Most Valuable Promotions delivered a historic night of women’s boxing Saturday at Caribe Royale Resort, where Dina Thorslund and Tamm Thibeault each cemented their names in the record books during MVPW-05.
Thorslund (25-0, 9 KOs) captured undisputed bantamweight championship status with a dominant unanimous decision over Cherneka Johnson (19-3, 8 KOs), sweeping all three judges’ scorecards 100-90.
For Thorslund, the victory capped a remarkable comeback and a long pursuit of undisputed glory. The undefeated Dane has held world championship gold for years, but said opportunities to unify the division had been difficult to secure.
This one carried even more weight.
Thorslund revealed after the fight that the past year had been filled with personal challenges, including a miscarriage and the illness of a close friend. Standing in the ring with all four belts, she described the achievement as the most satisfying accomplishment of her career.
“I worked my ass off to get here,” Thorslund said, reflecting on a dream that began years ago.
She also credited Johnson for bringing the fight and said she was determined to prove that she had returned to her best after an underwhelming comeback performance earlier this year.
While Thorslund claimed undisputed status, Thibeault made history of her own.
The two-time Canadian Olympian and former amateur world champion improved to 5-0 with a shutout unanimous decision over Desley Robinson (12-4, 4 KOs), winning 100-90 on all three scorecards to become the unified WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine middleweight champion.
The accomplishment made Thibeault the fastest professional boxer in history to win a Ring Magazine world title, surpassing Lauren Price’s previous mark of seven professional fights.
And she did it in just her fifth.
Thibeault admitted that she never expected to reach the top of the professional ranks this quickly. Like many female fighters who came through the amateur system, she said she was encouraged to pursue an education and prepare for a career outside of boxing because of the limited opportunities available to women in the sport.
That landscape, she said, has changed.
“Since I’ve been on the platform with MVP, it’s kind of allowed me to have new dreams,” Thibeault said.
MVP Head of Boxing Mike Leanardi was less surprised by the Canadian’s rapid rise, suggesting that Thibeault possessed the ability to compete for a world title almost immediately as a professional.
Thibeault’s victory was particularly impressive considering the limited number of fights on her professional record. Her amateur experience, preparation and confidence allowed her to handle the moment and secure another dominant performance.
The newly crowned champion said her immediate priority is to rest, spend time with her family and animals, and determine what comes next. But she also emphasized the responsibility that comes with her platform.
Thibeault hopes her success can inspire young athletes, particularly girls, to view boxing as an attainable path.
“I want people to see boxing as something that they could get into and something that’s attainable,” she said.
Amanda Galle also added another victory to the MVP card, moving up to 115 pounds and defeating former IBF bantamweight champion Shurretta Metcalf by unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 78-74, 80-72 and 80-72 in favor of Galle, who improved to 13-1-1.
Despite the convincing victory, Galle was critical of her own performance, calling it her worst as a professional. Still, the move to 115 pounds appears to have opened new possibilities for the fighter, who believes the division could provide a path toward future world title opportunities.
Galle said she felt stronger at the new weight and plans to pursue whatever opportunity MVP puts in front of her.
The performances of Thorslund and Thibeault earned them MVP’s $20,000 Performance of the Night bonus, presented by Caribe Royale Resort.
But the significance of the evening went beyond the bonus.
One fighter left Orlando as an undisputed champion after years of chasing every belt. Another made history by becoming the fastest professional boxer ever to capture a Ring Magazine world title.
For Most Valuable Promotions, MVPW-05 represented another major statement for the growth of women’s boxing—and proof that its biggest stars are continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible inside the ring.
