paul is on a mission to prove himself as a credible professional boxer. And what he’s doing is unprecedented.”

“Strip away his celebrity status and his success as a content creator and what he’s striving for is no different than any other professional boxer. It’s no different from what Hasim Rahman is striving for – for credibility and respect, working to improve his skills and to put it all on the line on one night in front of a massive crowd here at The Garden.”

“Vasiliy Lomachenko did something similar, he headlined the Garden in his sixth professional fight at 5-1. But Jake’s doing it one fight sooner, headlining a Pay-Per-View event, and doing it without the benefit of 400 amateur fights and two gold medals. What Jake is doing is remarkable. But more importantly, you can’t call what he’s doing a hobby or a fad or a stunt. This is a full-time profession for Jake, a full commitment, boxing is now his calling card and No. 1 pursuit.”

“Jake clearly moves the needle like no one else and we at SHOWTIME are proud to be in business with him and he’s clearly bringing the sport to a new audience. The same can be said of Amanda Serrano, who inspires multitudes of young girls every time she fights. We’re proud to have Amanda back on SHOWTIME. We’re proud of our history with women’s boxing and proud to have Amanda back for a fifth time.”

Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President at MSG

“We here at The Garden are incredibly honored to host this fight between Jake Paul and Hasim Rahman Jr. Jake is an incredibly great partner. He’s really into the business of boxing and he’s a real supporter of women’s boxing, but we also know that Jake is into boxing himself and he’s really passionate about it, and I’m sure he’s in tremendous shape.”

“I want to welcome Hasim here and I want to personally thank you for stepping up quicky and stepping down in weight and we appreciate everything that you’re doing.”

“You’re following in your father’s footsteps who fought here and won in 2004.”

“The promotion we had with Amanda and Katie a few months ago was tremendous. It was historic. It was one of the greatest nights of boxing that we’ve ever had here at The Garden. Amanda is one of the best people, boxers, that I’ve ever worked with. She’s just been tremendous and we know that she’ll be ready.”

#          #          #

The Paul vs. Rahman and Serrano vs. Carabajal event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.  Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

SHOWTIME will bring fans inside the ropes and behind the scenes with its Emmy- award-winning series ALL-ACCESS: PAUL vs. RAHMAN, which will premiere on July 30. An ALL-ACCESS Epilogue will follow on August 13. 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.  

EW YORK – July 8, 2022 – SHOWTIME SPORTS^® and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that international superstar Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will dramatically step up his level of competition when he faces heavy-handed Hasim Rahman Jr., son of the legendary former two-time heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman, on Saturday, August 6 live on SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Madison Square Garden in New York City in a cruiserweight bout scheduled for eight rounds. Tickets will go on sale July 12 at 1 p.m. ET and can be purchased at www.msg.com. 

Paul and Rahman Jr. will go face-to-face for the first time since the announcement of the fight at a press conference on Tuesday, July 12 at 1 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden to preview their highly anticipated showdown. Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano will be in attendance as well to address her upcoming Unified Featherweight World Title defense against power-punching Argentine Brenda “La Pumita” Carabajal co-headlining the event on August 6. The press conference will stream live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and Jake Paul’s YouTube channel.

Rounding out the SHOWTIME PPV undercard are separate bouts involving two of the sport’s most exciting and rapidly rising prospects. Unbeaten knockout artist Brandun Lee (25-0, 22 KOs) and quick-fisted Ashton Sylve (7-0, 7 KOs) will look to take the next steps in their accelerated developments before Paul and Rahman Jr. settle their differences, and Serrano defends her Featherweight belts.

“Fury fumbled the bag for the second time in a row and went into hiding, so I’m going to step up, again, and take on a new opponent on short notice,” said Paul. “Nothing but respect for Hasim Rahman Jr., a professional heavyweight boxer with a 12-1 record who comes from a legendary boxing family. He’s bigger, he’s stronger and he’s more experienced. But guess what? I’m crazier. I’m raising the stakes and on August 6, I will get my respect under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.”

The 6-foot-3 Rahman Jr., who has fought as heavy as 278 pounds and has campaigned exclusively at heavyweight in his pro career, steps in for Tommy Fury, who withdrew from a bout with the famous influencer for the second time in eight months.

“Jake Paul and I sparred two years ago and let’s just say I took it easy on the kid,” said Rahman Jr. “August 6 is not a sparring session. I am going to separate him from God’s conscience. My name is Hasim Rahman Jr., and I am going to knock out Jake Paul. Period.”

Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) and Rahman Jr. (12-1, 6 KOs) are familiar with one another from their days as sparring partners. Rahman Jr. helped Paul prepare for his pro debut against AnEsonGib, which Paul won in spectacular fashion via first-round knockout in January 2020. When Rahman Jr. sparred Paul again to help him get ready for his second fight against the NBA slam dunk champion Nate Robinson later that year, Rahman Jr. praised his opponent for improving both his technique and punching power. Paul detonated a right hand that knocked Robinson out in the second round of their bout.

Rahman Jr. is inarguably the most experienced boxer on Paul’s professional resume. Rahman Jr. studied his craft under the tutelage of famed trainers like Emanuel Steward and Calvin Ford, learning how to fight ambidextrously, something his famous father never did. After growing up in the sport, Rahman Jr. amassed around 100 amateur fights, winning the prestigious Junior National Golden Gloves and Junior National Police Athletic League championships. Rahman Jr. turned pro in 2017 and jumped out to a 12-0 record with six knockouts, showcasing deft footwork and heavy hands.

In his most recent bout in April, however, Rahman Jr. was stopped controversially in the fifth round by James McKenzie Morrison, son of former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison. When the referee waived off the fight with Rahman Jr. on his feet, Rahman Jr. complained bitterly in the ring that he should have been allowed to continue against Morrison, who improved to 20-0-2 with 18 KOs.

Now, Rahman Jr. steps into this high-profile SHOWTIME PPV main event bout at Madison Square Garden with hopes of notching a turnaround win in the same fashion as his famous father and namesake. After suffering knockout losses in 1998 and 1999, Rahman stormed to prominence in 2001 when he decked Lennox Lewis with an overhand right in the fifth round to win the Unified Heavyweight World Championship in South Africa. In 2005, Rahman became a two-time heavyweight champion when he won a vacant title against Monte Barrett.

Lee, 23, has won 15 of his last 16 fights by knockout and has shown both one-punch power and the ability to out-box his opponents. He most recently dominated tough veteran Zachary Ochoa in April and has quickly established himself as one of the most talented 140-pounders in the division. 

Sylve, 18, is the first prospect signed by MVP and already finds himself boxing on the biggest stage in the world at Madison Square Garden on SHOWTIME PPV. The undefeated teenage sensation has stopped all of his opponents inside of four rounds with his quick-trigger reflexes, high boxing IQ, and heavy hands. He recently knocked out Giovanni Gutierrez in the first round in May during his MVP debut at lightweight.

The Paul vs. Rahman and Serrano vs. Carabajal event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.  Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.  

NEW YORK, N.Y. – June 23, 2022 – SHOWTIME SPORTS^® and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced that Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will take on longtime nemesis and undefeated pro boxer Tommy “TNT” Fury, and Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano will defend her Unified Featherweight World Title against power-punching Argentine Brenda “La Pumita” Carabajal in co- main events at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 6 live on SHOWTIME PPV. Tickets for the twin bill will go on sale Wednesday, June 29 at 11 a.m. ET and can be purchased at www.msg.com. 

Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) and Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) will go face-to-face for the first time at a press conference on Wednesday, June 29 at Madison Square Garden to preview their highly anticipated showdown. Serrano (42-2-1, 30 KOs) will also be in attendance while the challenger Carabajal (18-5-1, 9 KOs) will remain in Argentina to focus on her training. The press conference will stream live on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and Jake Paul’s YouTube channel.

Paul and Fury were originally slated to settle their differences in December, but Fury withdrew from the bout because of a medical issue. Paul went on to record a scintillating one-punch knockout of Tyron Woodley who stepped in as a late replacement for a rematch of the pair’s August 2021 clash. While Paul expressed little interest in granting Fury another opportunity, he has since changed his mindset. The Sports Illustrated 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year wants to punish Fury for withdrawing from their December fight and to silence the naysayers who have questioned the quality of his opposition so far in his young career. The 25-year-old Cleveland native started his pro boxing journey in January 2020 and is facing an opponent in Fury who is a more experienced boxer than he has faced and comes from a renowned boxing family.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to say yes to another potential matchup against Tommy after he pulled out of our matchup last year,” said Paul, who will face Fury in a scheduled eight-round cruiserweight bout. “But ultimately, knocking out a Fury was too appealing to pass up. I’ve proven I am dedicated to boxing in and out of the ring, from promoting fights, championing fighters and fighter pay, to knocking out my opponents. The Furys cannot say the same, they are selfish tossers. On August 6, at the mecca, Madison Square Garden, the world will see why I am on my way to being a world champion. I’m honored to fight under the same lights as some of the greatest professional boxers in history.”

