Sarah Liegmann – from the ring corner: Hopeful Paul

Before I get started, I’m really glad you’re here to read my column. It’s going to be chaotic, funny, but mainly 100 percent real. I’ll be sharing lots of anecdotes and experiences from the world of boxing, but also giving you some exciting insights into my everyday madness. And now it’s time to clear the ring!

Who would have thought that a social media star of all people would become the hope of modern boxing? Jake Paul, long derided as an influencer who turns the boxing ring into a showroom for click figures, has become a real player in the business with his promotional company Most Valuable Promotion (MVP). And not because he is an incredibly talented boxer, but because he has recognized a gap that others have overlooked or deliberately ignored for years: the potential of women’s boxing.

While many established promoters remain reluctant to make women visible on their cards or even promote them in the long term, MVP is taking a bolder and more consistent approach. It started with Amanda Serrano, a world-class boxer with an impressive knockout record and the ability to not only dominate fights, but also act as a strong woman outside the ring. MVP signed her, built her up as a brand figure and showed what is possible when women in sport are not just tolerated, but taken seriously.

Performance, personality, ability

But it didn’t stop there: MVP has recently signed up-and-coming female fighters in every weight class, giving them a platform, reach and training opportunities – and above all respect. No pink glitter marketing, no stereotypes. Instead, it’s about performance. About personality. About real ability.

The upcoming fight Serrano vs. Taylor 3 is therefore more than just a rematch between two exceptional female athletes. An all-female fight card. This is not a PR stunt, but a clear signal: Women’s boxing is not the supporting program. It’s the event. In London 2022, I had the great honor of being part of the first all-female fight card. The O₂ Arena in London was filled with 20,000 spectators. Even back then, that was an important sign. Now the reach will reach another dimension thanks to a Netflix streaming deal. And of course, Jake Paul also benefits from this. Attention, influence, revenue – all part of the game.

But what counts is the effect. The fact that girls today can see fighters on the big stages. That young female boxers have a perspective that has long been lacking. That equality is no longer just demanded, but lived.You can criticize Jake Paul for many things. For his provocations, his staging, his self-promotion. But in the case of MVP, he has done something that many established boxing greats have failed to do for years. He has used his reach to pave the way for others.