Boxing News: Alycia Baumgardner Ordered to Defend WBC Title; Opponent Revealed

Undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner is back after a suspension. Her name has been cleared in drug-use allegations, and she’s now eager to return to the ring. Baumgardner, known for her tenacity both inside and outside the ring, fought tirelessly to prove her innocence after a failed test last August.

Now, with a clean bill of health, she’s ready to get back to business. However, there is no time to lose as the WBC has already mandated her to initiate negotiations for her upcoming fight. They have even specified a mandatory title defense for Baumgardner against a deserving opponent, as officially announced.

Alycia Baumgardner’s purse bids to begin Friday

Delfine Persoon, the mandatory challenger, is no pushover. The Belgian warrior pushed Katie Taylor to the limit in two thrilling fights, arguably even deserving the win on some scorecards. With a 49-3 record and a reputation for relentless pressure, Persoon is guaranteed to give Baumgardner her toughest test yet. The news was broken by the reporter Michael Benson, on X.

In the update, he stated, “The WBC have officially ordered Alycia Baumgardner to defend her WBC super-featherweight world title vs Delfine Persoon next. Purse bids on Friday.” This Friday’s purse bids will determine whether this battle becomes a reality. But it’s safe to say that if it happens, boxing fans are in for a treat.

Baumgardner’s grit meets Persoon’s relentless aggression – a potential war brewing in the super featherweight division. Even though there were discussions about her being in talks with Claressa Shields for her next fight, before that, the World Boxing Council charted a different course for her. So what about the fight between Shields and Baumgardner?

Social media feud erupted between boxing champions

Claressa Shields, the undisputed middleweight queen, and Alycia Baumgardner, the 130-pound champion, have been trading jabs on social media for a long time now. This simmering feud has been bubbling since 2023, with Baumgardner claiming she could knock out the three-time undisputed champion. Adding fuel to the fire, Baumgardner recently posted a cryptic message that has fans buzzing.

Read More: Boxing Update: Alycia Baumgardner Receives Major Relief in Doping Test Fiasco

Baumgardner in a post simply wrote, “Sign the contract.” Well, this was instantly taken personally by ‘GWOAT’ and she replied, “You got to come direct, who you telling the sign the contract? Y’all H03s ready to get smoked at 154, JUST LET ME KNOW, PUT IT ON THE FLO BIHH.” One thing’s for sure: the boxing world craves a showdown between these two champions.

Will these they settle their differences in the ring? Not soon, since Baumgardner will be preparing for her mandatory title defense instead. What are your thoughts about this? Let us know in the comments section.

Also Read: “Are You Fighting Me or Not?”: Claressa Shields Sends Separate Challenges to Alycia Baumgardner and Cris Cyborg