Friday night in New York, unified women's junior lightweight champ Alycia Baumgardner is back headlining the first of a new MVP women's series of bouts in the USA to be broadcast with ESPN's platforms.
Coming up Friday night in New York, one of the premier fighters in women's boxing Alycia Baumgardner gets set to defend her three, unified 130 lb. titles in the main event of the MVP Promotions card to air on ESPN. And, on Wednesday the Baumgardner and her South Korean opponent met with the media.
Baumgardner, 17-1, 7 KOs, is the WBA/IBF/WBO champ and will battle contender Bo Mi Re Shin, 19-3-3, 10 KOs, who is ranked in the top 10 in all three organizations. One interesting aspect is that the bout will be ten, 3:00 rounds in this title defense.
Baumgardner told the media,
"This last camp has been so good for me mentally, being locked in and in a different space. Now being the main event and shooting off on ESPN, this is a perfect moment to showcase who Alycia Baumgardner is.
"To see women’s sports push forward in a sport like boxing, we need our men, and we need our women. We need cohesiveness. We all share the runway to show the world that influence is important, and we have great women on this stage who can show that, as well as myself, on Friday night, to show that boxing is already here. We’re just putting it on the biggest stage, which is ESPN."
She also touted her opposition, as well,
One thing about Bo is that she’s coming to fight. She is a warrior, just as I know she is. But I’m hungrier, and I’m meaner, and I’m just sharper."
Baumgardner defended her titles in Miami last December on the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua undercard and scored a 12 round decision win over Leila Beaudoin.
As for Shin, she's a heavy underdog and knows it will be a huge challenge,
I have a great respect for Baumgardner. She has a great style of boxing. She’s a strong fighter, but I believe I have more perseverance, and I will show you on Friday... Alycia was my goal. She has always been, but now it’s time to take her belts for me."
She did challenge Caroline Dubois for the WBC lightweight title, but lost a lopsided 10 round decision in England.
Also for Friday night, the co-main event is between MVP’s unified super middleweight world champion Shadasia Green, 16-1, 11 KOs, and the IBF #2 and WBO #3 contender Lani Daniels, 11-4-2, 1 KOs, in a ten, 2:00 rounds, unified world title bout at 168 lbs,
The title bouts will take place in the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden on and air live on ESPN.