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Yankiel Rivera vs. Angelino Cordova
Ends In Contentious Majority Draw
MVP’s Puerto Rican Olympian and #1 WBA contender Yankiel “El
Doctorcito” Rivera (7-0-1, 3 KOs) made his MVP debut against
#2 WBA flyweight titleholder Angelino “Huracan” Cordova
(19-0-2, 12 KOs) in the first-ever MVP Fight Night, live on
DAZN from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The
bout turned into an intense, back-and-forth battle, with
Rivera scoring a fourth-round knockdown to gain early
momentum. Cordova clawed his way back, though a sixth-round
point deduction for a shot to the back of Rivera’s head
proved costly. After 12 chaotic, action-packed rounds, the
bout went to the judges’ scorecards and was ruled a majority
draw (115-111 Cordova, 113-113 x2). After the fight, Rivera
acknowledged Cordova’s awkward style made the bout a unique
and complicated test.
MVP Fight Night, promoted by MVP in association with Boxlab
Promotions, saw a star-studded crowd in attendance including
Jake Paul, Amanda Serrano, the most dominant two-sport
athlete in combat sports history Holly Holm, bare knuckle
boxer and UFC veteran Mike Perry, WBA super lightweight
champion Rolly Romero, boxing’s youngest current world
champion and current WBO super welterweight champion Xander
Zayas, WBA light flyweight champion Sara Bailey, 4-division
former world champion boxer Nonito Donaire, former world
champion boxer Kim Clavel, and MVP’s Jan Paul Rivera, Jahmal
Harvey, Javon “Wanna” Walton, and Alexis “Chop Chop”
Chaparro.
In the co-main event, former WBA interim super welterweight
champion Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (10-1, 7 KOs) faced
then-#1 WBA contender and European champion Abass Baraou
(17-1, 9 KOs) in his first title defense. From the opening
bell, Baraou’s high guard and relentless pressure kept
Tellez on the defensive, controlling the action
blow-for-blow. Tellez fought back with sharp counters, but
Baraou systematically broke him down, finally scoring a
knockdown in the final seconds of the 12th round. Baraou
secured a unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 117-110) to
claim the WBA interim title at 154 lbs. After the fight, an
emotional Baraou celebrated proving the strength of German
boxing on a global stage, before facing off with WBO
champion Xander Zayas. The thrilling showdown earned Baraou
the MVP Performance of the Night bonus, presented by Caribe
Royale.
Also on the main card, MVP’s newest signee, WBA lightweight
world champion Stephanie Han (11-0, 3 KOs) successfully
defended her title in her MVP debut, battling Medellin,
Colombia’s Paulina Angel (7-2-2, 3 KOs) in a thrilling
10-round war at 135 lbs. Angel came forward relentlessly
from the opening bell, even dropping Han in the first round,
but Han stayed composed under pressure, answering with sharp
combinations and high-volume counters that steadily broke
through Angel’s guard. After 10 high-paced rounds, Han
secured a unanimous decision victory (98-91 x3) to remain
the WBA lightweight world champion. After the fight, Han
praised Angel’s toughness and reiterated her desire to
defend her title next against MVP’s Holly Holm, whether in
El Paso, Texas, or Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On the main card, MVP’s undefeated lightweight contender
“Prince” Lucas Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs)—ranked #5 WBA, #6 IBF,
#12 WBC, and #14 WBO, and owner of 2024’s most-awarded
knockout—took on former WBA world champion Roger “The Kid”
Gutierrez (29-7-1, 22 KOs) in a high-stakes 12-round WBA
elimination bout to determine the mandatory challenger for
Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Bahdi started sharp, controlling the
early rounds before the experienced Gutierrez ramped up his
offense in the third, using his reach and left hook to apply
pressure. Bahdi answered back, flooring Gutierrez with a
massive overhand right at the end of Round 6, then punishing
him with heavy shots through the late rounds. The fight went
to the cards, where Bahdi won a unanimous decision (117-110,
116-111, 115-112), preserving his perfect record and
securing his spot as Tank’s next mandatory challenger.
Post-fight, Bahdi celebrated his first 12-round victory and
called out Tank ahead of his Friday, November 14 clash with
Jake Paul.
Opening the main card, Stockton’s combat sports icon and
Real Fight Inc/Team Nate Diaz mainstay Chris Avila (6-2)
squared off against Tampa’s undefeated Ariel “Golden Hulk”
Perez (8-0, 4 KOs) in a 175-lb light heavyweight bout. Perez
controlled the early rounds, exploiting openings in Avila’s
guard with sharp uppercuts and right hooks. Avila rallied,
landing heavy overhand rights while absorbing Perez’s
biggest shots in a tightly contested round. But the late
surge wasn’t enough, as Perez earned a unanimous decision
(58-56x2, 59-55) after six rounds. Post-fight, Avila showed
respect, while Perez used the moment to call out UFC veteran
Nate Diaz for his next fight.
In the preliminary card headliner, MVP’s newest signee, WBA
super flyweight world champion Jasmine “Animal” Artiga
(14-0-1, 7 KOs), delivered a statement performance in her
first title defense against Swedish-Australian challenger
and WBA #1 contender Linn Sandstrom (10-4-3, 2 KOs). Tampa’s
first homegrown world champion came out firing from the
opening bell, overwhelming Sandstrom — the WBA Gold champion
— with a relentless barrage of blistering combinations.
Artiga dictated every second of the fight, dismantling
Sandstrom with ease before ending the fight with a dominant
TKO at 1:01 of the third round to remain undefeated and
retain her title. After the fight, Artiga thanked MVP, her
Tampa community, and her grandmother, and made it clear
she’s coming for unification next, calling out the IBF, WBO,
and WBC champions.
Also on the preliminary card, Boxlab Promotions’ #8-ranked
IBF, #10 WBO, #11 WBA, and #11 WBC super lightweight
contender Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (20-2-1, 10 KOs)
delivered a flawless, one-sided dismantling of the Dominican
Republic’s Ambiorix Bautista (19-3, 11 KOs). From the
opening bell, Ortiz dictated every exchange, slicing through
Bautista’s defense with precision combinations and
relentless pressure. The bout was never in doubt, as Ortiz
finished with a TKO at 1:32 of the third round.
MVP’s 15-time U.S. national amateur champion Nat “No Love”
Dove (6-0-1, 2 KOs) continued to showcase her star potential
in a 6-round super flyweight bout at 115 lbs against Rio
Rancho, New Mexico’s Randee Lynn Morales (5-6, 3 KOs). Dove
took early command of the fight, systematically breaking
down Morales until the bout was stopped at 1:50 in the fifth
round, adding a TKO win to her undefeated record. After the
fight, MVP’s Jake Paul and Wanna Walton joined Dove in the
ring, where Paul praised her rapid progression and called
her a “star on the rise.” Opening the night in a 4-round
light flyweight bout, Indio, California’s Jocelyn Camarillo
(5-0) defeated Argentina’s Agustina Vazquez (4-5-2) by
unanimous decision (40-36, 39-37 x2).
MVP Fight Night followed MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 14 as
part of the first-ever MVP back-2-back weekend. The event
was promoted by MVP and Boxlab Promotions and distributed
globally by DAZN. CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy, maker
of lifestyle energy drinks, is the exclusive energy drink
sponsor of MVP. Fansly, TORKLAW, and Event Ticket Center
also sponsored the event.
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