At Most Valuable Promotions’ MVPW-07: Turhan vs. Baumgardner tonight, live from College Park Center in Arlington, MVP’s and Dallas, Texas’ Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (19-1, 7 KOs) became a two-division world champion with a dominant unanimous decision victory (100-90 x3) over MVP’s and Turkey’s previously undefeated IBF lightweight world champion, the “Golden Turkish Warrior” Elif Nur Turhan (14-1, 8 KOs), claiming the IBF lightweight world title after 10 rounds at 135 lbs. Baumgardner made a grand entrance, accompanied by gospel music legend Kirk Franklin, established control from the opening bell, using her sharp jab, straight punches, and superior footwork to dictate the distance and consistently beat Turhan to the punch. Baumgardner hurt Turhan late in the third round with a series of clean shots before the action was briefly halted when the 10-second clapper was mistaken for the bell. Turhan found moments of success with hooks and uppercuts in the fifth and ninth rounds, but Baumgardner maintained control throughout, landing the cleaner, more impactful punches and sweeping all three judges’ scorecards to capture the IBF lightweight world title and become a two-division world champion.
In the co-main event, MVP’s Somali-British boxer Ramla Ali (12-2, 3 KOs) became the new unified IBF and WBO super bantamweight world champion with a hard-fought split decision victory (97-92, 91-98, 96-93) over New York’s previously undefeated Mikiah Kreps (11-1, 3 KOs) after 10 rounds at 122 lbs. Kreps pressed forward from the opening bell, but Ali established control early, opening a cut on Kreps in the second round before sending her to the canvas with a left hand in the third. Kreps rallied through the middle and later rounds, applying relentless pressure and landing combinations to the head and body. The two fighters, who are also longtime sparring partners, traded heavy shots in a thrilling tenth round, with Ali connecting with powerful right hands to close out the closely contested battle and secure the vacant IBF and WBO super bantamweight world titles.
Also on the main card, MVP’s and Australia’s reigning WBC super bantamweight world champion Skye Nicolson (17-1, 3 KOs) made her long awaited MVP debut, by successfully defending her world title with a dominant unanimous decision victory (98-92, 100-90, 99-91) over Japan’s three-time, two-division world champion Miyo Yoshida (19-6, 1 KO) after 10 rounds at 122 lbs. Nicolson established control early, using her range and footwork to circle Yoshida while connecting with sharp straight punches as Yoshida pressed forward looking to close the distance. Yoshida found moments of success on the inside, landing right hands in the sixth and eighth rounds, but Nicolson continued to counter effectively with straight lefts and rights. Nicolson closed out her commanding performance with sharp uppercuts and a three-punch combination in the tenth round to retain her WBC super bantamweight world title.
In a pivotal super flyweight world title unification bout, MVP and Mexico’s Irma Garcia (27-5-1, 6 KOs) earned a unanimous decision victory (97-92 x3) over Panama’s Nataly Delgado (21-8-2, 5 KOs) after 10 rounds at 115 lbs, unifying the IBF and WBA super flyweight world titles. Both champions traded right hands and body shots throughout the early rounds, with Delgado consistently attacking the body while Garcia countered with sharp straight left hands. Garcia began to take control in the fifth round, hurting Delgado with a counterpunch before sending her to the canvas with a left hand in the sixth, despite Delgado protesting the knockdown. Delgado continued pressing forward with right hands and body work, but Garcia landed the cleaner, more impactful punches down the stretch, rocking Delgado again in the tenth round to cap off her commanding performance and become the unified IBF and WBA super flyweight world champion. Garcia’s performance earned her the Performance of the Night bonus from Most Valuable Promotions.
Opening the main card, undefeated Albina Moldazhanova (6-0, 6 KOs) delivered a dominant fourth-round knockout victory over Kirstie Bavington (10-7-2, 2 KOs) in their scheduled four-round super lightweight bout at 140 lbs. Moldazhanova established control early, hurting Bavington with a powerful left hand in the opening round before continuing to apply pressure with heavy shots to the body. Bavington found moments of success behind her jab and right hands in the third round, but Moldazhanova overwhelmed her opponent with a combination capped by a left hand that sent Bavington to the canvas early in the fourth. Although Bavington beat the count, the referee waved off the contest at 0:44, extending Moldazhanova’s undefeated record and perfect knockout streak to six victories.
In the preliminary card headliner, MVP’s Brittany Sims (10-3-1, 5 KOs) and undefeated Shera Mae Patricio (10-0-1, 3 KOs) battled to a split draw (90-100, 97-93, 95-95) after 10 closely contested rounds for the vacant WBA regular bantamweight world title at 118 lbs. Both fighters traded punches from the opening bell, with Patricio pressing forward behind fast combinations to the body while Sims countered with sharp uppercuts and right hands on the inside. The action intensified in the fourth round as swelling developed over Patricio’s left eye, partially from accidental head clashes. Patricio increased the pressure in the eighth and ninth rounds, while Sims answered with powerful right hands in the closing rounds, as both fighters continued exchanging punches through the final bell.
In featherweight action, Fernando Garcia (15-5, 8 KOs) earned a unanimous decision victory (59-55, 58-56 x2) over Alexander Castellano (12-3-2, 2 KOs) in their six-round bout at 126 lbs. Castellano established his body attack early, while Garcia answered with sharp right hands, including a powerful overhand right late in the opening round. Garcia increased the pressure from the second round on, consistently pressing forward and finding success with short punches and uppercuts on the inside. Both fighters continued trading through the final bell, with Garcia’s sustained pressure and cleaner punches earning him the decision.
Also on the preliminary card, Nayeli Rodriguez (8-2-1) earned a controversial split decision victory (75-77, 77-75 x2) over MVP’s Nat Dove (8-1-1, 2 KOs) in their eight-round super flyweight bout at 115 lbs, despite Dove landing significantly more punches and power punches throughout the contest. Dove established control early behind a sharp jab and consistent body work, while Rodriguez found moments of success with combinations to the head and body in the later rounds. Despite being outlanded 86-53 in power punches, with Dove connecting at a 53% rate compared to Rodriguez’s 32%, Rodriguez was awarded the victory on two of the three judges’ scorecards in a disputed decision.
In a six-round welterweight bout at 147 lbs, undefeated Javier Guerrero (8-0, 6 KOs) secured a dominant second-round TKO victory over Aiden Anderson (4-4, 3 KOs). Guerrero applied relentless pressure from the opening bell, targeting Anderson’s body before scoring a knockdown in the second round and unleashing a flurry of punches that forced the referee to stop the fight at 2:41. Opening the preliminary card, MVP’s undefeated Jocelyn Camarillo (8-0, 1 KO) earned a unanimous decision victory over Nazarena Serra (6-3, 1 KO) in a competitive six-round minimumweight bout at 105 lbs. Both fighters traded combinations throughout, with Camarillo’s sharp hooks, consistent body work, and cleaner punches securing the win on the judges’ scorecards (59-55, 58-56 x2).
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