In the eyes of Most Valuable Promotions partner Nakisa Bidarian, the bout between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua proved to be a sterner test for the British heavyweight than his later clash with the relatively unknown Albanian fighter Kristian Prenga. Bidarian, who works closely with MVP’s promotional activities, argued that Paul’s performance over six rounds highlighted a level of difficulty that Joshua only experienced briefly in the Prenga fight, where he secured a decisive knockout in the second round. When Joshua returned to the ring after a harrowing car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends, many observers expected a cautious approach.
The tragedy had left the champion physically and emotionally scarred, yet he stepped back into the squared circle against Prenga, a fighter who had never been considered a serious threat. In that encounter, Prenga managed to drop Joshua twice in the opening round, forcing the champion to scramble to his feet on both occasions. Despite the early setbacks, Joshua recovered and delivered a powerful counter‑punch that sent Prenga to the canvas, ending the fight with a dominant stoppage in round two. The victory kept his schedule on track for a potential year‑end showdown with Tyson Fury.
Bidarian, however, believes that the true measure of Joshua’s resilience was revealed during his earlier six‑round contest with Jake Paul. "Jake Paul won more than the guy on Saturday night won," she told Sky Sports News, emphasizing that Paul endured the full six rounds while Prenga was finished in just two.
"He was in there for six rounds. That dude was out in two rounds, taking the same shots Jake was taking," Bidarian added, underscoring the comparable level of punishment both opponents delivered. The former YouTuber‑turned‑boxer had been knocked out by Joshua in a dramatic fashion that resulted in a broken jaw for Paul. While Bidarian expressed satisfaction with Paul’s showing, she also lamented the injury, noting, "I'm very happy with his performance, not happy with the outcome, and didn't like that he broke his jaw, but the hardest shots on Jake Paul didn't do what they did to a heavyweight on Saturday." Beyond the technical analysis, Bidarian conveyed deep respect for Joshua’s character and his ability to fight through personal grief.
Joshua dedicated his victory over Prenga to his late friends Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, a gesture that resonated strongly with the MVP executive. "I'm proud of him, in awe of him, thinking of him," she said, recalling the supportive messages she sent throughout the week following the fight. "We developed a relationship with Sina, which was hard for all of us, but no harder for anyone than their families and AJ, who is part of their family. For him to make that walk seven months later, to go into the ring with that emotion, I'm sure that weighed heavily on him.
Massive respect, massive admiration." Since his jaw was shattered in two places by Joshua’s knockout punch, Paul has not been seen in a boxing ring. Nevertheless, Bidarian is unequivocal about his future: "100 per cent he's boxing again," she asserted, outlining a list of potential match‑ups that could reignite his career. Among the names she mentioned were former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, British contender Chris Eubank Jr., and WBC welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia.
She also highlighted the appeal of a bout against Tommy Fury, describing it as a logical step, and suggested a clash with Edgar Berlanga could be "fascinating." In each case, Bidarian warned that the financial realities of the sport must align with the ambitions of the fighters, noting that "sometimes their eyes are bigger than what the box office affords us to pay." Looking ahead, MVP is gearing up for its next major event, MVPW‑06, scheduled for August 29 in Birmingham. The card will be headlined by a women's showdown between Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron, with Caroline Dubois also slated to fight. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering fans the option to stream without a contract. This upcoming fight night underscores MVP’s commitment to delivering high‑profile match‑ups across both men’s and women’s divisions, while also keeping an eye on potential crossover fights that could involve personalities like Jake Paul.
In summary, while Joshua’s quick knockout of Prenga reinforced his status as a top heavyweight contender, Nakisa Bidarian believes the earlier six‑round encounter with Jake Paul exposed a deeper level of challenge for the champion. Paul’s resilience, despite the severe jaw injury, has earned him a place in MVP’s future planning, with several marquee opponents already being discussed.
As the sport moves toward the latter part of the year, fans can anticipate more high‑stakes bouts, both in the traditional heavyweight arena and in the emerging crossover market that blends celebrity appeal with boxing skill.