The half-brother of WBC Heavyweight World Champion Tyson Fury, Tommy won four of his first five bouts by stoppage after turning pro in 2018 and most recently dominated a 10-1 opponent in April to capture his eighth win in front of 94,000 fans. Fighting out of Manchester, England, Fury started boxing at 12 years old and won two regional titles, reaching the U.K. national final in 2016.

“The Paul brothers’ boxing charade is about to come to an end once and for all,” Fury said. “I am a boxer. My opponent plays boxing. Jake Paul has been dressed up to look like a boxer against retirees from other sports. On August 6, I will show the world that he does not belong in the ring. Thank you to my promoter Frank Warren, Most Valuable Promotions and SHOWTIME^® for letting me permanently shut up Jake Paul. I look forward to headlining Madison Square Garden and knocking out this clown.”

After knocking out British YouTube star AnEsonGib in his boxing debut and defeating former NBA star Nate Robinson with a highlight-reel knockout, Paul made quick work of former MMA champion Ben Askren in April 2021 with a first-round knockout. Paul has since defeated Woodley twice on SHOWTIME PPV – the second time with one of the most devastating knockouts in recent memory in front of a sold-out crowd. Paul is fighting out of Puerto Rico under the tutelage of Danny Smith and B.J. Flores.

After becoming the first female boxer to headline Madison Square Garden in her unforgettable battle against Katie Taylor in April, Serrano is back as the only female boxer to headline MSG twice. She takes on interim WBO Featherweight Champion Carabajal, a battle-tested opponent who has never been knocked out.

Having won titles in every division between 115 and 140 pounds, Serrano, a Puerto Rican southpaw from Brooklyn, holds the Guinness World Record for most women’s boxing world championships (7) won in different weight classes. Her narrow split-decision loss to Taylor in a lightweight championship bout at Madison Square Garden drew a raucous, sold-out crowd of 19,187 who observed Serrano nearly finish Taylor off with a barrage of punches in the fifth round.

“I’m still in shock that I’ll be headlining The World’s Most Famous Arena twice in less than six months,” Serrano said. “Brenda is a very tough opponent and has never been knocked out, so I know I will need to be on my A game to change that. But I promise you, I am not leaving the outcome for the judges to decide. I am looking forward to fighting in front of my hometown crowd again on the biggest stage in the world and giving them the show they deserve.”

Carabajal captured the interim WBO Featherweight World Title beating fellow Argentine Debora Dionicius by majority decision in May. In 2019, Carabajal became the first Argentine female boxer to ever win a world title on American soil when she scored a unanimous decision over Elena Gradinar in Atlantic City, N.J., for the vacant interim WBO Featherweight belt. Born in the small town of Palma Sola in the northern province of Jujuy, Argentina, Carabajal was Argentina’s super featherweight champion from 2015-17 and was a silver medalist in the South American Games. She has faced six world champions and has stepped into the ring against notable names like Gradina, Maria Moderna, Paola Ibarra, Maria Capriolo and Tamara Nunez.

“This is the most important bout of my career,” said the 31-year-old Carabajal. “I know that my opponent is one of the best female boxers in the world but I want to face the best fighters. This chance finds me in my best physical and mental shape, so I’m going to take advantage of it. Nothing is impossible. I dare to dream of becoming world champion again, but this time in the majestic Madison Square Garden.”

The Paul vs. Fury and Serrano vs. Carabajal event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian on the premise that content is king, and fighters are the content creators in combat sports. Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter of the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers for the event. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV and it will feature other exciting high-stakes, professional boxing matches which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com. 

#   #   #

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

NEW YORK – June 15, 2022 – Renowned content creator and highlight maker Jake “The Problem Child” Paul, fresh off of his viral one-punch knockout victory in December, and Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano, the Unified Featherweight World Champion who is coming off one of the most significant matches in women’s boxing history, will headline in dual main events at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 6 live on SHOWTIME PPV in an event presented by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). Opponents for the main event bouts are to be announced.

