Notebook: Amanda Serrano inks 'lifetime' contract with MVP
Jim Lampley returns to blow-by-blow; Whyte injured, Joyce fight off; Collazo set for unified title defense; YouTube appearances; Padley promo deal; new direction for Cafu; Quick hits; Show and tell
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However many more fights Amanda Serrano has before she retires and awaits her election to the International Boxing Hall of Fame she will have them with Most Valuable Promotions.
Serrano, the unified women’s featherweight champion and the only woman to win world titles in seven weight classes, signed what she and MVP called “a lifetime agreement” to remain with the company.
MVP will promote the rest of her fights and when she retires she will become “chairwoman of MVP’s women’s boxing initiatives and lead the company’s efforts in identifying, signing, developing and marketing the promotion’s growing roster of female athletes.”
In recent years, MVP has been one of the leading promoters in the world when it comes to women’s boxing, which began when MVP co-founder Jake Paul met Serrano in 2020 when she boxed on one of his undercards. He was impressed and they began working together soon after.
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Since then, Paul and MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian have made women’s boxing a major part of the company, including co-promoting Serrano’s instant classic first fight with then-undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor in 2022, a fight that Puerto Rico’s Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs), 36, lost by debatable split decision before a sellout crowd for the first female main event at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
“Signing this lifetime deal with MVP means I can continue fighting — not just in the ring, but for the next generation of women in combat sports,” Serrano said. “MVP has always been committed to elevating female fighters, from being the first women to headline Madison Square Garden to breaking viewership records for women's sports or making history with 12 three-minute rounds. Together, we’ve shown the world that women deserve equal pay, equal rounds, and equal respect.
“I’m proud to build my legacy with MVP and excited to stay on after I retire as a fighter to deepen MVP’s impact and help create even more opportunities for women in the sport.”
In November, in the co-feature of the Paul-Mike Tyson card on Netflix, Serrano lost a one-point unanimous decision to Taylor in their rematch for Taylor’s undisputed junior welterweight title in a an epic battle that rivaled their first clash. The sides are in discussions for a third fight that could take place this summer.
“Amanda Serrano is the heart and soul of MVP,” Paul and Bidarian said in a joint statement. “Her relentless drive, historic achievements, and passion for uplifting other fighters are everything we are looking for in both signees and as future decision makers alongside us at MVP. Amanda has paved the way for female fighters worldwide, shattering glass ceilings and demanding equality at every step. We are so fortunate to have her as both a fighter and a trailblazer who will continue to shape the sport long after she retires from the ring.”
Lampley back on the mic
Jim Lampley, the International Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster viewed by many as the greatest blow-by-blow announcer in the sport’s history, will be back behind the microphone calling fights, just where he wants to be.
Lampley, who has long hoped to return to ringside, has made a deal with Turki Alalshikh to call his Ring magazine-branded tripleheader on May 2 in New York’s Times Square, where Ryan Garcia will fight Rolando Romero for the vacant WBA “regular” welterweight title in the main event, Devin Haney will face Jose Ramirez in the co-feature as they both move up to welterweight, and Teofimo Lopez will defend the lineal/WBO junior welterweight title against mandatory challenger Arnold Barboza.
It will be the first time Lampley will call a fight since HBO’s final boxing telecast on Dec. 8, 2018. Lampley, 75, was the blow-by-blow voice for HBO for 30 years and authored many of the most iconic calls in history.
“Hello again, I’m Jim Lampley,” Lampley said in a video posted to The Ring’s social media. “And I’m here to announce that after a few years away from ringside, I will be returning on May 2, under the banner of The Ring magazine, to cover the tripleheader in Times Square that involves Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez. A new groundbreaking event for the sport, outside in the middle of New York City. I’ll be back at ringside to call blow-by-blow. Couldn’t be more excited about it.”
Lampley met with Alalshikh in New York over the weekend and Alalshikh later made the announcement.
