BY JAKE DONOVAN
July 15, 2023 Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
Alycia Baumgardner got her lick-back.
The undisputed junior lightweight champion used a homecoming headliner to avenge her lone career defeat with a dominant ten-round, unanimous decision win over Christina Linardatou. Judges Katealia Chambers (99-91), Fred Fluty (98-92) and Rose Gross (98-92) all scored for Baumgardner, who prevailed in their DAZN main event Saturday evening from Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan.
“I would give it an A,” Alycia Baumgardner told DAZN’s Claudia Trejos. “I can close this chapter.”
Baumgardner insisted throughout the buildup that she was a far different fighter in their first meeting five years ago than the version Linardatou would see on Saturday. Linardatou won their July 2018 meeting via eight-round split decision, predating her two WBO junior welterweight title reigns. The defending champion lived up to that claim, as her improved skill level was on point right from the opening bell. Linardatou—a 35-year-old Dominican based in Athens, Greece—entered the ring supremely confident, dancing and soaking in the boos from the partisan crowd as she was confident of a repeat win. Baumgardner put an end to that in a hurry. She didn’t waste any movement or punches and used her jab to set up power shots. An uppercut and left hook caused Linardatou to grin in return but the challenger was unable to offer anything in return.
Little action came in round two, which Linardatou used to her advantage. Saturday was just her second fight for the since giving birth in 2021 which resulted in the end of her second title reign. It only took about a round to find her rhythm, aided by Baumgardner’s punch output slowing after a blazing opening round. Linardatou increased her activity, if not accuracy, but was content to take the lead.
Baumgardner came alive midway through round four. Linardatou paid the price for aggression as Baumgardner landed a right to the head and left hook downstairs. It ignited a flurry of punches, which put Linardatou on the defensive. Words were exchanged at the bell, followed by a Baumgardner punch which drew a warning from referee Frank Garza who was officiating his final bout after more than 40 years of service.
Linardatou threw her right hand with greater confidence in round five. Baumgardner continued to land to the body but was caught with a left hand, to which she responded by switching to southpaw. An uppercut by the local hero snapped back the head of Linardatou inside the final 30 seconds of the round.
Baumgardner landed three straight uppercuts in round six. The sequence was followed by dazzling footwork and a left hook as Linardatou struggled to come up with a response.
There was a brief moment late in round eight when it appeared that Linardatou was on her way out. Baumgardner drove her challenger back and dug in with a left hook to the body. It set up a pair of right hands upstairs followed by lefts and rights downstairs.
Baumgardner continued to target the body in round nine. Linardatou showed bravery in taking the heavy blows by Baumgardner and refusing to go down to the canvas. It came at the expense of her own offense, however, as the champion was consistently able to pin Linardatou against the ropes.
Linardatou unloaded in the tenth and final round, upon the realization that she was well down on the scorecards. Baumgardner was prepared for the rush and wisely played defense to plck off the incoming shots. A brief pause by Linardatou left the door open for Baumgardner to throw and land a combination and went on the hunt for the balance of the fight to exact her revenge.
Linardatou came up well short in a bid to become a two-division titlist as she fell to 14-3 (6KOs). The loss was her first since a ten-round decision defeat to undisputed lightweight queen Katie Taylor (22-1, 6KOs) in Nov. 2019 which ended her first WBO title reign. Linardatou regained the vacant belt three months later btu was forced to vacate after she became pregnant, to which the WBO deemed her unfit to properly defend the belt.
Baumgardner sailed to 15-1 (7KOs). The win was her ninth in a row since the narrow defeat to Linardatou and has now made four successful defenses of at least one junior lightweight title.
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