Sometimes, life is all about timing. Less than two years ago, Alycia Baumgardner was not a well-known commodity to casual fans when stepped into the ring with then-champion Terri Harper. However, it didn’t take long for the Detroit native to introduce herself to hardcore boxing fans and casual observers. She hit Harper with a right hand that left her out on her feet and never looked back. Within the next year, she found herself getting a shoutout from Cardi B and earning a majority decision against her longtime rival, Mikaela Mayer. With all that she has accomplished, one more thing was still left on her to-do list — become an undisputed champion.
On Saturday night, the Michigan native returned to the ring for her first fight in the U.S. since August 2021. This time around, she was ready to go to war with Elhem Mekhaled for the undisputed super featherweight title. Ultimately, the bout turned out to be a one-sided affair in favor of Baumgardner. The Michigan native dropped Mekhaled twice in the third round and hurt her badly in the seventh round. After ten rounds, all three judges delivered the following scorecards in favor of Baumgardner: 99-89, 99-89 and 98-90.
Moving forward, Baumgardner has her sights set on major fights. She has expressed interest in fighting Mayer once more or fighting the winner of a potential Amanda Serrano-Katie Taylor rematch.
“I make the weight very easy,” Baumgardner said, per Boxing Scene.
“I would love to defend my titles at 130. But I would also like to move up to ’35 and just challenge the best. You know, we all want Katie Taylor. That’s the fight that I would like next. But I love to stay busy. And again, [fighting the Taylor-Serrano winner] is to make history and to continue building the sport of boxing. So, whoever that winner is, I would love to fight.”