The Sports Illustrated 2021 Breakout Boxer of the Year, Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) will look to remain undefeated as a professional boxer and solidify his role as one of the sport’s most intriguing and talked-about fighters. A YouTube star and influencer-turned-pro boxer, Paul’s perfectly placed right hand in the sixth round against Tyron Woodley last December was the No. 1 trending video worldwide on YouTube the day following their December 18 bout. It retained its staying power with a No. 2 ranking two days later. The dramatic knockout also recorded 7.5 million views in less than 24 hours on YouTube, making it the most watched video in a 24-hour period in the history of SHOWTIME SPORTS^®. The Cleveland native, who is just 25 and started his pro boxing journey in January 2020, is fighting out of Puerto Rico under the tutelage of Danny Smith and B.J. Flores. 

“It has been one hell of a year already,” said Paul, a cruiserweight who will be fighting for the first time in New York City’s famed MSG arena. “I couldn’t have been prouder of Amanda when she went toe-to-toe against Katie Taylor in April and made history at MSG. Now, to be able to make my own history at the Garden and share the night with Amanda is just the epitome of the American dream. This is a special moment for the entire creator community and I promise I will once again show the world anything is possible.”

Having won titles in every division between 115 and 140 pounds, Serrano, a Puerto Rican southpaw from Brooklyn, holds the Guinness World Record for most women’s boxing world championships (7) won in different weight classes. Her narrow split-decision loss to Katie Taylor in a lightweight championship bout at Madison Square Garden was the first women’s fight in history to headline at MSG, and it delivered. Drawing a raucous, sold-out crowd of 19,187, Serrano (42-2-1, 30 KOs) nearly finished Taylor off with a barrage of punches in the fifth round. Now, Serrano will lace up the gloves for the second time this year and defend her WBO, WBC and IBO featherweight titles, which she last did in August 2021. 

“I’m so blessed. To be headlining twice in less than six months at Madison Square Garden is something I could have never dreamed of,” Serrano said. “I’m so thankful to MVP, SHOWTIME and MSG for their continued support and believing in me every step of the way. I can’t wait for another opportunity to fight in front of my community surrounded by my fans and to continue to prove that women can do anything.” 

“Amanda and Jake have become the most dynamic duo in professional boxing. As MVP athletes, they’ve both strived for greatness in their own respect and yet, continually work to build one another up not just as athletes but mentors and friends,” said MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. “Watching these two grow immensely over the last year has been a privilege and to have them both headline as main events at the greatest arena in the world, is a special feat. We are grateful to Madison Square Garden and SHOWTIME for partnering with us on what will be a can’t miss night of boxing and a monumental accomplishment for the creator community.”

Paul will fight on SHOWTIME PPV for a third time after winning a split decision over Woodley in August 2021 and delivering a sensational Knockout Of The Year candidate in their rematch in December. Serrano returns to the network for the fifth time, and now her third pay-per-view, after winning unanimous decisions over Yamileth Mercado in August and Miriam Gutierrez in December.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jake and Amanda back in dual co-headlining bouts on SHOWTIME PPV,’” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “Amanda and Jake represent two very different kinds of fighters—one is a sure-fire Hall of Famer with a litany of world titles on her resume, the other is a relative newcomer to the sport with a flair for the dramatic who has proven that he belongs. Despite their contrasting styles, they both make the sport more accessible and attractive to a younger and more diverse audience. When Jake Paul fights, he captures attention like few others, and we as a network have historically been the biggest proponent of women’s combat sports. We are proud to add this marquee event to a year filled with thrilling, world-class events from SHOWTIME—the global leader in live combat sports.”

The event is co-produced by SHOWTIME PPV and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), a company founded by Paul and Bidarian on the premise that content is king, and fighters are the content creators in combat sports. Holden Boxing will be the licensed promoter for the event, and Paul and Bidarian will serve as executive producers. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME^®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com. 

#   #   #

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostVpromotions on Instagram via @JakePaul, @ShowtimeBoxing and @MostValuablePromotions or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

TOMMY FURY HAS fired a final ‘put up or shut up’ message to Jake Paul after the American’s repeated claims that the Manchester man withdrew from their scheduled December showdown due to fear of defeat.

