Alycia Baumgardner vs. Christina Linardatou: date, time, how to watch, background
Alycia Baumgardner will defend her 130-pound titles in a rematch with the only woman to beat her, Christina Linardatou, on Saturday in Detroit.
ALYCIA BAUMGARDNER (14-1, 7 KOs) VS. CHRISTINA LINARDATOU (14-2, 6 KOs)
- Date: Saturday, July 15
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Masonic Temple, Detroit
- TV/Stream: DAZN
- Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
- At stake: Baumgardner’s undisputed championship
- Odds: Baumgardner 8-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Andy Cruz vs. Juan Carlos Burgos, lightweights; Jermaine Franklin vs. Junior Anthony Wright, heavyweights; Marc Castro vs. Gonzalo Fuenzalida, lightweights
- Prediction: Baumgardner UD
- Background: Baumgardner will be seeking to avenge a loss to Linardatou, which occurred five years ago. She was 6-0 and still developing when the Greek fighter defeated her by a split decision in a 130-pound bout in 2018. Baumgardner is 8-0 since then and has evolved into one of the best female fighters in the world. The 29-year-old from Detroit delivered a breakthrough victory last October, when she defeated previously unbeaten Mikaela Mayer by a split decision to unify three of the four major 130-pound titles. She then added the vacant WBA belt by easily outpointing Elhem Mekhaled on Feb. 4. That was her most recent fight. Linardatou followed her victory over Baumgardner by stopping Kandi Wyatt in six rounds to win a 140-pound title and successfully defended by outpointing Deanha Hobbs a few months later. She then lost a her belt to pound-for-pounder Katie Taylor by a unanimous decision in November 2019. She fought once early in 2020 and then spent almost 2½ years away from boxing. She returned in July of last year, outpointing, Aleksandra Vujovic, and hasn’t fought since.