Serving as the co-main for the Gervonta “Tank” Davis versus Jake Paul exhibition event, the WBA, WBO, IBF super-featherweight world champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner will defend her titles against Canadian boxer Leila Beaudoin (13-1, 2 KOs) on Friday night, November 14.
Instead of the conventional 10 two-minute rounds, this women’s unified world title bout between Baumgardner and Beaudoin is scheduled for 12 three-minute rounds. The action is set to take place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, and it will air live on Netflix.
Back in February 2023, the then unified WBC, WBA, WBO belt holder Alycia Baumgardner defeated top contender Elhem Mekhaled via unanimous decision. With the victory, Baumgardner won the vacant WBA strap, which made her the undisputed super-featherweight world champion.
Baumgardner would go on to have three successful title defenses. Due to the fact that the WBC doesn’t allow women to fight 12 three-minute rounds, Baumgardner decided to vacate her title. Now, instead of it being a bout for undisputed, the Baumgardner vs Beaudoin clash is a unified world title matchup.
The challenger, Leila Beaudoin, was a downhill skier who took up boxing as part of her cardio training. As time went on, Beaudoin got hooked on the sweet science, and as a result, she decided to switch sports.
Leila Beaudoin made her pro boxing debut back in October 2019 when she defeated Tereza Dvorakova by way of unanimous decision. Beaudoin would proceed to win her next eight fights.
Beaudoin’s unblemished record was taken in May 2023, when Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza defeated her by way of unanimous decision. Eight months later, Leila Beaudoin avenged her first and only career loss when she outpointed Espinoza in the rematch.
Riding a four-fight win streak, Leila Beaudoin
is on the verge of fighting Alycia Baumgardner and possibly fulfilling the dream of becoming a world champion. Baumgardner and Beaudoin have been traveling in different directions, but their paths will cross on November 14.
Baumgardner is the proven longtime champion, and Beaudoin is somewhat of an unknown. However, the champion and the challenger do share a common opponent.
As previously stated, in February 2023, Alycia Baumgardner defeated Elhem Mekhaled by way of unanimous decision. Two years later, Leila Beaudoin dropped Mekhaled twice in the sixth round. Late in the sixth, Beaudoin continued to land heavy shots, as the referee proceeded to step in and put a halt to the contest.
On November 14th, the rising contender Leila Beaudoin will challenge Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (16-1, 7 KOs) under the same rules as the men’s world title fights. Baumgardner is dedicated to the men’s format as she continues the fight for equality.
During an interview with ESPN, Baumgardner said, “Like Amanda Serrano and many other great champions before me, I believe women should have the choice to compete under the same rules as men, 12 rounds, three minutes per round.”