Undisputed queen of the ring Alycia Baumgardner is never one to mince words, and in a recent, wide-ranging interview with The Ring magazine, the dominant champion laid out her ambitious roadmap for the future. As she prepares for her next high-stakes outing against Elif Nur Turhan, Baumgardner addressed some of the most compelling narratives in women’s boxing today. From the path toward an undisputed showdown involving Caroline Dubois and the lingering disappointment of missing out on a superfight with Amanda Serrano, to the potential for a high-profile rematch with rival Mikaela Mayer, the unified titlist offered deep insight into her mindset, her business-first approach to the sport, and her unyielding desire to test herself against the absolute best.
The boxing landscape at lightweight and super featherweight is constantly shifting, but Baumgardner’s focus remains razor-sharp. As she steps through the ropes for her upcoming clash, the champion is already looking several steps ahead, mapping out a definitive trajectory that she believes will cement her legacy at the pinnacle of the sport. Below are the key takeaways and excerpts from her candid conversation with The Ring.
Baumgardner on when she plans on fighting Dubois
The road to undisputed glory is paved with mandatory challengers and elite-level competition, and Baumgardner has her eyes firmly fixed on the ultimate prize at the end of the tournament. Rather than looking past her immediate opposition, she has integrated her future goals directly into her championship timeline, ensuring that every move she makes builds toward a legacy-defining undisputed clash.
Addressing the division’s landscape and where rising standout Caroline Dubois fits into her immediate future, Baumgardner made it clear that she is positioning herself to face the very best the weight class has to offer.
“I know that I’m fighting the winner of Han and Dubois for undisputed,” Baumgardner told The Ring. “That’s how I wanted it, that’s what it’s going to be. So once we beat Turhan we have to see who’s next, is it Han or is it Dubois.”
This methodical approach highlights Baumgardner’s champion mentality. She recognizes that while the hype surrounding a potential fight with Dubois is real and captures the imagination of boxing fans worldwide, the business of boxing requires patience, discipline, and a victory in her current assignment. By stating her intention to face the winner of the high-stakes matchup between Han and Dubois, Baumgardner signals to the entire division that she has no intention of taking the easy way out and wants the absolute toughest challenges available to unify the division completely.
On preparing for Turhan’s mauling style
Before any undisputed aspirations can become reality, Baumgardner must first get past Elif Nur Turhan. Preparing for an opponent with a rough, aggressive, and mauling style presents unique tactical challenges in the training camp, requiring the champion to refine her technical precision and maintain absolute emotional and physical composure under fire.
Baumgardner noted that this specific type of aggressive, pressure-heavy approach is frequently encountered in the women’s professional ranks. Rather than backing down or engaging in a messy brawl, the champion plans to rely on her superior timing, ring IQ, and punching accuracy to dismantle her opponent’s strategy piece by piece.
“This is a style that is very common among women, I would say, in boxing,” Baumgardner explained. “So, I know what I have to do as a fighter, I have to make sure that I’m sharp, I have to make sure I have composure. I know that I’m really good with my timing, so punching in between her shots. We saw that she does get hit a lot, and we know that I have a punch, so it’s going to be a matter of staying composed, punching in between, and using my skill. Like this is boxing, it’s not a fight. It’s skill vs. whatever she got going on.”
This breakdown illustrates the analytical side of Baumgardner’s game. While her explosive power has earned her a reputation as one of the most feared punchers in the sport, her success is deeply rooted in her ability to read opponents, exploit defensive openings, and turn an opponent’s aggressive forward momentum against them. Against Turhan’s mauling tactics, maintaining discipline will be the key to securing a decisive victory and keeping her championship train moving forward.
On Serrano retiring without her ever getting that fight
One of the most persistent storylines in women’s boxing over recent years has been the potential matchup between Baumgardner and multi-division legend Amanda Serrano. When Baumgardner previously signed with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), fans and pundits immediately began speculating about a blockbuster showdown between the two pound-for-pound stars, a bout that many believed could serve as a watershed moment for the sport’s global commercial profile.
With Serrano now looking toward the twilight of her illustrious career and preparing for retirement, that dream matchup appears destined to remain on the shelf. While Baumgardner admits a deep personal desire to have shared the ring with Serrano, she harbors no bitterness regarding the missed opportunity, offering instead a gracious tip of the hat to a fellow pioneer who has given everything to the sport.
“When I first signed MVP that was something I was very vocal about, having the fight with Amanda,” Baumgardner said. “I thought it was something that can really set the stage again for women’s boxing. I’m not mad she’s retiring, she has put in the work in the sport. So, happy retirement to her. I know she’s going out with a bang to fight in Puerto Rico. So, nothing against that, but I definitely did want that fight. I will say that.”
The sentiment reflects a deep mutual respect among elite female fighters who understand the immense sacrifices required to reach the top. Although boxing politics and timing ultimately prevented the bout from materializing, Baumgardner’s acknowledgment of Serrano’s contributions highlights the camaraderie and historical awareness shared by the sport’s standard-bearers.
On whether a rematch with Mayer is on her radar
Rivalries in boxing often extend far beyond a single night in the ring, and few domestic clashes in recent years generated as much intensity and anticipation as Baumgardner’s dramatic encounter with Mikaela Mayer. Since their memorable first meeting, fans have frequently whispered about the prospect of a second chapter between the two elite competitors.
When asked whether a rematch with Mayer remains a possibility on her radar, Baumgardner took a pragmatic approach, pointing to the fluid nature of weight classes and the complex economic realities that dictate how high-level bouts are made in women’s professional boxing. Operating comfortably and powerfully at 135 pounds, Baumgardner noted that any future meeting would depend heavily on weight alignment and whether the business parameters make sense for all parties involved.
“I don’t know what weight class she’s at, at the moment. So, I don’t know what that looks like,” Baumgardner stated regarding Mayer. “But right now I’m at 135, I’m very comfortable, very strong, so we’ll just have to see what boxing holds. The pot is very small when it comes to women’s boxing, so you never know.”
True to her reputation as a fighting champion who has never shied away from elite competition, Baumgardner made it explicitly clear that her hesitation stems entirely from logistical considerations rather than any reluctance to step back into the ring with a dangerous rival. For Baumgardner, the sport is both a passionate craft and a hard-nosed business, requiring careful alignment to ensure that marquee matchups deliver the impact and compensation they deserve.
“I don’t duck no smoke,” Baumgardner concluded. “We all know that boxing is a business so I always make sure things are aligning when it comes to the business part, and I’m always going to show up to fight.”
