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MVP announces 5 signees, including world champion duo Desley Robinson and Jasmine Artiga
Ring Magazine
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The Ring Staff
The Ring Staff
RingMagazine.com
MVP announces 5 signees, including world champion duo Desley Robinson and Jasmine Artiga
Two weeks removed from promoting the first all-women's boxing card at Madison Square Garden, topped by a Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano trilogy, Most Valuable Promotions unveiled Tuesday the signing of five more boxers, including two current world champions, to its growing stable of female fighters across several weight divisions.

Britain's former bantamweight world titlist Shannon Courtenay (9-3, 3 KOs) and Mexico's ex-unified junior flyweight champion Yesica Nery Plata (30-2, 3 KOs) are notable names who will beef up the roster at 118 and 108 pounds, though reigning WBA titleholder Jasmine Artiga (13-0-1, 6 KOs) and Australia's IBF/WBO middleweight champion Desley Robinson (10-3) are equally shrewd signings who'll feel they have a point to prove.

Courtenay is well-known across British shores, having won the WBA's bantamweight belt four years ago outpointing another MVP signee in Ebanie Bridges. She lost her title on the scales six months later before Jamie Mitchell edged past her to win gold, and after an underwhelming win the following year she didn't box again for almost two full years.

Brazil's Catherine Tacone Ramos inflicted her third career loss in October, though she returned with a points win over journeywoman Bec Connolly on a small-hall show in March.

After just one fight in 2024, Artiga will make her second appearance of 2025 next month when making a first championship defence against Swedish-born Aussie Linn Sandstrom (10-3-3, 2 KOs) as part of the Yankiel Rivera-Angelino Cordova undercard on Aug. 23.

She scored a 10-round majority decision win over Mexico's Regina Chavez in March and spoke of her delight at "aligning with a team that truly believes in empowering women fighters" when announcing the switch on her social media channels earlier Tuesday.

Ring and unified junior featherweight world champion Ellie Scotney spoke to The Ring's John Evans about how at home she felt in unfamiliar territory under the MVP banner in the build-up to her career-best points win over WBC beltholder Yamileth Mercado on July 11.

Perhaps the most exciting from the five is 19-time US national amateur champion Sa'Rai Brown-El, who has been deemed the "future of women's boxing" by USA Boxing and competes at junior flyweight and flyweight. Still only 19, she's virtually peerless within her age-group stateside and will be enthused by historic movement considering the landscape.

Robinson was a clear winner over Chloe Chaos in April, adding the vacant WBO strap to the IBF title she secured with a 10-round points nod over Kaye Scott in December — with a fractured foot no less — as the 160-pound division finally has motion again after former undisputed champion Claressa Shields departed for newer challenges at heavier weights.




Nery Plata, a 14-year pro, seized the WBA's 108-pound title with a 10-round split decision win over Yesica Bopp in March 2022.

Since then, the Mexican has added consecutive unbeaten records to her resume after outpointing 16-0 WBC beltholder Kim Clavel in January 2023 before rounding off that year with a split decision victory against 17-0 contender Sarah Bormann.

Despite almost a two-year long absence, she remains ranked No. 1 by the WBA and No. 2 behind Evelin Bermudez (21-1-1, 7 KOs) with ESPN.

In a statement, MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian said:

"The five signees represent five powerful stories, four countries with proud boxing legacy, and one shared mission: to compete and win at the highest level. From one of the most decorated amateurs in U.S. history to unified world champions, they embody the same brand of world-class skill, relentless drive and undeniable presence we are cultivating at MVP. We look forward to each of their MVP debuts in the coming months."
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