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Paul, the MVP, hopes a Green victory will lead to a “super fight” with Shields

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7 days ago

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Jake Paul may not be able to fight due to a surgically reconstructed jaw, but that doesn’t stop his influence as a full-time promoter looking to make the biggest fights in women’s boxing.

On Friday, MVPW-02 Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions will take place at the Infosys Theater in Madison Square Garden, headlined by Alycia Baumgardner and Bo Ri Me Shin. However, the co-main event is also drawing additional attention as Shadasia Green puts her unified super middleweight titles on the line against two-division champion Lani Daniels.

Paul believes that if Green is victorious, it will set the stage for what he calls one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing.

“I think there are five superfights in women’s boxing, and Claressa Shields vs. Shadasia Green is on that list,” Paul told ESPN. “This fight is bigger than a lot of so-called men’s superfights because Shields and Green have that aura, that attitude and that talk. That’s what boxing fans want to see.”

Shields and Green have been circling each other for several years. Although Green’s progress stalled after a loss to Franchon Crews-Dezurn in 2023, “The Sweet Terminator” made a major statement by defeating Shields’ former rival Savannah Marshall last July.

The two have exchanged words on social media and in interviews about a potential fight, with Paul defending his titles against another former Shields opponent, and Paul sees this as a great opportunity to build in favor of Shields vs. Green.

“Claressa, this is your official invitation from me personally to Friday, April 17, at Madison Square Garden,” Paul said. “Ride over and watch your future opponent, Shadasia Green, get to work.”

ESPN reached out to Shields’ promoter, Dmitriy Salita, to ask about the possibility of the fight happening. Salita said he is open to the possibility of working with Most Valuable Promotions “in the future” for the Shields-Green fight. However, he also believes that the unified super middleweight champion still has some work to do, especially against a fighter that Salita and Shields co-promote.

“Danielle Perkins is the lithe heavyweight champion who defeated Shadasia Green in the amateur competition,” Salita said. “This is a fight that could be made this summer. Shadasia should beat another fighter that Claressa beat to prove that she doesn’t just talk the talk and has the skills to compete. Perkins is the perfect opponent.”

Salita neither confirmed nor denied that Shields would participate in Friday’s fight.

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Boxing

Mauricio Sulaimán calls Crawford’s retirement cowardly

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1 hour ago

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April 23, 2026

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Image: Does a Canelo-Crawford Rematch Benefit Anyone Besides Their Bank Accounts?

Terence Crawford left boxing undefeated with little to prove, and yet Mauricio Sulaimán reignited an senior feud, describing the former champion’s retirement as “cowardly” in an interview this week.

“Fight in September for the world title. He has many options: Benavidez, Charlo, a rematch with Crawford, who cowardly retired, Bivol and Beterbiev. He is in a position where he can choose,” WBC president Sulaiman told Tiempo Extra.

This seems like a more personal than professional paperwork dispute. Sulaimán’s “cowardly” comment is clearly payback for the bridge Crawford burned on his way out.


When Crawford defeated Canelo in September 2025, he effectively retired as “King of the Hill” and then told the Neighborhood Association (WBC) that their membership dues were a scam.

During his Instagram Live tirade, Crawford refused to pay and devalued the entire existence of the WBC. Calling the eminent green belt a “trophy” that “doesn’t mean shit” is a direct attack on Sulaimán’s legacy and the prestige he strives to maintain for the WBC.

The WBC says it lowered its usual 3% commission to 0.6% ($300,000) to be “fair” and Crawford still hasn’t moved on it. By paying the other three organizations (WBA, IBF, WBO) but freezing the WBC, Crawford singled them out as the only organization he felt was not worth his money.

Crawford clearly stated that The Ring belt is a “real belt” because it is free. This is a nightmare for sanctioning bodies because it encourages other stars to realize that they don’t actually need pricey “alphabet” titles from sanctioning bodies to be considered the best.

Calling a 42-0 fighter who has just been promoted and trained by Canelo a “coward” is objectively absurd in a boxing sense. However, in Sulaimán’s language, “cowardly” likely refers to Crawford’s refusal to “stand and fight” in the boardroom.

By retiring, Crawford prevented the WBC from receiving the $300,000 he already owed them for the belt. Additionally, his retirement meant future billing for the massive Crawford vs. Benavidez or Crawford vs. Bivol.

