Ashton Sylve (9-0, 8 KOs), the young and promising lightweight contender, faced an unusual situation in his latest bout when he had to rely on the judges’ scores for the first time in his professional career. The undefeated pugilist squared off against Tanzania’s Adam Kipenga (11-4-1, 7 KOs) in a gripping ten-round DAZN main event at the Caribe Royale Orlando, Florida.
While Sylve’s knockout streak may have ended, his overall winning streak did not, as he outclassed Kipenga over eight intense rounds. Each round saw Sylve’s dominance as he displayed precision and power against Kipenga, who had stepped in as a late replacement for the injured Angel Rebollar. Judges Efrain Lebron, Fred Fluty, and Dave DeJonge scored unanimously in Sylve’s favor, each marking the fight 80-72. The bout served as the inaugural installment of Most Valuable Promotions’ prospect-based series on DAZN, and the 19-year-old from Long Beach, California, upheld his reputation by securing his ninth victory.
Sylve, who signed with the Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian-run company as their second fighter, was supported by Paul and MVP’s first signee, seven-division reigning undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano. Despite the pressure, Sylve remained composed throughout the contest, controlling the pace and peppering Kipenga with right hands and body shots that forced the Tanzanian into defensive mode.
Although he couldn’t secure a knockout, Sylve proved his mettle by pushing Kipenga to the limit. The Tanzanian, despite absorbing punishing hooks and right hands from Sylve, was able to endure until the final bell, showing his toughness in a losing effort. Looking ahead, Sylve is expected to return to the ring soon as part of MVP’s upcoming DAZN events, including the much-anticipated August 5 DAZN Pay-Per-View show featuring Paul versus Nate Diaz in Dallas, Texas.
In the co-main event, Kevin Hayler Brown (3-0, 2 KOs) outpointed Julian Smith (6-2, 4 KOs) over ten rounds to claim the WBA Continental Americas title. Scores were 98-92, 96-94, 96-94.
Image Credit: DAZN