Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (16-1, 7 KOs) will make a unified WBA, WBO, and IBF world title defense at 130 pounds against Leila Beaudoin (13-1, 2 KOs). Baumgardner vs. Beaudoin will be contested over 12, three-minute rounds, in the co-main event of Jake Paul-Gervonta Davis on Friday, November 14 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida(Netflix).
Baumgardner has chosen to vacate her WBC belt as the sanctioning body does not recognize women’s choice to compete under equal rules to men’s champions at 12×3:00.
Joining the main card is WBA super lightweight world champion Gary “The Last” Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) against Japan’s undefeated Andy “Da Blade” Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs) in a 12-round men’s championship bout at 140 pounds.
In a preliminary card headliner, England’s unified super bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney (11-0) will become the youngest UK boxer ever to fight for an undisputed world title—male or female—in a 10-round women’s championship bout vs. Mexico’s WBA world champion Mayelli Flores (13-1-1, 4 KOs) contested at 122 pounds.
Joining Scotney-Flores will be MVP’s Costa Rican star Yokasta Valle (33-3, 10 KOs) set to defend her WBC strawweight world title against Yadira “La Reina” Bustillos (11-1, 2 KOs) in a 10-round women’s championship bout at 105 pounds. Also on the card, Avious “Tha Underdog” Griffin (17-1, 16 KOs) will face Cesar “Rainman” Francis (14-2, 9 KOs) over 8 rounds in the welterweight division.
Alycia Baumgardner:
“I am very thankful to be getting back in the ring on Friday, November 14, fighting in front of the world on Netflix,” said Baumgardner. “Consistency is what keeps me sharp and makes me dangerous. Fighting 12×3:00 represents equality. Equality in boxing means giving champions a platform to show their greatness. I am here to show the world that I am built for any and everything. AND STILL!”
On vacating her WBC belt:
“I have and will always believe that my responsibility as a champion is to push the sport forward. Women in boxing deserve equal opportunities, respect, and rules as men.
“Like Amanda Serrano and many other great champions before me, I believe women should have the choice to compete under the same rules as men, 12 rounds, three minutes per round. I have chosen to move forward in my career under those terms. My next championship fight will take place under those rules, and since the WBC does not currently allow women to fight under those terms, I’ve made the difficult decision to vacate my WBC title.
“I respect the WBC and want to thank the WBC for all the support they’ve given me throughout my career. Becoming their champion was a career defining honor, and I look forward to and plan to one day fight for a WBC belt again.
“For now, I am focused on continuing to break barriers for women’s boxing and showing the world that we are every bit as capable as the men when we step through those ropes.”
Gary Antuanne Russell:
“I’m excited to be on an event of this magnitude and put the Russell family legacy on display live on Netflix,” said Russell. “Hiraoka is my mandatory challenger and a strong fighter. We will prepare as we always do and handle business. I will be king of division for a long time and defending my title will be the first step towards it!”
Andy Hiraoka:
“Becoming world champion has been my mission since day one, and on Friday, November 14, live on Netflix, I will make that dream a reality,” said Andy Hiraoka. “Gary Russell is a great champion, but I am coming to Miami to win his belt and become Japan’s next world champion.”
Ellie Scotney:
“Belt by belt, I’ve earned this the hard way,” said Scotney. “Undisputed has always been the goal, and now thanks to MVP we’re on the final and most important step. On Friday November 14th I’ll make history as Britain’s next Undisputed World Champion.”
Yokasta Valle:
“This will be my first WBC world title defense, and doing it on MVP’s debut card with Jake Paul makes it even more special,” said Valle. “I’ve worked my whole life for these moments, and I know what it takes to stay at the top. My opponent Yadira Bustillos is tough and hungry, but I’ve never backed down from a challenge. I fight with discipline, with heart, and with the pride of Costa Rica on my shoulders. The landscape of women’s boxing is opening up, and there are many great possible opponents ahead, but before any of that, I need to win this fight convincingly. On fight night, the world will see why I’m not just a champion—I’m here to inspire and to keep breaking barriers for women in boxing.”
Avious Griffin:
“Thanks to MVP, the best promotional company in the business, we’re back on stage Friday, November 14, said Griffin. “See y’all soon.. it’s the kid that did.”
