WBC women’s junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner will be making her first title defense April 16 against Edith Soledad Matthysse in Manchester, England.
Baumgardner and her promoter, Matchroom Boxing, announced the fight Saturday as part of the Conor Benn-Chris van Heerden card.
The 27-year-old Baumgardner (11-1, 7 KO), from Michigan, won her title in November 2021 by knocking out previously undefeated Terri Harper in the fourth round. Matthysse (17-11-1, 1 KO), from Argentina, is fighting for a junior lightweight title for the second time in three fights.
The 41-year-old lost to Ewa Brodnicka in an attempt to win the WBO title in 2019. This will be the seventh time Matthysse has fought for a world title. She has won one of those matchups, beating Jelena Mrdjenovich for the WBC and WBA featherweight titles in 2016. She lost those titles in a rematch with Mrdjenovich the next year.
Baumgardner has won five straight fights, three by knockout. Earlier this week, Baumgardner tweeted that after this fight her plan is to fight WBA champion Hyun Mi Choi in a unification bout.
IBF and WBO champion Mikaela Mayer defends her titles Saturday night against Jennifer Han in Costa Mesa, California.