Alycia Baumgardner dominates Elif Nur Turhan to become two-division champion

Alycia Baumgardner secured a historic victory, claiming both the IBF lightweight and WBC lightweight titles to become a two-division world champion. The fight took place at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday night. Early on, Elif Nur Turhan, the IBF lightweight champion, attacked Baumgardner with wild, looping punches, but Baumgardner quickly adapted her strategy.

She began targeting Turhan's body and landing straight shots, gradually eroding Turhan's defense. As the fight progressed, Baumgardner's control became nearly overwhelming. She slipped Turhan's big swings and landed precise overhand rights, while Turhan's aggression waned. The referee intervened in the third round, briefly stepping between the fighters, but Baumgardner maintained her dominance throughout.

Despite some confusion over the ten-second warning signal, Baumgardner's precision and work rate allowed her to overpower Turhan. In the ninth round, Baumgardner added uppercuts to her arsenal, visibly affecting Turhan's performance. The final round saw Baumgardner finish the job, delivering a powerful right hand that snapped Turhan's head back.

Turhan's performance displayed heart and resilience, but she struggled to find a way past Baumgardner's formidable defense. Baumgardner thanked the fans for supporting women's boxing and hinted at future challenges, including a potential fight for the undisputed lightweight crown.