2/26 ESPN+ PPV: Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury / Ilunga Makabu vs Badou Jack (WBC Cruiserweight Title)

[patscorpio]

JAKE PAUL SET TO FACE UNDEFEATED PROFESSIONAL BOXER TOMMY FURY ON FEBRUARY 26TH IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS JOINS FORCES WITH TOP RANK AND ESPN+ IN THE UNITED STATES TO PRESENT JAKE PAUL’S MOMENT OF TRUTH AS A BOXER FORMER TWO DIVISION WORLD CHAMPION BADOU JACK “THE RIPPER” WILL FACE ILUNGA MAKABU IN CO-MAIN EVENT FOR THE WBC CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MVP RISING PHENOM ASHTON “H20” SYLVE ALSO SET TO MAKE RETURN TO RING AFTER VIRAL KNOCKOUT IN OCTOBER

NEW YORK, NY – January 27, 2023 – Today, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that international superstar Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will, at long last, face undefeated pro boxer Tommy “TNT” Fury, younger brother of Heavyweight World Champion Tyson Fury, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, February 26, 2023. The main event, titled “The Truth,” will also feature two-weight world champion Badou Jack “The Ripper” challenging WBC Cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu in the co-main event. The card will also showcase Ashton "H2O" Sylve, an MVP undefeated fighter, as he is set to face former WBC world title challenger Maxwell Awuku (48-5-1, 33 KOs), from Accra, Ghana. Paul vs. Fury will stream live on ESPN+ PPV (2PM ET / 11AM PT), the exclusive digital distributor for the event in the United States. Additionally, it will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers and will be priced at $49.99 Paul and Fury were originally slated to face off in December 2021, 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. Paul is giving Fury another chance next month so he can silence the critics who claim he has yet to fight a professional boxer. The 26-year-old Cleveland native started his pro boxing journey in January 2020 and will go head-to-head with Fury, a more experienced boxer from a prominent boxing family. Paul, who boasts a professional record of 6-0 with 4 knockouts, continues to make waves in the boxing world. His latest win against the legendary Anderson Silva, won him ESPNRingside’s 2022 Viral Moment of the Year, by dropping Silva in the 8th round. Paul began his pro career in January 2020 with a stunning debut against British YouTube star AnEsonGib and a subsequent, jaw-dropping knockout of former NBA star Nate Robinson in November 2020. From there, “The Problem Child” shocked the industry with a first-round KO of former MMA champion Ben Askren in April 2021 and two wins over Woodley, including a vicious knockout which won him ESPNRingside’s 2021 Knockout of The Year. “The moment of truth has finally arrived,” said Paul. “On February 26th, I will get in the ring with a ‘real boxer,’ an 8-0 fighter from a storied fighting family and show the world the truth about who Jake Paul, the boxer really is.” Hailing from Manchester, England, Fury began boxing at the age of 12. He had 12 amateur fights, winning two regional titles and reaching the U.K. national final in 2016. Fury made his professional debut in 2018, winning by decision. He then knocked out his next four opponents, drawing attention from the boxing world. In 2021, he fought three times, including his U.S. debut on Paul’s undercard, earning his seventh victory against Anthony Taylor. He most recently shut out Daniel Bocianski over six rounds last April on the Tyson Fury-Dillian Whyte undercard. Fury, a former Love Island reality TV star, is ready for the biggest moment in his professional boxing career. “Jake Paul has already achieved more than anyone thought possible when we started this journey three years ago. Six professional fights, five pay-per-views, over $150 million of revenue generated and viral moment after viral moment,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. “Jake is an undeniable pay-per-view star and we are delighted to collaborate with Top Rank and ESPN+ to distribute this massive event between two of boxing’s biggest names to millions of homes in the United States. Thank you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its Ministry of Sport and Skill Challenge Entertainment Enterprises for their vision and commitment to putting on this event.” "Jake Paul and Tommy Fury have fan bases that extend far beyond the world of boxing,” said Top Rank President Todd duBoef. “We are thrilled to partner with MVP and distribute this event on pay-per-view in the U.S., including ESPN+ PPV as the exclusive digital platform." "We are very excited about the upcoming event featuring Jake and Tommy in Riyadh and look forward to welcoming them to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” stated Chairman of Skill Challenge Entertainment, His Highness Prince Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. "With the consumption of YouTube content per capita in Saudi Arabia remaining one of the highest in the world, the highly anticipated bout featuring one of its most renowned personalities-turned-boxer, Jake Paul, will be amongst the most-viewed events globally. The excitement of this being his biggest challenge to date is very appealing as he takes on a legitimate boxer in Tommy Fury,” he added. The Paul vs. Fury event is co-produced by Skill Challenge Entertainment Enterprises (SCEE) and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), in association with Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank. The U.S. pay-per-view telecast is available on ESPN+ PPV. For more information follow on Twitter via @JakePaul, @MostVPromotions, @ESPNRingside, and @ESPNPlus or Instagram via @JakePaul, and @MostValuablePromotions. About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) Dedicated to brand building, content creation, promotion, and strategic advisory, Most Valuable Promotions was founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021. With the mission to provide more creative control to fighters, MVP works to identify, grow, and maximize return for its own events and talent partners. Already making a name for itself in the sport of boxing and the overall industry, MVP was nominated as one of the prestigious Sports Breakthroughs of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal. The promotion company has co-produced and co-promoted all of Paul’s latest matches including both fights against Tyron Woodley and his most recent fight against Anderson Silva, which included a co-headlining bout with MVP’s youngest signed talent, Ashton Sylve. The promotion company also signed one of the most decorated Hispanic athletes of all time, Amanda Serrano in its first year. Serrano and MVP made history in April of 2022 when Serrano went head to head with Katie Taylor, marking the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden. Co-founder Nakisa Bidarian was an executive producer of the historic Triller Presents Mike Tyson v. Roy Jones Jr., which was the 8th most bought pay-per-view event in history.

