Revenge and history are the main motivators for undisputed super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner who faces Christina Linardatou at the Masonic Temple in Detroit on Saturday. The 10-round bout, plus undercard action, will be broadcast exclusively by DAZN.
Baumgardner (14-1, 7 KOs) became the first female undisputed champion when she outpointed French fighter Elhem Mekhaled in February. Now, “The Bomb” becomes the first female fighter to defend that status against an opponent who outpointed her all the way back in July 2018.
Linardatou (14-2, 6 KOs) is a former two-time WBO super lightweight champion and a quality operator. The Greek boxer-puncher has only ever lost to the best, succumbing to points defeats at the hands of Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon. The 35-year-old Linardatou was inactive throughout 2021 after giving birth but is now back in the hunt after posting a stay-busy victory last summer.
WATCH: Alycia Baumgardner vs. Christina Linardatou 2, live on DAZN
Based on her dramatic improvement and success over the past five years, Baumgardner is expected to prevail here. BetMGM has her listed as a prohibitive -1000 favorite, which, in betting parlance, suggests that she merely has to show up. Does Linardatou know something that the…
