NEW YORK, NY – MVP today announced that 18-year-old boxing prodigy and actor Javon “Wanna” Walton has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled co-main event bout at Most Valuable Prospects 8 due to a medical infection. Walton, who was set to face professional boxer Erik Hanley in a 4-round super featherweight fight, has been declared medically unfit to compete due to the infection. The event, presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy and sponsored by Fansly and Event Ticket Center, will still take place on Friday, September 6, at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, and will be available globally as part of the DAZN subscription package with Boxlab Promotions serving as the official licensed promoter.
“Javon’s well-being is our top priority,” said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co-founders of MVP. “While we are disappointed that he will not be able to compete at Most Valuable Prospects 8 on Friday, September 6, we are confident that he will make a full recovery and return to the ring stronger than ever. We appreciate the support from his family, fans, and the boxing community during this time.”
Despite Walton’s withdrawal, the event will still feature a stacked card, headlined by a 10-round super lightweight showdown between Kevin Brown (5-0, 3 KOs) and John Bauza (18-1, 8 KOs) for the WBA Super Lightweight Continental Americas title. The main card will also include Hendri Cedeno (13-0, 10 KOs) vs. Enriko Gogokhia (13-1-2, 8 KOs) in an 8-round super lightweight fight and Yoelvis Gomez (7-1, 6 KOs) in an 8-round middleweight bout. The preliminary card will also feature Bree Howling (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Beata Dudek (4-3, 4 KOs) in an 8-round bantamweight clash. Harley Mederos (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Nikolai Buzolin (9-9-1, 5 KOs) in a 6-round lightweight bout, and Antraveous Ingram (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Cruse Stewart (8-3, 6 KOs) in a 6-round junior middleweight bout.
MVP and Boxlab Promotions are working to identify a suitable replacement fight for the co-main bout on Most Valuable Prospects 8. More details will be announced in the coming days.
Tickets for Most Valuable Prospects 8 are still available at Ticketmaster.com.
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