Alycia Baumgardner vowed that her subsequent combat can be for the undisputed championship.
The WBA has granted that want, despite the fact that it is going to come with out its personal champion concerned within the course of.
BoxingScene.com has confirmed that each main title within the junior light-weight division might be at stake for Baumgardner’s subsequent combat. The reigning lineal/WBC/IBF/WBO/IBO champ was authorized to problem for the now vacant WBA title, as long-reigning claimant Hyun Mi Choi was downgraded to ‘Champion in Recess’ on account of her present declared harm standing.
“Based mostly upon the [championship] Guidelines, and the discovering of the WBA Medical Committee, the WBA locations Ms. Hyun Mi Choi as Champion in Recess of the WBA World Feminine Tremendous Featherweight division for a interval not than the date of the medical clearance referred to under,” the WBA declared earlier this week in a closing decision, a duplicate of which was obtained by BoxingScene.com. “Ms. Baumgardner will contend for the vacant WBA title towards the subsequent main accessible contender ranked by the WBA for a bout to happen no later than March thirty first, 2023.”
An opponent is predicted to be finalized and revealed within the coming days. The 2 highest ranked challengers are Germany’s Ramona Graeff (4-0, 0KOs) and former WBC light-weight titlist Defline Persoon (47-3, 19KOs).
The ruling comes greater than per week after the beforehand ordered Baumgardner-Choi was sure for a handbag bid listening to throughout the WBA Centennial Conference in Orlando, Florida. The bout was pulled from the session after Choi (20-0-1, 5KOs)—whose household defected from North Korea in 2004 and ultimately made their solution to Seoul, South Korea—filed for a medical exception, declaring that she was unavailable to face Baumgardner (13-1, 7KOs) by the sanctioning physique’s deadline.
Choi’s case was introduced to the WBA Board of Administrators, who spent greater than per week deliberating over the matter earlier than reaching its determination.
The ruling ends what was the game’s longest energetic title reign to that time. Choi beforehand held the WBA featherweight title from her professional debut via Might 2013, shifting as much as junior light-weight the place she claimed the interim title later that August. She was upgraded to full WBA titlist quickly thereafter, lodging ten profitable defenses, together with a ten-round win over Vanessa Bradford on October 19 in Seoul.
As beforehand reported by BoxingScene.com, Baumgardner is more likely to land because the co-feature of a February 4 DAZN-aired undisputed championship doubleheader. The present might be headlined by the Amanda Serrano-Erika Cruz lineal/WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO featherweight championship.
The WBA’s determination supplies the 28-year-old Baumgardner to totally unify the junior light-weight division all inside a 15-month span. The Detroit-based rising phenom claimed the WBC 130-pound title in a rousing fourth-round knockout of unbeaten Terri Harper final November 13 on the highway in Sheffield, England. Baumgardner’s feat was hailed by BoxingScene.com as 2021 Feminine Knockout of the 12 months.
Two profitable defenses have adopted, together with her ten-round, majority determination win over unbeaten and heated rival Mikaela Mayer on October 15 in London. Baumgardner retained her WBC crown, whereas lifting the IBF/WBO titles from Mayer (17-1, 5KOs) together with gaining lineal championship designation.
Precisely one month later, the WBA referred to as for a Baumgardner-Choi undisputed championship as a part of its ‘One Boxing’ program. The transfer was requested by Baumgardner and her crew, Marshall Kauffman’s King’s Promotions and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
“Regardless if it is with Choi or not, I’m going to be the undisputed champion in 2023,” Baumgardner informed BoxingScene.com earlier this month, previous to the WBA conference.
The red-hot, reigning champion proved prophetic.
Baumgardner isn’t utterly free from Choi, although the 32-year-old is not ready to stall her progress. The WBA decision requires Choi to get first dibs at her outdated crown as soon as cleared to return to the ring.
“On the submission and approval of medical clearance that the Champion in Recess is “Match To Struggle”, Ms Choi might be named the WBA necessary for the holder of the WBA/ Unified Tremendous Featherweight Division Title,” famous the decision.
Jake Donovan is a senior author for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox