Baumgardner defeats Linardatou
Undisputed World Super Featherweight Champion Alycia Baumgardner (15-1, 7KO) successfully defended her undisputed crown by unanimously defeating Greece-based Dominican Christina Linardatou (14-3, 6KO).
The fight was part of a Matchroom Boxing event at The Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan, live on DAZN.
The championship contest was a rematch, with "The Bomb's" only ever loss handed to her in July 2018 by Linardatou, in just her seventh professional fight.
This time, Baumgardner enjoyed a resounding victory with scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92.
With this win, 29-year-old Baumgardner improved her record to 15-1, with 7 knockouts, while Linardatou dropped to 14-3, with 6 knockouts.
Undercard
Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Joseph Hicks (8-0, 5 KOs) continued to show the elite boxing skill that once had him set to captain the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2020 summer games, before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the proceedings, in dispatching veteran Ramses Agaton via a six-round unanimous decision (60-54 three times). The 29-year-old owns four victories in 2023 and hopes to continue his uptick in competition.
“I love that I’m staying busy,” said Hicks. “These are the kind of fights that help me grow and develop into a world champion. I felt really comfortable in the ring and was able to take my work from the gym and implement it into the fight. I’m coming to make big noise in the middleweight division.”
Also picking up his fourth victory of 2023 was Joshua Pagan (8-0, 4 KOs), who made quick work of Gabriel Smith, stopping him in round one. The 23-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan has now delivered back-to-back knockouts after his last outing saw him earn a career-best victory via a third-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Ronnell Burnett.
“It felt great being back in the ring, especially after being a part of Jake Paul’s camp and learning so much,” said Pagan. “I wish I had more rounds to show more, but it was a great experience nonetheless. I’m very excited to bring my experience and what I learned to the ring into my next fight.”
The 29-year-old heavyweight Jermaine Franklin (22-2, 14 KOs) got back into the win column with a dominant unanimous decision (100-90 twice, 99-91) over the previously unbeaten Isaac Munoz Gutierrez after 10 rounds of action. A native of Saginaw, Michigan, Franklin had come off of close decision losses to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and top contender Dillian Whyte in his last two outings, and will now look to catapult right back into challenge the heavyweight cream of the crop.
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