Savannah Marshall is back. On May 12, 2025, the former women’s undisputed super middleweight champion, who last stepped into a boxing ring over a year ago, officially signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. “I’m delighted to say I’m now part of MVP – who, more than any other promoter, recognise the value that women bring to this sport,” Marshall said. Her return will be nothing short of high-profile, as she prepares to face Shadasia Green on the undercard of the blockbuster Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano trilogy on July 11 at Madison Square Garden. It marks her first boxing bout since 2023, following a successful stint in MMA last summer. And Marshall isn’t shy about giving Jake Paul his due.
But this isn’t new territory for the 34-year-old trailblazer. Marshall has long been a history-maker: an Olympian, a two-weight world champion, and the headliner of Britain’s first-ever all-female boxing card. It was at that sold-out event at the O2 Arena in 2022 where she suffered her lone professional defeat to Claressa Shields. Now, with Las Vegas, York Hall, and soon Madison Square Garden added to her résumé, Marshall is continuing to carve out a legacy that transcends titles. And now she’s singing Jake Paul’s praises like a chart-topper.
Where promoters slept, Jake Paul stepped in
A new update from Most Valuable Promotions has sparked fresh buzz around Savannah Marshall’s comeback. On Instagram, MVP shared a clip from Marshall’s recent interview with talkSPORT Boxing. The post, captioned, “Savannah Marshall speaks on Jake Paul and his impact on Women’s Boxing ,” features Marshall speaking with the kind of conviction that’s become her trademark. When asked why Jake Paul seems so focused on signing top female fighters, the ‘Silent Assassin’ didn’t mince words.
“Yeah, definitely,” she said. “You say whatever you want about Jake Paul, but one thing he is a very very smart businessman.” She further questioned, “Why is no one cottoned on to ‘do you know what? Let’s sign some of the best female fighters in the world and put them all on one show?’” She pointed out how the momentum in women’s boxing, which surged around 2022, had started to stall among traditional promoters. And according to her, it was only Jake Paul who thought, “‘You know what, I’m going to give women an opportunity. I’m going to I’ll push female sport.’” And for that reason, “Hats off to him. I’m loving it,” she expressed.
The conversation then shifted to the question that continues to linger over Marshall’s career: will fans ever see a rematch between her and Claressa Shields? “To be honest, I’m hopeful, but a little bit of me thinks, what a waste of time,” Marshall admitted. “I’ve waited two and a half year for that rematch. I went over to MMA, signed with PFL because she was with PFL. Now all of a sudden she’s retired from MMA… look, I’ve just wasted my time really.” Still, Marshall hasn’t closed the door completely. She’s holding out hope that a dominant showing against Shadasia Green in July might change things. “I’m hoping maybe after the Shadasia Green fight, she might opt to take the rematch. If not, I’ll have to move on to something else.”
However, as things stand, a Shields rematch seems unlikely in the immediate future. The GWOAT is currently preparing to defend all her titles against 36-year-old Lani Daniels, and her relationship with MVP appears to be anything but smooth.
Claressa Shields called out by Jake Paul’s co-founder
Just a few days ago, Claressa Shields stirred up controversy during her appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. She revealed, “They offered me some money to fight on the July card,” further suggesting the proposed purse fell far short of her standards. “Their money was nowhere near what I make,” she added, referencing her career-high $1.5 million payday against Danielle Perkins in February 2025. For comparison, Amanda Serrano reportedly earned $8 million for her rematch with Katie Taylor last November. However, Shields didn’t hold back, calling the offer “disrespectful.”
What came next was a swift and sharp rebuttal. Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP, took to X shortly after the interview aired, claiming Shields’ statements were false. MVP unequivocally never made an offer to Claressa Shields / her promoter / her manager for any fight in 2025. Not even verbally,” he wrote.
With no response yet from Shields on Bidarian’s accusation, the situation remains murky. Is this a case of miscommunication, or has someone been caught bending the truth? And do you think Jake Paul should consider stepping away from boxing altogether to focus solely on his growing role as a promoter?
The post Despite Backlash With Claressa Shields, Jake Paul Receives Heavy Praise From Female Boxer- “Very Smart” appeared first on EssentiallySports.