Fury was set to become the YouTube star’s first professional boxer opponent following a prolonged war or words between the pair before the unbeaten 22-year-old was struck down by a bacterial chest infection along with a broken rib and multiple fractures and therefore was declared unfit to fight.

‘The Problem Child’ from Cleveland went on to fight MMA star Tyron Woodley for a second time in Tampa and scored a spectacular sixth round KO.

Despite efforts to resurrect the fight from the Fury side, Paul appears to want no part of a rescheduled date and has so far resisted attempts to revisit a match where he could prove his worth as a professional boxer.

Instead he has chosen to cast doubt on Fury’s willingness to put his own reputation on the line. Something Fury vehemently denies.

“I really don’t want to keep talking about this but I just can’t stay silent after comments Jake Paul has made in a recent interview,” said Fury, 7-0.

“I’m absolutely sick of Jake Paul saying that I was ‘scared’ to fight. I had a broken rib and a bacterial chest infection which left me completely medically unfit to box – as stated by multiple medical professionals.

“I’m now fit and healthy and have very clearly stated that I am ready to fight on a rescheduled date… but where is he?

“Me having to pull out the fight was the best thing that ever happened to him and he well knows my injury was legitimate. This man never wanted to fight me, If he did we’d have a rescheduled date for you all and the fight would be back on which is exactly what I want… The easiest fight of my career.

“I’m not going to allow him to use the excuse ‘Tommy was scared’ any longer. I think we can all agree now that the only person that looks scared is him.

“That’s all I’m saying on the matter.”

Boxing’s newest superstar Jake Paul (5-0) put an exclamation point on his 2021 campaign with a highlight reel one-punch knockout of Tyron Woodley on December 18th in Tampa, Florida. The YouTube sensation had previously defeated Woodley via split decision in August.  

With the win Paul went 3-0 on the year and has knocked out each opponent that he has faced in his young career. Only two of his fights have gone past the second round. 

At 24 years old, Paul is already established as one of the top ticket sellers  and pay-per-view stars in boxing. His coach BJ Flores is very impressed with the progress his pupil has made during his two years in the sport. 

“Jake is a superstar. He has exciting one punch power, speed and has an incredible work ethic. He has that X factor. He is can’t miss entertainment”, said Flores.  

“Remember, he is only 5-0. Jake is without question the biggest up and coming star in boxing. He has massive potential. The sky is the limit. We have an excellent team in place. There is much more to come in 2022.”

Paul announced shortly after his most recent fight that he was going to take a short break from the sport and then return in the summer in another massive event. 

TOMMY FURY HAS thrown down the gauntlet to Jake Paul and challenged him to reschedule their planned encounter for next time out in early 2022.

Fury, who was forced out of his clash with the American after suffering a chest infection and fractured rib, admitted he was a forlorn figure watching his rival take on and beat his previous opponent, former MMA star Tyron Woodley, in a rematch in the early hours of Sunday morning in Florida.

Paul, now 5-0 as a pro, flattened the former UFC welterweight champion in the sixth round with a spectacular single punch KO.

Watching back at home was Fury, wondering what might have been had he been in the opposite corner as the first boxer to oppose the YouTube phenomenon.

“I’m not good, to be honest with you and I have not gone on social media since I posted the video explaining why the fight was off,” Fury exclusively told Dev Sahni on The Unibet Lowdown. “I have probably been at the lowest point I have been in in my entire life. I have never felt or experienced anything so low.

“Imagine having everything you ever dreamt of and then having it ripped away from you through no fault of your own. It is a bitter pill to swallow.

“The chest is one thing, but having a rib break too and even now I don’t think I have really swallowed that pill and I don’t think I will because it was such a massive, easy night for me.”

Despite the brutal finish to the fight, the 7-0 Fury was resoundingly unimpressed by what he witnessed and insists it is now time for Paul to cease calling out and fighting opponents with a non-boxing pedigree.

“I think it shows what sort of place you are in when the commentator says ‘this is pretty hard to watch now’ and the joking between the commentators asking ‘who won that round? Well, nobody.” That went on for well more than half the fight.

“It was very upsetting for me to sit there and watch it. I know, if I had been in there, it wouldn’t have been going six, seven rounds or whatever it was. For the first four or five rounds the guy didn’t throw a punch, they were just wrestling each other.

“So for me to sit there and watch that… It was meant to be my night, my time. That should have been me in Tampa Bay, Florida in front of thousands of people and it will be me. I do believe my time will come, me and Frank are trying to figure out the next date for ourselves to get that fight rescheduled because that is the fight I want next.

