Alycia Baumgardner changed things up in the super-featherweight division as she dismantled WBC and IBO Champion Terri Harper in the latter's own backyard.
Inside the Utilta Arena in England, Baumgardner landed vicious blows to the head of Harper, overcoming doubts and beating "Belter" in the fourth round. The Golden Gloves silver medalist won her first major world title and earned her seventh win via knockout.
“I dreamed of this moment,” Baumgardner said after the fight (h/t BoxingScene). “I looked in the mirror every day and I told myself I will be a world champion. I came over here as the challenger and the underdog and my confidence was 100 and I just didn’t see that in her. She was fragile so I just had to jump on it.
“For everyone out there at 130, you know I am the top dog so come and get this work.”
Harper was the aggressor to start, and both fighters would eventually start swinging away at one another. Baumgardner would end up finding an advantage towards the end with a few overhand shots. She would continue to be aggressive in round two, as she hit a flurry of inside shots. Several blows landed on Harper's head, pushing her back at certain points.
Baumgardner did not stop her barrage of shots, as she landed big rights to the head of Harper. Combination body and head shots would follow, as Harper tried to land on the inside. Round four is where it got dangerous. Baumgardner would land a big right that just froze Harper in place, and before Baumgardner could land another shot the referee called off the fight.
AND THE NEW! ------
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 14, 2021
Alycia Baumgardner stunned Terri Harper, to become WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight champion.#HarperBaumgardner pic.twitter.com/KzSzv1MKq3
Born in Ohio, Alycia "The Bomb" Baumgardner is now on a five-fight win streak.
Baumgardner is now in line to face off against Choi Hyun-mi, the WBC Super-Featherweight Champion. The winner of that fight would fight WBO and IBF Super-Featherweight Champion Mikaela Mayer in an undisputed unification bout.
The loss is Harper's first of her career. Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn did state that Harper does have a rematch clause.
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