Baumgardner shines after New Zealand’s Daniels seizes unified crown in jarring upset | Boxing

On a night when Alycia Baumgardner showed why she is considered one of boxing’s hottest properties, it was a longshot from New Zealand in the co-main event that threatened to steal the show.

Baumgardner retained her WBO, IBF and WBA junior lightweight titles early Saturday morning at the Madison Square Garden Theater with a 10-round unanimous decision over South Korean Bo Mi Re Shin in the marquee bout of the first U.S. card hosted by Most Valuable Promotions Women, the new women’s boxing platform launched by boxer-influencer Jake Paul.

The 31-year-old Ohio native, fighting out of Dallas under trainer Derrick James, dominated Shin for five rounds before coming back with a furious rally to win a wide verdict by scores of 98-92, 98-92 and 99-91. (The Guardian had it 98-92.)

But Baumgardner’s sixth title defense in the 130-pound division, where she has held at least one belt since 2021, was almost overshadowed by the fight that preceded it. That’s when Lani Daniels turned the odds 4-1 over with a shocking ninth-round technical knockout of unified super middleweight champion Shadasia Green – a moment that quickly gave way to heartbreaking scenes as Green was rushed out of the ring on a stretcher seemingly unconscious and taken to the hospital.

“I hope she’s okay,” Daniels said in her post-fight interview. “I’m happy but also worried for her. I’m happy for that and I’m happy to become world champion again.”

Mike Leanardi, head of boxing at Most Valuable Promotions, said Green was “awake and talking” in hospital during a press conference after the main event, which followed an earlier report that she was “conscious, talking and moving”.

Daniels, nicknamed the Smiling Assassin, previously held the IBF version of the light heavyweight and heavyweight championships, but entered Friday’s fight having suffered back-to-back losses to Claressa Shields and Sarah Scheurich. Now the 37-year-old from Whangarei on New Zealand’s north coast added a world title in a third different weight category.

Shortly after Green was removed from the ring by a crew of paramedics after surrendering her IBF and WBO belts, Baumgardner made her way to the ring at half past midnight accompanied by New York rapper Lil’ Kim, a flashy entrance that drew wild cheers from several thousand spectators in attendance.

In a competition run under men’s championship rules with 10 rounds of three minutes each, Baumgardner controlled the action from the opening bell, taking the center of the ring and immediately establishing his technical superiority. Crisp, straight shots pierced Shin’s guard early on, while a crisp right-left combination set the tone for a first round that showcased the champion’s impeccable timing and precision. Shin circled and stayed active, but much of her offense failed as Baumgardner constantly beat her with punches.

The model held up until the second and third. Baumgardner boxed confidently behind a disciplined jab, putting himself in range to land powerful shots before moving out of harm’s way. Shin tried to disrupt the rhythm, even wrestling Baumgardner to the canvas in the third, but it did little to change the momentum. In the fourth, Baumgardner brought the crowd back to its feet, knocking Shin’s head back with a concussive right uppercut that briefly threatened to end things before the challenger steadied herself.

Over five rounds, it was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Baumgardner varied his attack effectively, working both forward and backward while Shin began to adopt a pressure-based approach. That crowd started to pay off in sixth grade. Shin’s persistence and willingness to absorb punishment allowed her to slip inside, where she found success in desultory exchanges and ultimately turned the situation in her favor.

The seventh brought the fight to life. Shin rushed forward with urgency, adding volume and forcing Baumgardner into uncomfortable exchanges. For the first time, the champion appeared briefly perturbed as the challenger’s intensity turned the fight into a real contest.

But Baumgardner stepped up and showed the final kick of a champion, reasserting control with deft footwork and a wand flick. She created angles, made Shin miss, and reset the pace to her liking. By the 9th, the tide had completely reversed. Shin continued to press but absorbed heavy punishment, walking in clean counters as Baumgardner’s accuracy reappeared.

The final round provided a fitting closure. Baumgardner, comfortably ahead on the scorecards, chose not to let up. Instead, she met Shin head-on in a furious final exchange, with both fighters trading off in the center of the ring as the crowd roared. At the bell, they embraced, the champion having delivered a performance combining technical mastery and resilience in the face of a fierce challenger.

“All I knew was I had to stay consistent with my jab and keep putting things together,” Baumgardner said. “Bo was going to come anyway, so it was up to me to set the pace and make my shots.”

Moments later, Baumgardner offered a candid explanation of his performance that sparked a strong reaction inside the theater. “Three-minute rounds, 10 rounds, on my rules,” she said. “Baby, stop playing with me.”

The remark highlighted both the physical demands of the fight and the broader trend in women’s boxing toward longer rounds, with Baumgardner one of the leading voices advocating for change. “It’s an adjustment every time,” she added. “Three minutes is a long time, but I think it suits my style. I’m still growing, I’m still learning.”

Baumgardner said she would like to fight Katie Taylor next, but also mentioned Amanda Serrano if a clash with the Irish star couldn’t be arranged. “[Serrano] It makes sense, especially here in New York,” she said. “We can do it at the Garden. When you ask who is harder, it doesn’t matter. Put me in there and I’ll show you.

She added: “I’m willing to try harder. If fighters aren’t willing to last three minutes, we can’t even have a conversation. I’m doing a different level of work. I deserve the biggest fights and the biggest paydays.”