 

[patscorpio]

fukk the main event....jack vs makabu could possibly be a FOTY on paper

 

[OfTheCross]

Damn... this is a decent little card. I'm in

 

[seemorecizzy]

man if fury loses he might get disowned

 

[Big Boss]

 

[MoshpitMazi]

Tommy finna get clipped he don’t have that dawg in em

 

[UncleTomFord15]

this fight was suppose to happen for like 3 years now

 

[JP_614]

JAKE PAUL BY KO FREE fukkERY

 

[50CentStan]

Jake paul knocking that dosser spaahrk out!!

 

[Bigblackted4]

fukk the main event....jack vs makabu could possibly be a FOTY on paper

yessir love the cruiserweight

 

[O.T.I.S.]

Tommy should not even shake dudes hands or get touched by Jake at this point…

Dude be shoving his hands up freshly fertilized a$$holes and sticking them in mouths

 

[patscorpio]

Jake Paul-Tommy Fury: DAZN, Fite TV Nab Canada Distribution Rights; Full Global Schedule Released

BY JAKE DONOVAN
Published Mon Feb 13, 2023, 08:45 AM EST
The platform on which Jake Paul made his pro debut is back in the fold for his latest ring adventure.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), Paul's promotional company, revealed global distribution rights for the content creator and unbeaten cruiserweight's upcoming grudge match versus Tommy Fury. DAZN and Fite TV join ESPN+ and BT Sport Box Office among the four primary platforms to distribute their scheduled eight-round pay-per-view main event on Sunday, February 26 from Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

The event was already confirmed to be carried on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View in the U.S. and BT Sport Box Office in the U.K. DAZN and Fite TV will serve as the digital distributors for the pay-per-view event in Canada and Brazil.

It will mark the first fight for Paul (6-0, 5KOs) on DAZN since his pro debut, when he flattened fellow content creator AnEsonGib in the opening round of their January 2020 clash during Super Bowl week in Miami Gardens, Florida.

“We are huge fans of Jake at DAZN and are thrilled to be working with MVP once again to broadcast his mega fight versus Tommy Fury on PPV in Canada and Brazil”, said Joseph Markowski, CEO North America, DAZN Group. “This grudge match has been bubbling away for months and is simply unmissable.”

Added Michael Weber, COO of Fite.tv: "The whole world loves boxing, and we’ve seen fans tune in for Jake Paul again and again as we have carried every single PPV fight of his. MVP has been an incredible partner to work with at every step of our relationship. And here's what I know: anyone who still questions that Jake has changed the game will get their answers at this event.”