“Honored to meet the legendary Jim Lampley today,” Alalshikh posted to social media on Sunday. “We’ve joined forces to bring some thrilling surprises that will excite boxing fans around the world.”
Lampley called fights for ABC in the 1980s before going to HBO. He also worked at ABC as its first college football sideline reporter and has covered 14 Olympics, among other assignments.
Whyte-Joyce is off
The heavyweight fight between Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce, which was scheduled for April 5 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, as the main event of the first Queensberry Promotions card of the company’s new exclusive deal with DAZN, is off.
Whyte is hurt and withdrew from the bout on Tuesday, but the card dubbed “Heavy Impact” will go on as planned.
“Due to a hand injury sustained during training camp, Dillian Whyte will no longer be able to compete in his scheduled bout against Joe Joyce,” Queensberry said in a statement. “A replacement opponent is now being finalized for ‘The Juggernaut’ and an announcement regarding this will be made shortly.”
Promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions has a deal with TNT Sports in the United Kingdom that is about to expire. In November Warren made a deal with DAZN to show the company’s events worldwide. That deal goes into effect April 1.
British countrymen Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs), 36, a former world title challenger, and Joyce (16-3, 15 KOs), 39, a former WBO interim titleholder, have both been trying to climb their way back near the top of the division and the winner of their fight would have taken a big step toward that goal.
Collazo defense scheduled
WBO/WBA strawweight champion Oscar Collazo will make his fifth overall defense and first of the unified belts when he fights Edwin Cano on March 29 (DAZN), Golden Boy announced.
The fight will serve as the co-feature to the previously announced rematch between WBC interim lightweight titlist William Zepeda and Tevin Farmer at the Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun, Mexico.
Collazo (11-0, 8 KOs), 28, a Puerto Rican southpaw, will travel to face Cano (13-2-1, 4 KOs), 27, in his home country in his first fight since an impressive seventh-round knockout of Thailand’s undefeated longtime WBA titleholder Thammanoon Niyomtrong to unify belts in November on the “Latino Night” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“I’m happy and grateful to have our fifth defense and first fight of 2025,” Collazo said. “I’m thankful to Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy for giving me the opportunity to showcase my talent in Cancun and connect with different fan bases. We will make the most of this opportunity and show once again that we are the best in the 105-pound division in the world.”
Cano is 3-0-1 in his last four bouts and facing by far the best opponent of his career.
“I’m very happy to fight for a world title in my country,” Cano said. “I’m very focused on giving a great fight.”
Three additional 10-round bouts will round out the main card: Flyweight Joselito Velazquez (20-1-1, 13 KOs), 31 of Mexico, against an opponent to be determined; Golden Boy’s newly signed cruiserweight Robin Safar (17-0, 12 KOs), 32, a Las Vegas-based Sweden native, versus Roberto Silva (13-3, 7 KOs), 36, of Houston; and a female flyweight bout between former world champions Yokasta Valle (32-3, 10 KOs), 32, of Costa Rica, and Marlen Esparza (15-2, 1 KO), 35, of Houston.
YouTube appearances
With so much controversy over the Gervonta “Tank” Davis-Lamont Roach Jr. and Paddy Donovan-Lewis Crocker fights on Saturday some boxing YouTube channels wanted to discuss them with. So I spoke with my pals at The Ring, iFL TV and Pro Boxing Fans. Check out the interviews here:
Padley lands promotional deal
British lightweight Josh Padley has landed a multi-fight promotional contract with Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn.
Padley (15-1, 4 KOs), 29, got the deal after taking a fight with WBC lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson on four days’ notice when Floyd Schofield dropped out due to illness. He traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and fought valiantly. He was ultimately knocked down three times in the ninth round, leading to his corner throwing in the towel on the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol II undercard on Feb. 22.
Because of the deal and the opportunities it will provide, Padley, an electrician, who had been installing solar panels a few days before the fight, quit his day job to focus on his boxing career full time.