“To hear him after the fight calling out all these MMA people. I don’t get what he is trying to achieve with these UFC people. He wants to be a boxer, doesn’t he? So fight a boxer. Stop calling out all these wrestlers and non-boxers.

“I think he is very lucky that it wasn’t me in there instead of Tyron Woodley. I am trying to give him a bit more credit, but I just can’t. People who come out and don’t do anything against me get put to sleep.”

To watch Dev Sahni’s full interview with Tommy Fury on YouTube, click here

Jake Paul made it 2-for-2 against former UFC champion Tyron Woodley by registering an explosive 6th round stoppage in their scheduled eight-round cruiserweight rematch at Ameile Arena in Tampa, Florida.

The fight featured a lot of holding. Paul was cut on his forehead in round three when an inadvertent elbow from Woodley struck Paul in the forehead.

In round six, Paul landed a booming right hand that sent Woodley face-first to the canvas, and he was out before he hit the deck and the fight was stopped at

Paul, 191.4 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 5-0 with four knockouts. Woodley, 189.6 lbs of St. Louis, MO is 0-2.

Seven-division world champion Amanda Serrano dominated Miriam Gutierrez on her way to a 10-round unanimous decision in a lightweight bout.

Serrano, 133.8 lbs of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-90 and is now 42-1-1. Gutierrez, 133.6 lbs of Madrid, SPA is 14-2.

Former NBA Star Deron Williams won a four-round split decision over former NFL Running Back Frank Gore in a heavyweight fight.

Williams scored a knockdown and won by scores of 40-35 and 38-37 and Gore won a card 38-37.

TAMPA, FLA. – December 17, 2021 – Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley both made weight and faced off for the final time at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa ahead of their anticipated rematch on SHOWTIME PPV tomorrow night, Saturday, December 18 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) live from AMALIE Arena in Tampa.

Final weights and commission officials for the four-fight SHOWTIME PPV card are below.

Cruiserweight Bout (192-pound contract weight) – 8 Rounds

Jake Paul – 191 ½ lbs.

Tyron Woodley – 189 ½ lbs.

Referee: Christopher Young; Judges: Efrain Lebron (Fla.), James O’Connor (Fla.), Michael Ross (Fla.)

Lightweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Amanda Serrano – 133 ¾ lbs.

Miriam Gutierrez – 133 ½ lbs.

Referee: Emil Lombardi; Judges: Efrain Lebron (Fla.), Alexander Levin (Fla.), Michelle Walker-Serrano (Fla.)

Heavyweight Special Attraction (215-pound contract weight) – 4 Rounds*

Deron Williams – 211 ¼ lbs.

Frank Gore – 209 ½ lbs.

Referee: Christopher Young; Judges: Efrain Lebron (Fla.), Michael Ross (Fla.), Michelle Walker-Serrano (Fla.)

*The Florida State Athletic Commission has sanctioned the fight as an exhibition bout.

Junior Welterweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Liam Paro – 139 ½ lbs.

Yomar Alamo – 139 lbs. 

Referee: Frank Gentile; Judges: Alexander Levin (Fla.), James O’Connor (Fla.), Michael Ross (Fla.)

#        #        #

ABOUT PAUL VS. WOODLEY II: “LEAVE NO DOUBT”

Paul vs. Woodley II will see international superstar Jake “The Problem Child” Paul face former MMA world champion Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley in a rematch of their August clash won by Paul. Paul vs. Woodley II titled “Leave No Doubt” will be the main event on SHOWTIME PPV, live from AMALIE Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday, December 18 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

The SHOWTIME PPV event will feature three additional professional boxing matches. In the co-main event, seven-division world champion and current unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano will face 135-pound titleholder Miriam Gutiérrez. Three-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Deron Williams will take on legendary San Francisco 49ers running back, the No. 3 all-time leading rusher, Frank Gore in a four-round heavyweight special attraction.

In the telecast opener, undefeated IBF and WBO top-three ranked junior welterweight contender Liam Paro of Australia will face fellow unbeaten top-10 ranked, 140-pound Puerto Rican prospect Yomar Alamo in a 10-round junior welterweight showdown.

