Alycia Baumgardner extended her hot streak Friday with a lopsided decision win over Bo Mi Re Shin in a unified super featherweight world championship fight that took place at the Madison Square Garden Theater, in New York City, atop a Most Valuable Promotions card ESPN2 aired.
Throughout the promotion, and even immediately following her win, talk naturally progressed to what’s next — whether ‘The Bomb’ wants to fight iconic Irishwoman, Katie Taylor, or emerging rival, Caroline Dubois.
“I think when we talk about a Katie Taylor, we talk about someone who is just as skilled,” Baumgardner said, hoping she’s Taylor’s retirement bout, which is tentatively scheduled for the summer in Dublin.
“I believe in my abilities, and I’m sure she believes in hers,” she added. “But when we talk about high-level boxing, when it comes to women, she’s a perfect person to be in the ring with.”
Baumgardner’s victory over Bo Mi Re Shin was unique because it was over 10, 3-minute rounds when women’s boxing typically is over 2-minute rounds. Baumgardner, on Friday, therefore fought an additional 10 minutes than she’d have been accustomed to. There is a small but still growing trend of some fighters, like Amanda Serrano, lobbying to fight the same round duration as men do.
On her performance, Baumgardner said: “When we talk about legacy, and we talk about development, these are the types of fights that I need to be in.
“These are the type of fights that really put my skills to the test and my mentality and my mental. Physically, I have it, but mentally, it’s another threshold to overcome … it was everything that I enjoyed.”
Baumgardner Prefers Katie Taylor Fight Next Over Caroline Dubois
If Taylor picked an alternative opponent to fight before she calls time on her career — perhaps Chantelle Cameron — demand for Baumgardner vs Dubois would only heighten.
But Alycia believes there remains too many levels between herself, and the British boxer.
“When we talk about Alicia Baumgardner and her career and her trajectory on where she is going, we have to align her with the biggest fights,” she said.
“I’m at a stage where I’m at the biggest fights.”
— Alycia Baumgardner
“Dubois is a great fighter. Yes, but she’s nowhere near where I am.”
