Alycia Baumgardner is preparing to embark on a monumental new chapter in her professional career as she moves up to the lightweight division to challenge the unbeaten IBF world champion Elif Nur Turhan. Yet, even as the formidable American focuses on the immediate task waiting in Texas, her long-term vision remains set on defining her legacy at the absolute pinnacle of women’s boxing.
The unified super-featherweight world champion will step into the ring in Texas on Sunday night (Monday morning UK time) for a championship encounter broadcast live on Sky Sports. But while Nur Turhan poses a direct threat to Baumgardner’s dream of becoming a two-weight world champion, the shadows of a potential mega-fight against British star Caroline Dubois continue to loom large over the division.
Dubois, who currently holds both the WBC and WBO lightweight titles, has emerged as one of the most exciting young champions in the sport. A potential blockbuster showdown between Baumgardner and Dubois has been widely discussed for 2027, setting up what could be one of the defining events in modern women’s boxing. However, the pre-fight build-up has already been characterized by heated verbal exchanges and unmistakable hostility between the two champions.
The friction between the pair escalated dramatically in August following Dubois’ victory over Amelia Moore in Birmingham. After securing her win, the undefeated British fighter became involved in a feisty face-to-face altercation with Baumgardner, during which Dubois openly branded the American a "coward." Far from being rattled by the insult, Baumgardner has dismissed Dubois’ bravado, offering a sharp and uncompromising technical assessment of what would transpire if the two elite fighters ever met inside the square circle.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Baumgardner expressed supreme confidence in her ability to dismantle the British champion, claiming that a fight between them would prove far less competitive than many observers anticipate.
"I just easily pick her apart," Baumgardner asserted. "I see a lot of holes in her game. I see a lot of her questioning herself and how she does things. I don’t need a trainer to tell me step-by-step what to do. I already know it because I see it."
Baumgardner’s confidence stems from what she perceives as a distinct gap in mental fortitude and ring intelligence. While acknowledging Dubois’ talents and champion status, the American believes that when the level of competition rises to an elite standard, Dubois will find herself outmatched both tactically and adaptively.
"She knows deep down that she’s up for a challenge," Baumgardner continued. "She’s hungry, she’s a champion, but she knows that she’s up against a world-class fighter. She knows that she’s going to really have to up her game, but every time she ups her game, I up mine 10 more, so you’re trying to reach something that you can’t fully reach."
Despite the verbal sparring and the intense fan interest surrounding a potential encounter, Baumgardner maintained that Dubois must remain focused on her own path before any future clash can be finalized. The American made it clear that while the ambition for a clash remains high, business must first be settled in the ring.
"When that time comes, we’ll see," Baumgardner noted. "A fight against Caroline is definitely there, but she still needs to do her job. She still needs to show up."
‘Nur Turhan Has Never Been in the Ring With Someone Like Me’
Before any future super-fight against Dubois can materialize, Baumgardner must first navigate a dangerous assignment in Texas against Elif Nur Turhan. The undefeated Turkish fighter captured the IBF lightweight championship in December 2025 with a dramatic fifth-round knockout victory over Beatriz Ferreira—a performance that sent shockwaves through the division after Nur Turhan had already floored the Brazilian champion in the very first round.
Baumgardner, whose impressive 18-1 professional record features high-profile victories over top-tier opposition including Mikaela Mayer and, most recently, Bo Mi Re Shin, enters the bout as the lighter fighter stepping up in weight. However, she believes her superior skill set, footwork, and ring vision will prove decisive against a champion she categorizes as fundamentally one-dimensional.
Reflecting on her opponent’s explosive win over Ferreira, Baumgardner offered credit to Nur Turhan while firmly maintaining that their upcoming bout will present a completely different dynamic.
"I wouldn’t say she is the most dangerous [fighter I have faced], but she does hit hard," Baumgardner acknowledged. "I haven’t felt her power enough to know if she hits hard [but] in terms of how she beat a world champion like Beatriz [Ferreira], I have to give her credit for that."
However, Baumgardner quickly emphasized that Nur Turhan’s previous successes would offer little preparation for the style, precision, and tactical maturity she brings to the ring.
"She has never been in the ring with someone like me," Baumgardner declared. "I am not just a one-way fighter like herself: I have skills, I have great power, I have great footwork, and my timing is impeccable. Skills pay the bills."
Analyzing film of Nur Turhan’s previous outings, Baumgardner noted defensive vulnerabilities in the Turkish champion’s approach, predicting that the sheer force of her own counter-punching will quickly alter the champion’s game plan once the action gets under way.
"The previous fights I have seen, she is easy to hit," Baumgardner explained. "Once she gets hit by my power, she is going to realize, ‘okay, I’ve got to either throw hard or find a way out of here.’"
The move up to 135 pounds carries significant weight for Baumgardner’s overarching legacy. Rather than seeking a comfortable transition into a higher weight category, she chose to face a dangerous titleholder whom she claims other fighters actively avoided. Furthermore, the fight will take place under three-minute rounds, a format Baumgardner actively champions as the standard for elite women’s boxing.
"It would just build the résumé," Baumgardner said of the prospect of becoming a two-weight world champion. "With women’s boxing, we have to look at who people are fighting and the reasoning. I am stepping up and fighting a fighter no one in the 135lb division wanted to fight. That tells a story and adds to my résumé that I’m always up for the challenge. Not only that, I’m fighting three-minute rounds. I keep setting the standard for myself and who Alycia Baumgardner is."
Claiming the Top Spot in Women’s Boxing
The landscape of women’s boxing has undergone a seismic shift following the retirement of legendary Irish fighter Katie Taylor, who brought an end to her glittering career with a farewell victory over Flora Pili before a triumphant home crowd at Croke Park. Taylor’s departure naturally sparked discussions regarding who will step forward to take ownership of the pound-for-pound throne and carry the sport into its next era.
When asked whether she is prepared to step into that leadership position and claim the mantle of the world’s pre-eminent female fighter, the 32-year-old Baumgardner offered a characteristic response, insisting that she has already established herself at the top of the sport through her accomplishments and willingness to face tough competition.
"I already took it," Baumgardner stated firmly. "They didn’t have to give it to me. I took the torch, I didn’t need it to be passed down. I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing, and that’s what I’m showcasing on November 8."
For Baumgardner, the clash with Nur Turhan represents more than just an opportunity to add another belt to her collection; it is a platform to demonstrate the gap between elite boxing craft and raw aggression. Promising fans an electrifying performance, the American champion predicted that her preparation and tactical superiority will culminate in a definitive victory.
"Viewers can see an impactful fight first off," Baumgardner concluded. "It’s going to be a lot of details in there, but the knockout is coming."
As fight night approaches, the stakes could hardly be higher. A victory for Nur Turhan would solidify her status as a dominant power in the lightweight division and derail one of the sport’s biggest names. For Baumgardner, victory would secure two-weight world championship status, validate her claim as the sport’s premier fighter, and lay the groundwork for a future showdown against Caroline Dubois.
Boxing fans can watch Elif Nur Turhan defend her IBF lightweight title against Alycia Baumgardner live on Sky Sports+ on Monday morning (UK time), with coverage of the card commencing from 1:30am. Live streaming options are also available through NOW.
