Alycia Baumgardner is the unified super-featherweight champion after edging out a split-decision win over the previously unbeaten Mikaela Mayer in London.
Baumgardner put her WBC title on the line against Meyer who brought the WBO and IBF belts into the fight at the O2 Arena on the undercard of Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall.
Baumgardner carried her pre-fight hostility into the opening three rounds as she looked to sit down on her punches while taunting Mayer who landed impressive but sporadic straight shots.
However, in round four she enjoyed her best round of the fight and seemed to have Baumgardner in a little bit of trouble as the bell sounded after two minutes of fighting.
The 2016 Olympian continued to dictate over the next two rounds, prompting Tony Harrison to read his fighter the riot act at the end of round six.
Baumgardner came out firing in round seven after her telling off, but Mayer responded well in what proved to be the most action-packed two minutes of the fight.
It was nip-and-tuck in the final three rounds. Lots of good work from both women who started to trade bombs in the final few seconds before this one went to the scorecards that could have gone either way after such a close fight.
The scores were 97-93 for Mayer, 96-95 for Baumgardner, and 96-95 for Baumgardner but it quickly became clear that not everyone in the arena agreed with them as boos could be heard on the broadcast.
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"I showed all the doubters, I am unified champion of the world. I hit the harder shots and cut her forehead. I was the harder puncher and I dug deep. They ain't being no rematch,” Baumgardner said post-fight.
The 28-year-old will now turn her attention to an undisputed fight with Hyun-Mi- Choi [18-0-1] who has held the WBA super-featherweight title since a 2014 win over Thailand’s Siriwan Thongmanit.
This is not the first time the Baumgardner has picked up a big win on British shores as she previously took on fan favourite Terri Harper, and pulled off a shock stoppage victory.
Harper was considered the superior boxer going into the fight, but it only took one punch for Baumgardner to turn the tide due to her considerable power, which Meyer managed to absorb for 10 rounds tonight but it wasn't enough to keep her undefeated record.
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