Baumgardner Wins Co-Main Event, Silva KOs Woodley, & More

Before the heavyweight spotlight took over, Alycia Baumgardner delivered a championship performance in the co-main event of the Joshua-Paul card.”

Baumgardner vs Beaudoin: Three-Minute Women’s Championship Fight

Undisputed super feather champ Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner kept the titles by decision and along with Leilia Beaudoin proved they could fight 12 three-minute rounds and do it in style.

Baumgardner showed off her power with a short overhand right that hammered Beaudoin to the ground at the end of the seventh round. The Canadian fighter got up and got even grittier and determined the remainder of the match.

The difference between the two fighters was Baumgardner’s superior technique and ability to control the distance. But Beaudoin never quit even when her face was beaten and swollen from absorbing too many blows.

As usual, Baumgardner took her time just measuring the distance and reflexes of her Canadian foe. But after a slow first round, the super feather champ who abandoned the WBC belt in favor of 12 three-minute round standards, went to work behind steady jabs to the head and body. And of course that deadly right hand cocked and ready.

Every time Beaudoin charged to close the distance she was met with rapid blows and either clinched or smothered herself by getting too close.

Beaudoin made an effort to get in front in the fourth round and despite having her best moments, Baumgardner’s sharpshooting snagged the round. It didn’t look good for the Canadian whose face already showed damage.

In the seventh round Beaudoin tried to force the action and came in winging. But the champion cooly side-stepped the rushes and countered with right hooks. Beaudoin did not stop and kept trying to connect when suddenly during an exchange Baumgardner dropped the right and delivered Beaudoin to the floor at the end of the round.

The knockdown seemed to inspire Beaudoin who opened up the eighth round with a four-punch combination that seemed to surprise the champion. There was no quit in the Canadian fighter.

Baumgardner kept her cool and composure and managed to keep Beaudoin at arms distance. And when she charged too quickly a left hook was waiting for the Canadian. Still, though hit repeatedly, Beaudoin kept winging big blows and began connecting.

“She did not hurt me,” said Baumgardner.

Both fighters fought savagely in the 11^th round which seemed to be Beaudoin’s best. But in the 12^th and final round it was Baumgardner who kept control with accurate blows and clever movement. After 12 three-minute rounds all three judges scored in favor of the champion 117-110 twice and 118-109.

“I’m not disappointed,” said Baumgardner about not scoring a knockout win.

MMA to Boxing: Silva vs Woodley

Anderson “Spyder” Silva (4-2) needed only two rounds to corner Tyron Woodley (0-3) and end his night with an uppercut and three more blows in the second round of their cruiserweight battle between former MMA champions.

Silva, 50, an MMA legend and former UFC middleweight champion, and Woodley a former UFC welter champion both fought and lost to Jake Paul in boxing. They were matched against each other with Woodley receiving mere two week’s notice.

Other Female fight results

Undisputed bantamweight champ Cherneka Johnson (19-2, 8 Kos) won a bloody 10-round battle by decision over Amanda Galle (12-1-1) to retain all the bantam world titles by unanimous decision.

Galle charges in with her head down and presents a problem of head clashes with her style of fighting. Still, Johnson maintained her poise and out-performed the Canadian fighter with strength, jabs and accuracy.

“I didn’t get the job done early as we had planned,” said Johnson.

Johnson, who fights out of Australia, was making her second bantamweight title defense.

WBC minimumweight titlist Yokasta Valle (34-3, 10 Kos) held on to the world title by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Yadira Bustillos (11-2, 2 Kos).

Costa Rica’s Valle, 33, was making her second title defense and it was much rougher than expected. Blood streamed down her head after the minimumweight battle. Two judges saw Valle the winner 98-92, 97-93 but one judge saw it a draw at 95-95. Valle won by majority decision and retains the belt.

“It wasn’t perfect, but it was a win,” said Valle.

WBC lightweight titlist Caroline Dubois (12-0-1, 5 Kos) beat Italy’s Camilla Panatta (8-3-1) by unanimous decision in a battle of southpaws. A counter right hook by Dubois knocked down Panatta in the sixth round. All three judges scored in favor of England’s Dubois 99-90 three times.