Eddie Hearn Reveals Plans for Baumgardner v Choi Undisputed Bout!
Unified women’s junior lightweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (13-1, 7 KOs) has long stated that her goal is to become the undisputed champion within that division. Is she on the precipice of finally getting the opportunity to achieve it?
Baumgardner is promoted by Matchroom. The man who runs the company, Eddie Hearn, is currently in London, England making the rounds promoting an October 29 card highlighted by undisputed women’s lightweight champion Katie Taylor defending the belts against Karen Elizabeth Carabajal.
IS THE BATTLE FOR UNDISPUTED ON TAP?
During a scheduled media workout for that card, Hearn gave an update on what’s upcoming for The Bomb. He says big things are developing.
“Now she’s got all the opportunities ahead of her. The main goal focus for Alycia Baumgardner is to become an undisputed champion. We also represent (WBA champ) Hyun-Mi Choi, who just defended her title. We expect to see that fight in January or February (2023). Let’s see her undisputed.”
Baumgardner is coming off the biggest win of her career. On October 15, the 28-year-old defeated bitter rival Mikaela Mayer by a split decision to become the unified champ. Choi (20-0-1, 5 KOs) recently defended the WBA belt with a unanimous decision win over Vanessa Bradford on October 19.
Before her fight with Mayer, representatives for Baumgardner attempted to make a fight with Choi. But they grew frustrated at how negotiations bogged down. Team Baumgardner felt that Choi’s handlers didn’t come to the table in good faith. So instead, Baumgardner took the fight with Mayer.
WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME?
With three belts in the fold, Baumgardner holds all the power at the negotiating table. Maybe Choi decided that with all the belts on the line, now is the time to make the fight. Or, maybe she watched Baumgardner’s fight with Mayer and saw some flaws. Regardless of what is the case, according to Hearn, they will battle one another early next year.
What ultimately matters for the fans is the best fighting the best. With Claressa Shields’s win over Savannah Marshall and Mayer-Baumgardner happening on October 15, plus Katie Taylor’s dramatic win over unified featherweight champ Amanda Serrano in April 2022, this has been a banner year for women’s boxing. With Baumgardner and Choi hopefully becoming finalized, 2023 is about to kick-off another great year for the ladies.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
