Alycia Baumgardner added the IBF and WBO titles to her WBC super featherweight titles defeating Mikaela Mayer by a split decision.
Two 96-95 cards in Baumgardner’s favour cancelled out a 97-93 card in favour of Mayer.
After a heated build-up, it was time to fight. Both fighters engaged early, with Mayer looking to march down Baumgardner. Baumgardner was seen as the power puncher between the two and looked to display that early on.
The pair fought at a high pace and gave it everything, Baumgardner look the livelier in the early rounds, but as the rounds went by, Mayer grew more into the bout, as she implemented her size to cancel out Baumgardner’s work. Mayer was seemingly taking over the bout at the midpoint, but Baumgardner would open up a cut on Mayer which would spur her on for the remainder.
In the final round, the pair left it all in the ring as they both knew the fight was in the balance, it was hard to split them in coming out of the round. Baumgardner celebrated following the final bell, but in contrast to this, Mayer seemed deflated. The body language following the fight was mirrored by the result, as the scorecards were read out to declare Baumgardner the new unified champion.
What a way to finish the fight! Two warriors & two great champions 👏👏#MayerBaumgardner | @boxxer | @trboxing pic.twitter.com/YcNXi9LQ69
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 15, 2022
Baumgardner now holds the IBF, WBC and IBF world titles, and looks to become undisputed champion by facing WBA champion Hyun-Mi Choi in the future.