Alicia Baumgardner successfully defended her undisputed super featherweight title, and gained a measure of revenge, as she widely outscored Christina Linardatou at the Masonic Temple in Detroit.
Baumgardner had enjoyed statement wins against Terri Harper and Mikaela Mayer on the road to collecting all four belts plus the IBO strap, and she completed the set by taking the vacant WBA crown in her last fight, a February points win against Elhem Mekhaled. Linardatou had previously reigned as a two-time WBO champion at super lightweight.
Linardatou had won their original meeting in 2018, taking an eight round split decision win, but it was an all-together different outcome this time.
After a cautious opening, the champion began to assert authority, finding a home for her jab, and by the fourth, Baumgardner (15-1, KO7) was thrilling her home fans with some eye-catching combinations that the Greek challenger had little answer to.The two exchanged in the main from rounds five through seven, with Linardatou (14-3, KO6) brave in the trenches, but Baumgardner showing the better work to take the sessions. Linardatou had a solid eighth, but Baumgardner closed the show well, landing with power punches to the delight of her home crowd, and as the contest went to the cards, it looked like she had done more than enough to retain.
So it proved, as Baumgardner kept her haul of belts by scores of 99-91 and 98-92 (twice).
A look back at the DOMINANT win by @alyciambaum in our Get In The Zone segment presented by @autozone 🥊#BaumgardnerLinardatou2 pic.twitter.com/vpfIzLir7a
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 16, 2023
Jermaine Franklin (22-2, KO14) rebounded from back-to-back defeats to Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua, by dominating Isaac Munoz Gutierrez (17-1-1, KO14) over ten rounds at heavyweight. Franklin took all ten rounds on two scorecards, with a third ruling him a 99-91 winner.
What an uppercut 😲😲#BaumgardnerLinardatou2 pic.twitter.com/FenwLxTSxV
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 16, 2023
Cuban star Andy Cruz (1-0, KO0) made an eagerly anticipated debut, and he took the vacant IBF International lightweight title with an assured wide points win against former world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos (35-8-3, KO21). Cruz ran out the winner by two scores of 100-90, and a third at 98-92.
.@AndyDiamondCruz starting to get into a rhythm at the end of round two 👊#BaumgardnerLinardatou2 pic.twitter.com/itBpvy8ACn
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 16, 2023
A dominating performance so far by @AndyDiamondCruz 🙌#BaumgardnerLinardatou2 pic.twitter.com/U41CXpqhmV
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 16, 2023
The final ten rounder saw a clear points win for Ja’Rico O’Quinn (16-1-1, KO8), with the super bantamweight seeing off Carlos Mujica (8-3, KO2). Scores of 100-90, 97-93 and 96-94 sealed victory for the home fighter.
Carlos Mujica lands on the final bell! 💥
To the scorecards we go in our opener… @DAZNBoxing #OQuinnMujica #BaumgardnerLinardatou2 pic.twitter.com/bqaKD6VZnj
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) July 16, 2023
Joshua James Pagan (8-0, KO4) needed less than a round to deal with Gabriel Smith (11-10-1, KO4) at welterweight, and Jermarco Holloway (6-0, KO3) stopped Angelo Snow (9-5, KO6) in four rounds, also at welterweight.
At super middleweight, Joseph Hicks (8-0, KO5) took all six rounds against Ramses Agaton (22-15-3, KO12), and Cameran Pankey (8-0, KO4) took a six round decision win at featherweight against Misael Reyes (4-5, KO1).