“The dream has finally come true,” Padley said. “I’m looking forward to hanging the work boots up and fully dedicating my life to boxing. I can’t wait for the huge nights ahead with the Matchroom team. The best Josh Padley is yet to come.
“I’m going to give this sport everything that I have now. It’s only a short career you get in boxing. It almost feels like I didn't lose the fight with Shakur because everyone has got behind me so much. That was four days’ notice. I know I’ll be better next time I get my world title shot.”
Hearn was pleased for Padley and his feel-good story.
“I love great stories and there aren’t many better than the story of Josh Padley,” Hearn said. “Josh rolled the dice and stepped in with one of the greatest talents on the planet at just four days’ notice, and although he fell short, he has completely transformed his life.
“With the purse he received from his brave showing against Stevenson and the backing of Matchroom, Josh can now put all of his focus on his boxing career, pursuing his dream of earning another world title shot and winning a world title.”
Delgado vs. Rodriguez set
Junior welterweights Lindolfo Delgado (22-0, 16 KOs), 30, a 2016 Mexican Olympian, and Elvis Rodriguez (17-1-1, 13 KOs), 29, a southpaw from the Dominican Republic, will meet in the 10-round on April 5 (ESPN+) at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Top Rank announced.
The fight will serve as the co-feature to the heavyweight fight between Richard Torrez Jr. and Guido Vianello, confirming a Fight Freaks Unite report.
“I’ve overcome every challenge that’s come my way. April 5 will be no different,” Delgado said. “Elvis Rodriguez is tough, but beating him puts me in the world title conversation. I promise to put on a great performance and bring a huge win home for Mexico.”
Said Rodriguez: “I know this is the kind of fight that can change the course of my career and put me where I want to be. That’s why we’ll make the most of this opportunity and walk away with my hand raised. I know what my opponent brings to the table, but I also know I have what it takes to walk away with the win.”
Also on the undercard will be fast-rising Cleveland lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason (17-0, 15 KOs), 20, who will face fellow southpaw Giovanni Cabrera (22-2, 7 KOs), 30, of Chicago, in a 10-orounder. Cabrera has lost two of his last three when stepping up in opposition, a third-round knockout to William Zepeda in July and a split decision to Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in July 2023.
“This is a real fight between two top contenders who know a title shot is within reach,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. “Lindolfo and Elvis are highly ranked and fully aware of the stakes. Abdullah Mason is making a quick turnaround (from Feb. 14) and will be in the lightweight title discussion sooner than people realize.”
Cafu defense in South Africa
WBO junior bantamweight titlist Phumelela Cafu is making plans for his first defense but it won’t be against four-division champion and former pound-for-pound king Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, which had been in the works.
Cafu (11-0-3, 8 KOs), 26, a southpaw from South Africa, won the 1115-pound belt by upset split decision over Kosei Tanaka on the road in Japan in October. Discussions with Gonzalez have broken off.
Colin Nathan, who trains and manages Cafu, said he recently spoke to promoter Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions “and for whatever reason, the Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez fight has not come together. We are now moving ahead with Phumelela doing his first defense right here in South Africa. We are currently looking at three provinces to host this event, with the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Gauteng all being possibilities.
“Although we have not yet finalized an opponent for Phumelela, the WBO has strict policies regarding their challengers, so it will be someone credible.”
Cafu said he would have liked to defend against Gonzalez but had that bout happened it would not have been in South Africa, where Cafu is thrilled to be fighting.
“It feels good that I’ll be fighting at home because most of my fans have been hoping for this,” Cafu said. “This is really a dream come true, knowing that every South African fan at the venue will be cheering for me. It’s very important to me to defend my title. I get to showcase my skills in front of my home crowd, so I’m excited.
“My goal is to be undisputed, and I want to fight the big names in the division, like ‘Bam’ (Rodriguez) and (Fernando) Martinez. If the Gonzalez fight happens in the future, then great. I’m here to establish my own legacy.”
