Alycia Baumgardner displaying The Ring championship and all her {hardware}. Photograph by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Alycia Baumgardner wanted her return to be a lot extra than simply one other routine title protection.
The RING/undisputed junior light-weight queen is ready for her ordered championship showdown versus Delfine Persoon. Their bout will headline the Sept. 27 BrinxTV Presents: Hit Like A Woman, Battle Like a Champion occasion from at Trilith Studio’s Lux Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.
Baumgardner (15-1, 7 knockouts) will defend her RING championship for the third time. It is going to additionally mark her fourth protection of no less than one alphabet title.
Extra importantly, it’s a chance to raise her sport atop an all-women’s lineup.
“This battle is greater than only a return to the ring for me, it’s an announcement,” stated Baumgardner, The Ring’s No. 6-rated pound-for-pound fighter. “Headlining [this] all-women’s card is an honor.
The occasion gained’t be open to the general public, as it’s invitation-only. It is going to, nonetheless, be out there free-to-air on Brinx.television and Fubo Sports activities, and powered by Phenix real-time streaming.
Baumgardner has not fought since her revenge-fueled ten-round win over Christina Linardatou final July 15 in Detroit. She avenged her lone profession defeat, although bumped into far larger points within the aftermath. A testing pattern collected by Drug Free Sport revealed hint quantities of Mesterolone, a banned substance.
The matter dragged out for months because of the shortage of effort offered by the Michigan Unarmed Fight Fee. A brief suspension positioned by the Affiliation of Boxing Commissions (ABC) was ultimately lifted, whereas the WBC positioned Baumgardner on probation for one 12 months.
Her reign remained uninterrupted, although the remainder of the division was caught in a holding sample within the course of.
Persoon (49-3, 19 KOs) is the number-one contender with all 4 sanctioning our bodies. She was a longtime WBC light-weight titlist earlier than a slender defeat to Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) of their June 2019 undisputed championship unification bout.
Taylor gained their Aug. 2020 rematch as nicely. Persoon is since unbeaten in her previous six begins all at junior light-weight. She waited out Baumgardner’s win over Elhem Mekhaled to totally unify 130 final February. Instantly after Baumgardner-Linardatou II, Persoon banged the drum loudly for her overdue title shot.
As soon as the drug testing scandal was rectified, the WBC ordered the bout. It went to a handbag bid listening to gained by International Fight Collective, who submitted $500,000 to land the rights. The determine is the very best ever for a WBC girls’s purse bid.
International Fight Collective is headed up by Nelson Lopez Jr., Baumgardner’s longtime supervisor. Her personal and newly fashioned Baumgardner Promotions will even be concerned within the occasion.
“International Fight Collective, in affiliation with Baumgardner Promotions, Brinx.TV, and Fubo Sports activities, is thrilled to convey this groundbreaking occasion to a broad viewers without cost,” stated Nelson Lopez Jr., CEO of International Fight Collective. “This battle represents a major development for girls’s boxing and sports activities broadcasting.”
“With the in depth attain of Brinx.TV and Fubo Sports activities, we’re excited to ship this monumental occasion to tens of millions of followers worldwide.”
The half that almost all excites Baumgardner is the chance to revive—if not restore—her fame as a high position mannequin.
“I’m prepared to point out the world the power, resilience and ability that ladies in boxing convey to the game,” famous Baumgardner.