#PaulWoodley is produced and presented by Most Valuable Promotions and SHOWTIME Sports^® and promoted in association with Tony and Bryce Holden of Holden Productions. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @TWooodley and @ShowtimeBoxing, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @Twooodley and @ShowtimeBoxing, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

TAMPA – December 16, 2021 – International superstar and unbeaten pro boxer Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and former MMA world champion Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley previewed their highly-anticipated rematch during the final press conference Thursday before they square off in the SHOWTIME PPV main event this Saturday, December 18 live from AMALIE Arena in Tampa.

The press conference also featured seven-division world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano and lightweight titleholder Miriam Gutierrez, who meet in the co-main event, three-time NBA All-Star Deron Williams and legendary San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore, who meet in a four-round pro boxing heavyweight bout, and unbeaten 140-pound contenders Liam Paro and Yomar Alamo, who square off in the telecast opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Also in attendance Thursday were Anthony Taylor and Chris Avila, pro boxers and MMA fighters who will clash in an eight-round super middleweight bout as part of the non-televised undercard.

Paul and Woodley will square off once again in a rematch of Paul’s split decision over Woodley in front of a sold-out crowd in Cleveland in August. The former UFC champion was Paul’s toughest opponent to date and the first fighter to take boxing’s newest star the distance. The judges scored the fight 77-75 for Paul, 77-75 for Woodley and 78-74 for Paul.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa:

JAKE PAUL

“It’s funny how someone considered a pro boxer like Tommy Fury gets sick and doesn’t want to fight. I’ve fought hurt before. You have to go get the job done.

“This is no problem for me. I’m getting a big bag to beat the guy I already beat. It’s going to be a bank robbery.

“We added the $500,000 knockout bonus to his contract for this fight, but I don’t need anything else, I already have everything.

“My career has become about shutting people up. This is another version of that. We’re here to up the ante.

“Just because I’m paying him to beat me, doesn’t mean he can. If anything, it’s to my advantage, because he’s going to come out recklessly and get caught.

“I hurt him multiple times in that first fight, and I didn’t even hit him with my best shot. It was a bad night and I still beat him. He should be embarrassed by that.

“Everyone better tune in to this fight on SHOWTIME PPV because if you don’t, you’re going to be missing out on one of the best fights out there.

“I’ve been hit harder in sparring than I was by Woodley. Some of those guys I fight can really crack. He won a UFC title with that right hand, but he hit me with it and I took it no problem.”

TYRON WOODLEY

“When I got the call for this fight, my thought was that things happened for a reason. Everything is aligned. Something wasn’t sitting right for me about Jake fighting Tommy Fury. They didn’t even have to finish their sentence before I said yes to the rematch.

“I’m just excited about the opportunity to redeem myself. We found out a lot about each other that night in the ring. We have mutual respect, but there’s still unfinished business.

“You have to be patient in finishing someone off in this sport. You have to respect their power and I’m not going to pretend like he doesn’t have power. We both do.

“In the second half of the fight I started walking him down and backing him up. I had him hurt, but he wasn’t out of it. I maybe could have been more active, but I have to go off of what I see.

“Every time I hit him, he ran. When I got hit, I came right back into his face.

“August 29 was a Christmas gift. On December 18, it’s going to be a bad night for Jake Paul. I just need to go out there and get it done. This is round nine to me.

“Jake was running in the first fight so I can measure his track speed more than his power. I give him a 10 out of 10 on his backpedaling. He should be a cornerback.

“I’m not going to bash his goals, but Saturday my goal and my mission is clear, and it’s independent of his. I’m coming to smash him.”

AMANDA SERRANO

“This fight is very important for me. Miriam is a tough and durable fighter. She stepped up to the task of fighting me and I have to get through her. There’s been a lot of upsets lately and I know she wants to do the same thing. I’ve trained super hard to make this a great performance.

“I know Miriam is tough because she went the distance with Katie Taylor. I just have to perform to the best of our abilities to get to the next fight. I’ve trained really hard for Miriam and she’s my focus come Saturday night.

“I have some stoppages already at lightweight. My power is real and I take it wherever I go, no matter the division. Gutierrez is a natural 135-pounder so I’m ready to test my power once again.”

MIRIAM GUTIERREZ

“This is a great experience. To have this experience against a seven-division world champion like Amanda Serrano is just amazing. I’m here to fight the best. I fought against Katie Taylor under different circumstances. Training was different during the pandemic because everything was closed. It was harder. Now I’m just here to enjoy the entirety of the experience, the fans, the atmosphere. I love every single second of it.

