Unified super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner is set for a significant move up in weight, challenging undefeated IBF lightweight champion Elif Nur Turhan on November 8.
The highly anticipated bout will take place at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, headlining the MVPW-07 event. ESPN will broadcast the main event live, showcasing Baumgardner’s bid for a world title in a second division against a formidable opponent.
Alycia Baumgardner Elif Nur Turhan title bid
Alycia Baumgardner, known as “The Bomb,” enters this contest with an impressive professional record of 18 wins, 1 loss, and 7 KOs. The 32-year-old American, hailing from Fremont, Ohio, and now residing in Detroit, Michigan, has dominated the super featherweight division for years.
She held the undisputed female super featherweight championship, unifying the WBC, IBO, WBO, IBF, and The Ring titles. Her journey to undisputed status culminated on February 4, 2023, after defeating Elhem Mekhaled for the vacant WBA belt.
Baumgardner’s decision to jump five pounds to lightweight without a tune-up fight highlights her ambition and confidence. She last defended her unified super featherweight titles in April 2026 against Bo Mi Re Shin, securing a comfortable victory.
Moving up a weight class presents new challenges, but Baumgardner remains undeterred. “When I set my mind to something, I see it through, and 135 will be no different,” she stated. “I know what it takes to become undisputed. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again.”
Elif Nur Turhan’s undefeated reign
Elif Nur Turhan, the 31-year-old Turkish champion from Istanbul, brings a flawless professional record of 14 wins, 0 losses, and 8 KOs to the ring. Her impressive 57% knockout ratio speaks volumes about her power.
Turhan seized the IBF lightweight belt in December 2025 by stopping Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Beatriz Ferreira in the fifth round in Monte Carlo, Monaco. She has since proven herself a dominant champion.
The upcoming fight against Baumgardner will mark her third title defense. Turhan successfully defended her belt against Taylah Gentzen in January 2026, winning by split decision, and then against Gabriela Tellez in June 2026 via unanimous decision at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Her powerful style, characterized by closing distance and punishing mistakes with combinations, poses a unique threat. “As two boxers sharing a ‘win at all costs’ mentality, we guarantee a fierce, relentless battle where everything is left on the line,” Turhan commented, anticipating a grueling contest.
The tactical clash: speed versus power
This bout shapes up as a classic confrontation of styles. Alycia Baumgardner possesses quicker feet and sharp counters, aiming to leverage her agility and precise punching. Her strategy will likely involve establishing her jab early and using footwork to control the distance.
Conversely, Elif Nur Turhan is known for her immense power and constant pressure. She excels at getting inside, setting her base, and unleashing powerful combinations, particularly when she can force her opponents into exchanges.
Baumgardner cannot afford to engage in a toe-to-toe brawl at Turhan’s preferred range, especially in a new weight class. The challenge for Baumgardner will be to make Turhan pay with counters before the champion can dig in and launch her offensive.
Should Turhan consistently penetrate Baumgardner’s defense and begin working the body, the former super featherweight champion will quickly learn the difference five extra pounds of punching power can make. The betting odds reflect a challenging fight, with Baumgardner currently at 1/4, Turhan at 4/1, and a draw at 16/1 as of August 25, 2026.
Both fighters have strong motivations. Baumgardner’s trainer, Derrick James, will be strategizing to help her adapt to the lightweight division. For Turhan, working under trainer Agmur Ulusal, a victory would further solidify her position as a dominant champion.
MVPW-07: A platform for women’s boxing
The Baumgardner vs. Turhan main event is part of Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) “MVPW on ESPN” series. Co-owned by Jake Paul, MVP launched this series in March 2026 as a new global platform specifically dedicated to showcasing elite female fighters.
ESPN is the exclusive U.S. home for MVPW events through 2028, underscoring a significant commitment to women’s boxing. The MVPW-07 card in Arlington promises to deliver a full evening of championship action.
Beyond the main event, the card features three additional title fights. WBC featherweight champion Tiara Brown will defend her title against former undisputed champion Ellie Scotney, who is also moving up a weight class to 126 pounds. Brown’s strength and pressure will meet Scotney’s tactical distance control and combinations.
Skye Nicolson will defend her WBC super bantamweight championship against three-time, two-division champion Miyo Yoshida. This marks Yoshida’s MVP debut, with Nicolson looking to control the ring with her southpaw jab after their previous date was scrapped due to injury. Completing the four-title-fight card, Ramla Ali battles Mikiah Kreps for unified super bantamweight championships.
Events like Vergil Ortiz Jr. fighting Jermell Charlo also draw significant attention in the boxing world, but this card focuses entirely on women’s top talent.
Road to potential unification and legacy
For Alycia Baumgardner, a victory over Elif Nur Turhan would not only make her a two-division world champion but also set the stage for even bigger fights. Many in the boxing community see this as a significant step towards a potential unification bout against Caroline Dubois, who currently holds the WBC and WBO lightweight titles.
The challenge of a weight class change is considerable, as seen in the discussion around Terence Crawford’s weight struggles. Baumgardner is jumping five pounds directly into a title fight, foregoing any preliminary lightweight bouts. This calculated risk highlights her ambition to cement her legacy.
For Elif Nur Turhan, successfully defending her IBF belt against such a highly decorated opponent would dramatically elevate her profile and solidify her status as one of the sport’s premier fighters. It would be a monumental win against a former undisputed champion, proving her power and undefeated record are more than just statistics.
The event itself, “MVPW-07,” continues Most Valuable Promotions’ push to bring women’s boxing to a wider audience. With weigh-ins scheduled for November 7 and the main event live on ESPN and ESPN Unlimited from the College Park Center, it’s poised to be a landmark night for the sport.
The venue, College Park Center, on the University of Texas at Arlington campus, has a history of hosting boxing events, including ESPN’s Friday Night Fights and an HBO After Dark Rumble. Its seating capacity of up to 7,250 for sporting events provides a significant stage.
Fighters often talk about how other champions’ successes validate their own careers, and a win here would surely validate Turhan’s.
The clash between Baumgardner’s speed and skill and Turhan’s relentless pressure and power promises a compelling narrative. Fans will be eager to see if Baumgardner’s championship experience at super featherweight can translate effectively to the lightweight division against an unbeaten champion.