The show also includes a terrific WBC cruiserweight title fight between defending champ Ilunga 'Junior' Makabu (29-2, 25KOs) and former two-division titlist Badou Jack (27-3-3, 16KOs).

DAZN was boots on the ground for the influx of social media influencers making their way to the ring, dating back to the November 2019 rematch between KSi and Logan Paul, Jake's older brother. Their first fight came as an exhibition bout in August 2018 in the UK, with DAZN serving as the exclusive provider for the sanctioned pro bout at Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles.

Jake Paul made his pro debut just two months later, which marked his lone fight on DAZN. He has since appeared exclusively on PPV, with the rescheduled fight versus Fury (8-0, 4KOs) serving as his fifth consecutive headliner.

The two were previously due to meet atop a December 2021 Showtime PPV from AMALIE Arena in Tampa, only for Manchester's Fury—the younger brother of lineal/WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24KOs)—to withdraw due to injury and illness. Paul went on to face Tyron Woodley in a rematch, where he scored a sensational sixth-round knockout.

Efforts to reschedule the bout for last August 6 at Madison Square Garden New York City were dead on arrival. Fury endured a visa issue, joining his father and older brother in the inability to travel to the U.S. The event was subsequently canceled altogether when plans for Paul to face Hasim Rahman, Jr. collapsed due to a weight discrepancy.

Paul resurfaced later in the year, when he outpointed combat sports legend Anderson Silva over eight rounds atop a Showtime PPV last October 29 in Glendale, Arizona. From there came the determination to revisit plans with Fury, with whom a grudge match has been brewing since the Brit's undercard appearance on the Paul-Woodley I August 2021 PPV event in Cleveland, Ohio.

Fury has not fought a sanctioned pro bout since a six-round points win over Daniel Bocianski last April 23 at Wembley Stadium in London. His last ring appearance was a dowgraded exhibition bout versus late replacement Rolly Lambert on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Deji PPV last November 13 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“This fight has been long awaited and because of that, we have seen incredible demand from fans across the globe," said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. "We are grateful and excited to bring Paul vs. Fury to the homes of millions through the support of our esteemed pay-per-view partners."

Below are the full list of global PPV distributors for Paul-Fury:

UNITED STATES: ESPN+ PPV is the exclusive digital distributor for Paul v. Fury in the United States. Additionally, the event will be available via all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers and will be priced at $49.99. The fight will stream live starting at 2PM ET / 11AM PT.

CANADA: FITE.tv and DAZN are digital distributors of the Paul v. Fury pay-per-view in Canada. The event will also be available via all major cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND: BT Sport Box Office will be the exclusive pay-per-view distributor in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

EUROPE: FITE.tv will distribute the Paul v. Fury pay-per-view throughout all of Europe, excluding UK and Ireland.

AUSTRALIA: Fox Australia’s Main Event will distribute the Paul v. Fury pay-per-view in Australia on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

NEW ZEALAND: Sky Arena and Sky Sport will distribute the Paul v. Fury pay-per-view in New Zealand.

ASIA (other than the Middle East): FITE.tv will distribute the Paul v. Fury pay-per-view throughout Asia.

INDIA: FITE.tv will distribute the Paul v. Fury pay-per-view in India.

BRAZIL: FITE.tv and DAZN will distribute the Paul v. Fury pay-per-view in Brazil.

The upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury is sure to be a historic event for the fighters. With both men having unblemished records, the stakes are high in order to maintain their undefeated status. This match-up marks a critical moment for Paul as it provides him with the opportunity to solidify his position as a legitimate professional boxer. On the other hand, Fury will be looking to make a statement by taking down one of the most talked about boxers in the sport and establishing himself as a top fighter. The tension between these two athletes has been building for years, setting the stage for an explosive battle that will be watched by fans from all over the world. In addition to the main event, the co-main event will feature a clash between former two-weight world champion Badou Jack from Sweden and WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu from Congo and South Africa.

 

[patscorpio]

 

[Derek Lee]

Zero buzz for this

 

[TheNig]

Hmmm.... I was excited about it but I'm not sure how I feel about coughing up $50 for this.