By: Sean Crose
The undisputed Women’s Super Featherweight World Championship took place Saturday night at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu theater as Elhem Mekhaled 15-1 faced off against a 13-1 WBC super featherweight boxer. , IBF and WBO Alycia Baumgardner.
Baumgardner’s stab was effective in the first round, although Mekhaled gave an effective pursuit, leaving the defending champions on the defensive. The second game saw Baumgardner fight with smart flexibility, good grounding, and well-missed punches. However, Mekhaled was able to land well in the latter part of the second half.
Baumgardner rocked and dropped Mekhaled in the third round. Mekhaled stood up but was pushed back down a few seconds later. Mekhaled gets up again and somehow manages to survive this chapter. However, Baumgardner certainly had an incredible round three. With that said, Mekhaled had a better fourth table. Both women traded well in the fifth installment. The action slowed down a bit in season six but Baumgardner seems to have done better.
It looked like Mekhaled would fall again in the seventh round, but she stood her ground and kept fighting. She also performed well in the eighth round, landing effectively against the weary Baumgardner. Mekhaled continues to have a very strong ninth. However, Baumgardner certainly gained a significant lead thanks to multiple kills earlier in the game. The last round is a slugfest.
Baumgardner walked out of the ring with the undisputed super featherweight championship she now owns thanks to a decisive unanimous victory.
