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Why Alycia Baumgardner has more to gain from Netflix exposure than any other fighter on Friday's MVP event

If fights were decided by ring-walks alone, Alycia Baumgardner had already scored a knockout. It was October 2022 in the packed O2 Arena in London, and she strutted in to face American rival Mikaela Mayer at an all-female fight card looking like she owned the building. She appeared in a gladiatorial outfit with "Bomb" plastered over the waist-line. Pyrotechnics behind her synced to the music. The whole place was lit.

Baumgardner seemed destined for stardom even back then. Nobody in all of combat sports seems to have more fun when making that walk. It’s a walk that can feel lonely for some. Apprehension could take over. But Baumgardner never shows signs of nerves. She revels in those moments.

That night, she took that confidence into the ring, beat Mayer by split-decision and retained her WBC and IBO super featherweight titles. In the process, she annexed the WBO, IBF and Ring belts, too. She’s never lost any of those titles since, despite putting them on the line in fights against Elhem Mekhaled and Christina Linardatou.

Baumgarder will make that same walk once again Friday night, this time to fight Jennifer Miranda during another all-women fight card organized by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Baumgardner, more than other woman on the MVP card, stands to benefit most from this exposure on Netflix. She’s confident and exudes charisma. And she brings glamour to a sport that relies on theater to leverage mainstream attention.

“This is something that I love being a part of,” Baumgarder told Uncrowned ahead of the MVP event on Netflix. “When we talk about boxing, we talk about fights at the Garden. And me featured on that card is something to talk about.”

Baumgardner looks forward to “an awesome night" because she’s planning another grand arrival, and a repeat result of her win over Mayer.

Her walkouts bring together three of her passions — music, fashion and making an entrance. “This is a moment in time,” the 31-year-old said. “You've got to make your footprint before it’s gone. ... Listen, you know it is one of my favorite things to do. We have a surprise for everyone that we don’t want to give away, but I’m excited.”

If a big entrance fails to transition to a big performance, fighters risk making themselves into the worst kind of meme. Baumgardner, though, is unencumbered by any burden of expectation. Perhaps for good reason, considering she can rely on knockout pop and an accuracy that routinely finds the target.

Baumgardner is not a volume puncher like, for example, Amanda Serrano, who headlines Friday's event alongside Katie Taylor. Baumgardner has an educated jab, though, and has a clear advantage when it comes to throwing the right shot at the right time, often with power. She looks the part when she walks to the ring, and, crucially, acts the part inside of it, too.

Victory over Miranda could propel Baumgardner’s career forward in one great leap.

“She’s undefeated and coming to fight,” the American said. She then remarked that, regardless, it’ll be the Spaniard’s "O" that will be the one to go by the closing bell.

“She has an opportunity to take advantage of the night, but what I also know is that she's never been in the ring with somebody like [me].”

Baumgardner said she’s “ready for this night to be one of her best” because she’s set to rise up in weight and challenge the main-event winner.

Though Taylor has two wins over Serrano, Baumgardner tips the Puerto Rican prizefighter to finally get revenge.

“Amanda has already experienced what the two fights look like," Baumgardner said. "Ahead of a third time, she's already made the changes needed. Amanda is well equipped to get the win.”

She’s “definitely rooting for her” MVP stablemate to win the night, Baumgardner said, but it still seems as though Baumgardner has more to gain going forward because, unlike Serrano and Taylor, she’s in the prime of her career rather than the end of it.

“It’s a moment in time to take advantage of,” she told us, adding that she's open to the possible Serrano super-fight later in the year.

“I’m in the sport to make history, and to make these awesome fights,” Baumgardner said. "I’m a challenger, and I want all the challenges.”

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