Undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will return from a lengthy layoff Friday when she defends her titles against mandatory challenger Delfine Persoon. The fight will headline an all-female Global Combat Collective card at Lux Studios in Atlanta and stream for free on Brinx.TV and Fubo Sports.
Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) is promising a stoppage win inside six rounds against Persoon (49-3, 19 KOs) to parlay the performance for more significant fights at higher weights as she heads into the final fight of her Matchroom Boxing contract.
“I want the superfights. I want to showcase the highest level of skills and pedigree and a woman in business,” Baumgardner told BoxingScene. “I look completely different in this camp. I'm stronger, physically and mentally. It just gets better. I can only imagine how it will look when I fight Katie Taylor or Amanda Serrano. I'm the top of the top, and top of the food chain.”
Taylor and Serrano have a scheduled rematch for the undisputed 140-pound championship on Nov. 15 during the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul undercard. Baumgardner believes Taylor will win the sequel as well after being awarded a razor-thin decision in 2022.
A potential fight against the winner would require Baumgardner to jump up from 130 to 140 pounds. But Baumgardner has even bigger plans by facing fellow Michigan rival Claressa Shields.
Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) last fought as a heavyweight, at 174½ pounds, and knocked out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in July, taking a break from her undisputed middleweight title reign for a crack at heavyweight glory.
Baumgardner and Shields have been at each other’s throats in recent months. Baumgardner believes she can bridge the weight gap to settle their beef in the ring.
“I agreed to fight Claressa at 147 pounds,” said Baumgardner. “She agreed to it. There is proof that she said this. Claressa is at a stage of her life where she wants things to be easier for her. That's why she moved up to heavyweight. Good for her. We can fight at 147, like I stated. If she don't want it, she don't want it. Competition is at the 130-to-147 range, and that's where I plan to reign at. Right now, it doesn't make sense to go up to 154 pounds. You have to be smart about these things each time you move up a weight class. I'm not going to jump into something if it doesn't make sense.”
Baumgardner, 30, said she has more superior skills than Shields, 29, a two-time Olympics gold medalist and four-division champion who has fought just twice as a 154-pounder, the lowest weight of her career, from 2019 to 2020.
“She's my size, and I am bigger,” said Baumgardner. “As a fighter, we're competitors. I don't see anyone as a threat.’
“You see the sweet science in my fights. The jab, power, right hand, combinations. I put it together way better. It's a better package with me.
“For me, fighting Claressa was about the money, but it got personal. Because it got personal, as a smart businesswoman, you would think she would be like 'this is great,' but it has not been the case.”
Baumgardner's Comeback: Facing Adversity and Finding Faith
Undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner is finally set to launch her 2024 campaign, but her return to the ring after nearly a year hasn’t been without challenges. Now preparing to face former WBC Silver super featherweight champion Delfine Persoon of Belgium, Baumgardner recently shared heartfelt reflections on social media.
Earlier this year, Baumgardner faced a major hurdle when she tested positive for banned substances following her fight against Christina Linardatou. Although the subsequent suspension cast doubt on her future, she was later cleared to resume her career in March, providing a much-needed boost. However, the relief was short-lived, as tragedy struck soon after.
On May 1st, Baumgardner posted on social media to announce the passing of her father, writing, “Laying my dad to rest today.” The past few months have been marked by emotional turbulence, but Baumgardner has drawn strength from these adversities. In a recent post on X, she opened up about feeling betrayed, while reaffirming her faith in God’s plan as she embarks on her comeback journey.
“I’m truly grateful to be in this position,” Baumgardner wrote. “Staying dedicated to my craft, I’ve endured many trials, and I give all the glory to God. The Lord set me apart, leading me into solitude where I learned to forgive myself and those who betrayed me along the way.” She went on to describe her faith in god and how faith has expanded her life beyond boxing.
Regardless, she added, “I’m blessed with talent, but there’s no greater fulfillment than following God’s plan rather than my own.” Thankful to god for saving her and supporting her in these trying times, she expressed her thoughts about her late father. “As I prepare for this fight, my thoughts are with my dad. I know he’s watching from the best seat in the house, and that gives me strength,” Baumgardner wrote.
The Bomb's Explosive Return
That said—when is ‘The Bomb’ finally coming back to the ring to do what she does best?
The Fremont, Ohio native will make her long-awaited return to the ring on 27th September to defend her WBC 130-pound title against Delfine Persoon at the Trilith Studios Town Stage, Fayetteville, Atlanta, Georgia. With a solid record of 15-1 and several notable wins over Terri Harper and Mikaela Mayer, ‘The Bomb’ has become one of the best in women’s boxing.
On the other hand, Persoon, a former champion from Belgium with an impressive record of 49-3, last appeared in the ring in November 2023, which saw her win via a unanimous decision over Argentina’s Agustina Marisa Belen Rojas. Persoon, who is known for her toughness, is the number one contender in the WBC super featherweight rankings.
Interestingly, the fight will be available to stream for free on Brinx[dot]TV and Fubo Sports. This is a pivotal fight for Baumgardner, who is expected to target the winner of the Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor rematch, which will happen on November 14th in the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson.
The touching message from Alycia Baumgardner suggests despite her adversities in life, she is ready for the challenge ahead. However, will her return to the ring be as smooth as her dominance in the past few years? Only time will tell. Until then, share your predictions for the fight.