“Every fighter is different. I am one way; Amanda Serrano is another way. Katie Taylor is different than both of us. I have prepared to fight against the best.

“Amanda will be a great test for me. I want to see what I’m all about and what this sport is all about. I want the biggest challenges and I’m ready for everything that comes my way.”

DERON WILLIAMS

“This fight is between two guys who are high-level athletes in their respective sports and who have decided to dedicate themselves to the sport of boxing.

“It’s an interesting fight because neither of us has a fight before. There’s no tape on us. You will have to tune in on December 18 and see what happens.

“There is a stigma about basketball players being a little soft. I am here to show that it’s not the case. I have been training for a while in MMA. Making the switch to boxing has been a process that I have enjoyed. I have taken this camp very seriously. You are going to see that on Saturday.”

FRANK GORE

“I’m very excited for this opportunity. A lot of people are going to be really surprised by my skillset. I took this training camp very seriously. I’m going to show the world that I have boxing skills come Saturday night.

“This is going to be a good fight. I respect my opponent. I don’t look at Deron as a basketball player. Anyone who goes in the ring has some kind of toughness. He’s trained in MMA and wrestled before, so I know he’s tough.

“I’ve been the underdog all my life and I’m okay with it. I trained hard and I’ve been around this sport a long time. I’m ready and I trained my behind off. The fans are going to see some good stuff from me on Saturday night.”

LIAM PARO

“I have had a perfect camp. On Saturday night, it’s going to be an absolute mismatch guaranteed. I am going to explode on the international scene in a big way.

“I am world class. I’m coming for the whole 140-pound division. After Saturday night, I’m putting them all on notice. I’m going to do it in devastating fashion.”

YOMAR ALAMO

“He can say whatever he wants, but he has to respect the fact that I’ve taken out unbeaten fighters before. He has to know that this won’t be easy. I’m coming for him.

“I love it when people underestimate me. In the end, it’s just going to be me and him in the ring and I’m going to show him what I’m all about.

“I’m not going to underestimate anybody. I’m always prepared for anything my opponent can come at me with. The only thing I can promise, is that I am going to come out with the win.”

ANTHONY TAYLOR

“Since the Tommy Fury fight, I’ve fought twice and brushed up my skills. I’m a lot sharper, faster and better than ever.

“Now I have the opportunity to shut him up again. If Nate Diaz wants problems, we can settle it. I’m coming into this fight with a whole new skillset.

“Chris Avila doesn’t have anything for me. His whole Diaz Army has nothing for me. I’m coming into this fight to knock him out and make a statement. Come this Saturday night, he’s going down.”

CHRIS AVILA

“I’m coming to do my thing and leave the ring with my hand raised. He’s got nothing for me that I can’t handle.

“This is an eight -ound fight and that’s going to play to my advantage. He doesn’t have what it takes. He can say what he wants. He didn’t do anything but run in our MMA fight. He’s going to run again.”

#        #        #

ABOUT PAUL VS. WOODLEY II: “LEAVE NO DOUBT”

Paul vs. Woodley II will see international superstar Jake “The Problem Child” Paul face former MMA world champion Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley in a rematch of their August clash won by Paul. Paul vs. Woodley II titled “Leave No Doubt” will be the main event on SHOWTIME PPV, live from AMALIE Arena in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday, December 18 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

The SHOWTIME PPV event will feature three additional professional boxing matches. In the co-main event, seven-division world champion and current unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano will face 135-pound titleholder Miriam Gutiérrez. Three-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Deron Williams will take on legendary San Francisco 49ers running back, the No. 3 all-time leading rusher, Frank Gore in a four-round heavyweight bout, the professional boxing debut for both men.

In the telecast opener, undefeated IBF and WBO top-three ranked junior welterweight contender Liam Paro of Australia will face fellow unbeaten top-10 ranked, 140-pound Puerto Rican prospect Yomar Alamo in a 10-round junior welterweight showdown.

#PaulWoodley is produced and presented by Most Valuable Promotions and SHOWTIME Sports^® and promoted in association with Tony and Bryce Holden of Holden Productions. The pay-per-view telecast is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV. 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @TWooodley and @ShowtimeBoxing, on Instagram via @JakePaul, @Twooodley and @ShowtimeBoxing, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.