Alycia Baumgardner: This Fight Is More Than Just A Comeback… It’s A Statement
Alycia Baumgardner shows off Ring’s prowess with all her hardware. Photo by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Alycia Baumgardner needed her comeback to be more than just another regular title defense.
The undisputed junior lightweight queen is scheduled to face Delphine Persoon. Their battle will headline an all-female lineup on September 27 at Trilith Studio’s Lux Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.
Baumgardner (15-1, 7 knockouts) will defend his RING championship for the third time. It will also mark his fourth defense of at least one boxing title.
More importantly, he ends up being laid off for more than a year and is in a position to elevate his sport.
“This fight is more than a return to the ring for me, it’s a statement,” said Baumgardner. “The title [this] the card of all women is honor.
The event will not be open to the public, as it is by invitation only. However, it will be available free-to-air on Brinx.tv and Fubo Sports, and is powered by Phenix live streaming.
Baumgardner has not fought since her ten-round revenge victory over Christina Linardatou last July 15 in Detroit. He avenged his one career defeat, although he faced much more serious problems afterward. A test sample collected by Drug Free Sport revealed trace amounts of Mesterolone, a banned substance.
The matter dragged on for months due to a lack of effort by the Michigan Commission on Unarmed Combat. The suspension imposed by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) was eventually lifted, and the WBC placed Baumgardner on probation for one year.
His reign was not interrupted, although the remaining part is stuck in a holding pattern in the process.
Man (49-3, 19 KOs) is the first opponent with all four sanctioning bodies. She was on the WBC lightweight roster for a long time before losing to Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) in their June 2019 undisputed title unification fight.
Taylor won her rematch in August 2020. Person has been undefeated in his last six starts at junior lightweight. He is waiting for Baumgardner’s victory over Elhem Mekhaled to reach the full 130 last February. Shortly after Baumgardner-Linardatou II, Person blew up the drumbeat with his overdue title shot.
When the drug-testing scandal was settled, the WBC ordered it to continue. It went to the fundraiser bid stage by Global Combat Collective, which sent $500,000 for the rights. This figure is the highest ever for a WBC women’s purse bid.
The Global Combat Collective is led by Nelson Lopez Jr., Baumgardner’s longtime manager. His newly established Baumgardner Promotions will be participating in the event.
“Global Combat Collective, in partnership with Baumgardner Promotions, Brinx.TV, and Fubo Sports, is thrilled to bring this important event to the masses for free,” said Nelson Lopez Jr., CEO of Global Combat Collective. “This fight shows great progress in the spread of boxing and sports for women.”
“With the extensive reach of Brinx.TV and Fubo Sports, we are excited to bring this historic event to millions of fans around the world.”
The most exciting part for Baumgardner is the opportunity to restore—if not repair—his reputation as a role model.
“I am ready to show the world the power, strength and skill that women bring to boxing in this sport,” commented Baumgardner.
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