It also prevented the WBC from formally stripping him as a punishment while he was still energetic.

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Last updated: 23/04/2026 at 12:28

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Deontay Wilder may miss the fight he wants next due to a change in heavyweight plans

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3 hours ago

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April 23, 2026

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Deontay Wilder set to miss out on the fight he wants next as heavyweight plans shift

Deontay Wilder is unlikely to secure his preferred fight after taking a split decision to fellow veteran Derek Chisora ​​earlier this month.

The two faced off in a messy battle at London’s O2 Arena, with Wilder scoring two knockdowns en route to his 12-round victory.

The 40-year-old had previously recorded just one victory, a seventh-round finish over little-known heavyweight Tyrrell Herndon, following consecutive defeats to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker.

These two flaws emerged in 2024 and 2023, respectively, and reinforced the growing belief that the “Bronze Bomber” was on the brink of retirement.

However, Wilder has since insisted he wants to stay in the sport, particularly to secure a long-discussed clash with Anthony Joshua, who recently told the Briton to “sit down or shut up”.

The pair have been on a collision course for a century since they held all four major heavyweight titles between them.

While both fighters would likely like to fight without a title later this year, Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn expressed a slightly different desire.

I’m talking to talkSPORTJoshua’s longtime promoter has mentioned a potential appearance this summer ahead of what he hopes will be a November fight with Tyson Fury.

“If we were promoting this event [this summer]that’s exactly what I would do [making the Wilder fight].

“But this is the deal that we made with Fury against AJ as the pinnacle of that deal. There will be a lot of people who won’t want to take a fight that they think will be risky and bet on it. [the Fury fight in] danger.

“The reality is this [that] all fights are risky, especially in this division. We have no problem with fighting Wilder. [But] I don’t think it’s Wilder [on] basis of this agreement.”

This deal includes two fights with Turki Alalshikh, which will allow Joshua to enter the ring before his fight with Fury in overdue 2026.

Such an agreement would mean he would fight for the first time since then in December in the sixth round against Jake Paulwhich was preceded by a tragic car accident that killed two of his close friends.

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Osleys Churches Respond to Charles Adames Combat Claims

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5 hours ago

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April 23, 2026

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Image: Osleys Iglesias fires back after Carlos Adames says “I’m ready”

Carlos Adames said he can beat anyone at middleweight and super middleweight, but the statement was met with immediate backlash from newly crowned IBF super middleweight champion Osleys Iglesias. After Adames announced he was ready to fight, the undefeated Cuban responded on social media, calling for the fight to go ahead.

The exchange began when Carlos Adames stated that no one at 160 or 168 pounds could beat him. The fan quickly challenged him to fight Iglesias, one of the most hazardous names in the super middleweight division.


“Who are you? What I do in the ring confirms what I say here. Whenever you want, I’m ready to prove it to you,” Adames said in X.

That was met with a direct response from Iglesias (15-0, 14 KO), who is coming off an eighth-round victory over Pavel Silyagin and gained traction at 168 pounds after winning the IBF title.

“Enough talking. Let’s get on the same page and take the fight to the next level. I’m waiting for your call. My team is ready. I’m waiting for you,” said Osleys Iglesias.

Adames holds the middleweight title while Iglesias is one division above, so any fight would require one side to advance. This alone makes it more sedate than a routine online argument.

This exchange with Iglesias bears all the hallmarks of a potential bluff by Adames. Iglesias is now viewed by many as the 168-pound boss who stopped Pavel Silyagin in the eighth round just two weeks ago.

He’s a powerful southpaw with a 93% knockout rate, which isn’t usually the type of guy a champion fights unless he’s 100% sedate or looking for a huge payday.

Fans will soon find out if this was Adames’ social media stunt if he starts demanding a catchweight fight with Iglesias or tells him to drop down to 160 pounds. If he tells IBF 168-pound champion Iglesias to back off, he will simply be looking for a way out. It will be a foregone conclusion if he stays on X and does not lead to official negotiations between Adames’ promoters at PBC and Iglesias’ team.

The southpaw Iglesias is essentially a airy heavyweight who can reach 168 pounds and would also have significant height and an advantage over Adames. If Adames is sedate, he’s taking one of the toughest routes possible to make a super middleweight debut.

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Last updated: 23/04/2026 at 10:29

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