Quick hits
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, who unified the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, by dominating decision over Chris Billam-Smith in November in the headliner of the “Latino Night” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has his WBA mandatory due next against former titleholder Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs), 39, a Miami-based Cuban defector, who agreed to step-aside deal to allow Ramirez-Billam-Smith. That bout will be next, Golden Boy president Eric Gomez told Fight Freaks Unite. It will headline a DAZN card with plans in the works for it to take place June 28. A win by Mexican southpaw Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs), 33, could lead to a further unification fight with lineal/IBF champion Jai Opetaia later in the year.
In a result from Saturday, former IBF junior welterweight titleholder Subriel Matias (22-2, 22 KOs), 32, of Puerto Rico, earned a shot at his old belt by knocking out Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (30-4-1, 17 KOs), 30, of Mexico, in the eighth-round of their final eliminator in the main event of a Salita Promotions show on DAZN at Coliseo Tomas Dones Hernandez in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Matias won his second fight in a row since losing the belt by upset decision in June in Puerto Rico to Liam Paro, who lost it to Richardson Hitchins in his first defense. Matias finished Valenzuela with a barrage of shots that made him take a knee before referee Roberto Ramirez Jr. waved off the action fight at 2 minutes, 55 seconds.
Former WBO light heavyweight titlist Joe Smith Jr. (28-5, 22 KOs) has pneumonia, forcing him to postpone his 10-round cruiserweight fight against Devonte Williams (13-1, 6 KOs) for the second time, Star Boxing announced. The fight was scheduled for Feb. 13 but moved to March 22 because Smith was ill. The show — the 50th edition of Star Boxing’s “Rockin’ Fights” series at The Paramount in Huntington, New York — will go on though with super middleweight Junior Younan (21-0-1, 13 KOs), 29, of Brooklyn, New York, now headlining in a 10-rounder against an opponent to be named. Smith, who has been idle since October 2023, was looking to rebound in front of a hometown crowd following two losses in a row, a KO to Artur Beterbiev in a light heavyweight unification fight followed by a decision to Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in a move up to cruiserweight.
WBA interim junior bantamweight titlist David Jimenez (16-1, 11 KOs), 32, of Costa Rica, will make his first defense against Keyvin Lara (32-6-1, 12 KOs), 30, of Nicaragua, on Friday at the Cartago Sports Center in Jimenez’s hometown of Cartago. Jimenez has been idle since April, when he outpointed John “Scrappy” Ramirez for the vacant interim belt on the Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Show and tell
Pernell Whitaker, the late Hall of Fame legend, was the reigning WBC welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king and could not find a real challenge. So, as a one-shot deal, he moved up to junior middleweight to go after long-reigning WBA titlist Julio Cesar Vasquez, who was making his 11th defense, in the main event of an HBO card. Whitaker took Vasquez to school. Despite being caught off balance with his hands down and dropped by Vasquez in the fourth round, Whitaker otherwise cruised and added to the lopsided nature of the scores because Vasquez was penalized one point in the ninth round and one in the 11th by referee Tony Orlando for holding an hitting. In the end, Whitaker prevailed 118-110, 118-107 and 116-110 as he won a world title in his fourth division before returning to welterweight. The fight took place on March 4, 1995 — 30 years ago on Tuesday. Here is a mint program from the fight in my collection.
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Photos: Serrano: Esther Lin/MVP; Alalshikh and Lampley: Alalshikh social media; Whyte: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions; Padley: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing; Matias-Valenzuela: Esdel Palermo/Salita Promotions
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Lampley 2.0 YES!!!
Bummer about the Whyte injury. Not a truly significant fight at this point, but the "loser goes home" element of Whyte-Joyce, plus their particular styles, made it a can't miss slobberknocker. I'd like to see David Allen slide in and face Joyce; he probably edged Johnny Fisher last time out (despite the judges rendering of that decision), and would make for a fun fight with Big Joe.