MIAMI — Alycia Baumgardner returned to championship form Friday night, cruising to a unanimous decision win over Leila Beaudoin in the co-feature of the Jake Paul–Anthony Joshua card at the Kaseya Center.
Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KOs) retained her IBF, WBA, and WBO junior lightweight titles, winning by scores of 118-109 and 117-110 twice in a fight she controlled from start to finish.
Afterward, an emotional Baumgardner dedicated the performance to her father. “This win was for my dad,” she said. “I give myself an A-plus.”
The victory marked her sixth consecutive title defense and her first since 2023, following her decision to vacate the WBC belt in order to compete in a historic 12 three-minute round format, rather than the usual 10 two-minute rounds used in women’s title fights.
Early Feel-Out, Then Complete Control
The opening two rounds were cautious, with both fighters probing for openings. But once Baumgardner settled into her rhythm, she began dissecting Beaudoin (13-2, 2 KOs) with sharp jabs, clean counters, and superior distance control.
A powerful straight right in Round 3 set the tone, and Beaudoin’s eye began swelling shortly after as Baumgardner repeatedly split her guard.
Body Work Pays Off And a Knockdown Lands
Beaudoin’s offense slowed noticeably in the middle rounds, likely due to Baumgardner’s steady commitment to the body.
In the final moments of Round 7, as Beaudoin attempted to close the distance, Baumgardner dropped her with a chopping right hand the standout moment of the fight.
Between rounds, Beaudoin appeared worn down, but to her credit, she rallied late. She had brief spurts of success in the ninth, 11th, and 12th rounds as she tried to pressure the champion.
Still, Baumgardner’s sharper timing and cleaner punching made the scorecards academic.
Beaudoin’s Win Streak Snapped
Heading into the matchup, Beaudoin had won four straight, but she struggled to break Baumgardner’s defensive and technical puzzle.
Baumgardner, meanwhile, continues her stronghold at 130 pounds and looks poised for major fights in 2026 whether at junior lightweight or beyond.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
