YouTuber-turned-boxer-turned-promoter Jake Paul continues to build his stable of fighters.
Paul and partner Nakisa Bidarian of Bavafa Sports told ESPN that they have added unbeaten 18-year-old lightweight prospect Ashton Sylve to the Most Valuable Promotions roster, which already includes women’s star Amanda Serrano.
Sylve (6-0, 6 KOs) was an accomplished amateur – with a reported 10 national titles – before turning professional at 16 years old in Mexico two years ago. He made a splash as an 8-year-old when a viral video of the boy training led to instruction at Floyd Mayweather’s gym.
Paul was attracted to Sylve’s potential combined with his large social media following.
“We believe Ashton has that talent, that flashiness, that style, that knockout power, that charisma to really be a massive, massive superstar and one of the next highest-paid boxers in the game in a very small and short amount of time,” Paul told ESPN.
Sylve has been impressed by Paul’s ability to market himself, which led him to sign with MVP over more-established promotional companies.
“I just felt like it was great synergy over there with Jake,” said Sylve, who lives and trains in Long Beach, California. “I felt like we’re gonna do big things, the marketing genius that he is, he and Nakisa.
“I’ve been watching them since he started boxing and seeing everything that’s been growing up and waiting to become, I kind of felt myself the need to be there and be part of the team.”
Sylve is scheduled to return to the ring on May 21 in Pomona, California, although no opponent has been selected. Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) is expected to fight again in August. He also hasn’t selected an opponent.
Former UFC champion Anderson Silva and Tommy Fury, the young half brother of heavyweight champ Tyson Fury and a social media star himself, have been mentioned as potential foes.
Paul was scheduled to fight Fury in December but Fury pulled out with an injury and illness. Tyron Woodley filled in and was stopped in six rounds after losing a decision to Paul four months earlier.
“This is just the start with what I’m gonna accomplish,” Paul said. “I’ll be in boxing the rest of my life, so people gotta get used to me. I’ll be a promoter probably for way longer than I’ll be a boxer. This is what it’s about. I wanted to bring my fanbase that was a digital fanbase. … Now there’s 60 million of them who are boxing fans.
“Boxing helped change me. I owe everything to boxing. And I just want to continue to make it a better place.”
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