What to Know
- If you prefer boxing to the NFL, you’re in luck with the Most Valuable Promotions MVPW07 card scheduled on Sunday night with four title fights from Arlington, Texas.
- In the main event, Detroit’s Alycia Baumgardner steps up to a new division against hard hitting Elif Nur Turhan of Turkey.
- The main card begins at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT on ESPN. A six fight prelim card starts at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m PT on ESPN-Plus.
In a bit of sports counterprogramming, ESPN features the Most Valuable Promotions MVPW07 card on Sunday, loaded with talent, including four world championship fights.
The big draw is Alycia Baumgardner of Detroit, the former unified super featherweight champion who’s decided to move up to lightweight in pursuit of her third division title. She will not have an easy path stepping up against one of the hardest punchers in women’s boxing, Elif Nur Turnhan of Turkey.
The winner will head for a showdown and fight for the undisputed title against the winner of the announced unification fight between Caroline Dubois and Stephanie Han.
Along with Baumgardner challenging Nur Turhan on the main event, fans will see IBF World Super Flyweight champion Irma Garcia and WBA World Super Flyweight champion Nataly Delgado of Panama in a title unification battle; super bantamweight champion Skye Nicolson defending against three-time, two-division champion Miyo Yoshida; and Ramla Ali facing undefeated Mikiah Kreps for two vacant super bantamweight belts in the co-main event.
All fighters made weight Saturday morning with Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation commission officials, then appeared at a ceremonial weigh-in Saturday afternoon.
Elif Nur Turnhan needed two attempts before making weight. She first weighed in at 135.4 pounds, then made weight at 135.6 pounds. Alycia Baumgardner, who is coming up to compete at lightweight for the first time, made weight with ease at 133.8 pounds, then put on a show for the fans.
Baumgardner Looking to Drop ‘The Bomb’
Baumgardner’s star power, confidence, and glamour are undeniable. “The Bomb” Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs) presents a stark contrast to her no-nonsense opponent known as the “Golden Turkish Warrior” Nur Turhan (14-0, 8 KOs). But it will all fall away as the pair fight over a scheduled ten-round fight with three-minute rounds.
“I’m ready to go. I’m prepared, and I’m ready to punch her in the face,” said Baumgardner at Friday’s final news conference. “Turhan is a perfect opponent to pick apart. You will see high-level boxing. You won’t just see two girls fighting.”
Baumgardner understands what she represents in women’s boxing.
“Sunday is not just about winning another world title. It is about separating myself. I’ve been doing that with the hooks and the looks, with how I talk, how I promote myself, uplifting these women. It’s important that we’re using our influence, our impact. Not only am I bringing boxing on Sunday, but we’re bringing the weigh-ins tomorrow, y’all. You know, you love the weigh-ins. Then we’re also bringing people to church this Sunday.”
Turhan is a woman of few words, but offers brief comments on Friday, saying “I appreciate the chance to fight three-minute rounds and to show that we can fight the same as men. I thank Alycia [Baumgardner] for that.”
Acknowledging she had a difficult fight in her last bout against impressive 19-year-old prospect Gabriella Tellez in June, Turhan said, “We’re always getting stronger every single time we go out because we don’t stop. We’re not stopping. Of course, there’s a lot to learn from the last fight, too. But that’s how it was meant to be, and that’s how it was.”
Ali and Kreps Vie For Unified Vacant Titles
In the co-main event, Somali-born Ramla Ali of London (11-2, 3 KOs) will challenge undefeated Mikiah Kreps of Niagara Falls, New York (11-0, 3 KOs) in a 10-round championship bout for the vacant WBO and IBF super bantamweight world titles.
Ali has been in the spotlight for her activism worldwide and her many accomplishments outside boxing, but she hasn’t always delivered successful performances in the ring. She comes in as the underdog to Kreps. Knowledgeable fans have kept an eye on the tough New Yorker as she fought her way to a title-fight opportunity.
“I know so many times that people have slept on me, but I just want to say, don’t sleep on me,” said Ali.
Her former sparring partner Kreps says she respects Ali, but this fight is everything to her. “Since my first fight at nine years old, I’ve sacrificed everything to get to this point. We were former teammates, sparring partners, but I’m able to keep business. I think Ramla is a great person and a great fighter. We’ve taken her very seriously.
Skye Nicolson Makes Delayed MVP Debut
Sunday marks the MVP debut of WBC World Super Bantamweight world champion and 2020 Olympian Skye Nicolson of Australia (16-1, 3 KOs) against Japan’s three-time, two-division world champion Miyo Yoshida of Japan, who is based in New York (19-5, 1 KO). Yoshida is a veteran at age 38 hoping to win one more title, but she is moving up a division and will face Nicolson’s height and size.
Nicolson said being forced to withdraw from her previously scheduled debut was frustrating. “The focus now is completely on moving forward and taking on Miyo Yoshida in what I know will be a great fight. I’m looking forward to getting back in there, putting on a big performance and making sure everyone and anyone in my way is officially put on notice,” said Nicolson.
Yoshida says she understands why Nicolson is considered the favorite. “But I have dedicated my life to boxing and I am prepared to give everything for this opportunity. I promise the fans will see a fearless Miyo Yoshida. I will bring the heart of Japan, my experience as a three-time World Champion and everything I have into this fight,” said Yoshida, insisting she will leave the ring with the title.
Garcia and Delgado Setting New Goals
IBF World Super Flyweight champion Irma Garcia of Mexico (26-5-1, 6 KOs) and Panama’s WBA World Super Flyweight champion Nataly Delgado (21-7-2, 5 KOs) put their titles on the line in a high-stakes unification fight.
Both women have plenty to fight for. Garcia, a Mexico City police officer and attorney, is boxing’s oldest world champion at age 45. She defended her title at MVPW05 with an impressive knockout win over Emma Dolan.
Garcia would love to add another belt. “It’s exciting for me that I have a title already, but I want to go after one more. I want to be an example to a woman that there is no age to go after your dreams.”
Delgado can become Panama’s first unified women’s champion with a win. She was 10-7 in 2022 and has since reeled off 10 wins and a draw, including a stunning upset over Jasmine Artega at MVPW04. “You have to go after your dreams. Even though I had a fall, I am super excited to be part of this big event, and I’ll see you on Sunday.”
Six Fight Prelim Card Kicks Off MVPW07
The six-fight preliminary card features Brittany Sims against Shera Mae Patricio, sister of promising USA Boxing amateur Lorenzo Patricio; fan favorite Nat “No Love” Dove against Nayeli Rodriguez of El Paso; and Jocelyn Camarillo of Indio, a promising minimum weight prospect undefeated in seven fights.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
