Fremont, Ohio’s Alycia Baumgardner Went the Distance in Dominant Win Over Nydia Feliciano for Her First Professional Title
PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 10, 2018) Similar to her Glass City Boxing gym mate Robert Easter, Jr back in 2016, undefeated Super Featherweight Alycia Baumgardner (5-0, 4 KOs) traveled over to Pennsylvania from Ohio to win her first title – the vacant WBC international belt.
Several questions loomed over young Baumgardner in stepping up to face veteran Nydia Feliciano (9-10-3) after just four fights. The Ohioan had never fought beyond the first round, and she had yet to be really hit. In contrast, Feliciano just fought to a majority decision loss to 2016 Olympian Mikaela Mayer in December on the Vasyl Lomachenko vs Guillermo Rigondeaux undercard. The Bronx, New York native’s resume also boasts of bouts with Tyrieshia Douglas, Heather Hardy, and a far less decorated Amanda Serrano back in 2010.
For never having fought into the second round, Baumgardner put together an outstanding eight-round performance, as she resoundingly outclassed Feliciano from the opening moments. She got out to a surprisingly fast start, immediately catching Feliciano with an array of stinging punches. The undefeated Ohioan looked poised early, remained patient in the opening round, and seemed unfazed by Feliciano as she rallied to end the first round. However, Feliciano’s face became reddened as the effectiveness of Baumgardner’s offense became the early story of the fight.
Baumgardner’s hand speed in conjunction with her arsenal of punches began to result in a widening gap, and a punishing body attack carried the action in round two. Feliciano continued to grind in the third round as she continued to press the younger fighter who had the expected lapses in her defense from time to time.
In the fourth round Baumgardner connected with her best 1-2 combination in the center of the ring, and it briefly looked like she might have a moment to attempt to extend her knockout streak. However, Feliciano fought through the big right hand and continued to look for openings with her own lunging right hands.
In round five Baumgardner landed a beautiful right hook to the left side of Feliciano’s midsection. Feliciano closed out the round with her own solid right hand. The action stayed constant over the final few rounds as Feliciano continued working, but Baumgardner landed the heavier, more effective shots. She landed a vicious right uppercut in the closing seconds of round seven, and she sealed the dominant win ripping hooks to the body with both hands in the eighth round.
The judges scored the fight 79-73 on two cards and 80-72, earning Baumgardner her fifth win as she captured the WBC international title.
Baumgardner was pleased with her performance saying, “It was an 8 for me. This was a great fight for me because she was experienced. I feel accomplished but ready to be back in the gym working on being better than I was.”
The win opens up 2018 in grand fashion for Baumgardner, she became the first female to sign with Evander Holyfield’s The Real Deal Boxing in late 2017. She’s currently scheduled to return to action on Friday, February 23 in Warren, Michigan at the DeCarlo’s Convention Center.
All photos by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
