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 undisputed junior light-weight queen is ready for her ordered championship showdown versus Delfine Persoon. Their bout will headline an all-female lineup on Sept. 27 at Trilith Studio’s Lux Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.
Baumgardner (15-1, 7 knockouts) will defend her RING championship for the third time. It’ll additionally mark her fourth protection of not less than one alphabet title.
Extra importantly, it ends a layoff of greater than a 12 months and ready to raise her sport.
“This struggle is greater than only a return to the ring for me, it’s a press release,” stated Baumgardner. “Headlining [this] all-women’s card is an honor.
The occasion received’t be open to the general public, as it’s invitation-only. It’ll, nevertheless, be obtainable 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 better 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 dearth of effort offered by the Michigan Unarmed Fight Fee. A short lived 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 slim defeat to Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) of their June 2019 undisputed championship unification bout.
Taylor received their Aug. 2020 rematch as effectively. 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 received by World Fight Collective, who submitted $500,000 to land the rights. The determine is the very best ever for a WBC girls’s purse bid.
World Fight Collective is headed up by Nelson Lopez Jr., Baumgardner’s longtime supervisor. Her personal and newly shaped Baumgardner Promotions may even be concerned within the occasion.
“World Fight Collective, in affiliation with Baumgardner Promotions, Brinx.TV, and Fubo Sports activities, is thrilled to carry this groundbreaking occasion to a broad viewers without spending a dime,” stated Nelson Lopez Jr., CEO of World Fight Collective. “This struggle represents a major development for girls’s boxing and sports activities broadcasting.”
“With the intensive attain of Brinx.TV and Fubo Sports activities, we’re excited to ship this monumental occasion to hundreds of thousands of followers worldwide.”
The half that the majority excites Baumgardner is the chance to revive—if not restore—her popularity as a high position mannequin.
“I’m prepared to point out the world the power, resilience and ability that girls in boxing carry to the game,” famous Baumgardner.