On Tuesday, MVP promotions announced that Jake “El Gallo” Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) will return to the ring in a cruiserweight battle against bare knuckle champion boxer and MMA star “Platinum” Mike Perry (5-0, 3 KOs BKFC) on Saturday, July 20 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida(DAZN pay-per-view).
Paul-Perry will be an eight round cruiserweight bout, which could be a risky fight if Paul sustains any injures that could impact his bout with Mike Tyson on November 15.
Featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) will also return to the ring against Tampa, Florida’s Stevie “Sledgehammer” Morgan (14-1, 13 KOs) in the co-main event.
Serrano-Morgan will be a super lightweight battle, contested over 10, two-minute rounds.
Like Paul, Serrano wants to avoid any injuries that could further postpone her rematch against Katie Taylor on November 15.
The undercard will also feature the rematch of Crescent City, Florida’s Tony Aguilar (12-0-1, 4 KOs) vs. Orlando, Florida’s Corey “2Smoove” Marksman (9-0-1, 7 KOs) in an 8-round lightweight bout. Further undercard fights will be announced in the coming days.
“When Paul vs. Tyson was rescheduled, I knew immediately that I wanted to still fight on Saturday, July 20. Now, as I prepare for my fight against Iron Mike, there’s no better opponent for me than Mike Perry,” said Paul. “He’s a proven knockout artist who has shown to be a maniac in and out of the ring. This is the perfect experience for me to gain in advance of facing Mike Tyson. But getting that experience comes with risk. Those who know me know I’m a risk taker and while ‘Platinum’ Perry might try to end me, I’m Titanium Jake Paul and I fear no man. I’m going to get the W and give everyone a preview of what I’m bringing to the ring against Mike Tyson. Tune in on DAZN PPV as I return to Tampa and send ‘Platinum’ Perry the Platypus back to bare knuckle for good.”
Perry (5-0, 3 KOs BKFC) steps into the ring with Paul following his fearsome career across the UFC, Triad Combat, and bare knuckle boxing. Perry earned the 2023 Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Male Fighter of the Year and in April 2024, he expanded his undefeated record to 5-0 with a first-round KO of UFC veteran Thiago Alves. The bout served as the latest testament to the power, tenacity and skill Perry will bring to the ring against Jake Paul on Saturday, July 20 for “Fear No Man”.
“Jake Paul claims he fears no man, but on Saturday, July 20, the world will see the truth: he just made the worst mistake of his life in trying to get through me before Iron Mike,” said Perry. “I’m going to make it look easy on Saturday July 20th, and I’m going to teach Jake Paul the most he’s ever learned about fighting.”
Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs), the first-ever Puerto Rican undisputed world champion, started her current featherweight title reign by defeating Heather Hardy in a brutal 10-round fight in 2019 to win the WBO belt, and has since defended her WBO belt six times. Most recently, Serrano took home a unanimous decision victory against her mandatory WBO challenger Danila Ramos, making history in the first-ever women’s unified world championship to be fought over 12, three-minute rounds, equal to any men’s championship fight, and marking the first time a women’s fight has gone the full 12×3.
“I’ve already been preparing for a fight on Saturday, July 20, and even though I’ll now be waiting a little longer for my rematch with Katie Taylor, this is an opportunity for me to face another tough boxer in Stevie Morgan in Tampa,” said Serrano. “My opponent has 13 KOs, more than almost every other active female boxer, but I fear no woman – I embrace the war. I look forward to seeing all my Puerto Rican fans in Tampa for my 50th professional fight to show the world my skills at super lightweight, live on DAZN PPV.”
Morgan (14-1, 13 KOs), the 34-year-old lightweight in just her second year as a pro, is currently ranked by the WBC and is in the top 10 of the IBF, WBO, and WBA world rankings.
“We’ve been training for an opportunity like this, and I want to give full respect to Amanda for all she has done in her career and for women’s boxing,” said Morgan. “In this sport, though, in order to make a name, you have to take a name. I have 13 KOs and nothing will be sweeter than making Amanda Serrano number 14. Come fight night on Saturday, July 20 there will be fireworks!”
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