Two bitter rivals have been impatiently waiting to face each other in a super featherweight unification bout, and they finally clashed inside the squared circle as Alycia Baumgardner defeated Mikaela Mayer by way of split decision on October 15 at the 02 Arena in London.
Alycia Baumgardner got off to a good start by using fluid lateral movement, pumping the jab, and consistently landing a solid right hand. In the fourth round of the unification title bout, Mikaela Mayer started getting into a rhythm by working off her jab, and as the fourth round came to a close, she landed a hard right hand prior to the sound of the bell.
For the next two rounds, Mayer continued to be aggressive as she was pressing forward, and dictating the pace of the fight. In the seventh round Baumgardner was able to make some adjustments, and she dominated the round by landing the lead right hand on multiple occasions, and as a result Mayer suffered a cut on her right eye.
Baumgardner carried the momentum into round 8 as she worked off her movement, and scored by landing flashy combinations. The championship rounds consisted of back and forth action, and at the conclusion of ten rounds one judge scored the fight 97-93 in favor of Mayer, but that card was overruled as the other two judges scored the bout an identical 96-95 for the winner and new undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner.
As a result of her big win, Baumgardner retained her WBC title, and added the WBO and IBF belts to her strap collection. The fight was a close competitive bout that Mikaela Mayer (17-1, 5 KOs), thought she won. “I took over the fight from the second round on for sure. At the very least I won seven rounds clearly. I felt like I had it. I hope that she gives me a rematch. I think I deserve it, and I feel the fans want to see it.”
The fight was a very close fight that is deserving of a rematch, and fans may welcome the opportunity to see it again, but Alycia Baumgardner (13-1, 7 KOs) has other plans. “That girl ain’t getting no rematch. I’m going after (WBA titlist Hyun Mi) Choi like I said for undisputed.”
Some fans thought the bout was scored correctly, some thought it was a draw, and other fans thought Mayer won the fight, but Alycia Baumgardner believes the right decision was made.
“For all the doubters, I told y’all haters! Yes, I did that! Unified champion of the world!” Baumgardner continued by stating, “I think I landed the cleaner shots, the harder shots. I cut her. I was the harder puncher, and I dug down deep.”
Prior to the bout, the press conferences between the two fighters were filled with uncontrollable rage, but the actual fight featured both boxers attempting to execute a calculated game plan. Mayer wants the rematch, but Baumgardner chooses to enhance her legacy by campaigning to get a fight for the WBA title, and attempting to become the undisputed super featherweight champion of the world.