Canadian Leila Beaudoin to challenge world champion Alycia (The Bomb) Baumgardner
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Canadian Leila Beaudoin will face undisputed world super-featherweight champion Alycia (The Bomb) Baumgardner in the co-main event of the Jake Paul-Gervonta (Tank) Davis boxing card in Miami on Nov. 14.
The women’s bout at Kaseya Center will be contested over 12 three-minute rounds (instead of the more conventional two-minute women’s rounds).
Baumgardner (16-1-0 with seven knockouts) holds the WBA, IBF and WBO world titles. The 31-year-old American previously also held the WBC world championship belt but has since vacated it.
“Like Amanda Serrano and many other great champions before me, I believe women should have the choice to compete under the same rules as men, 12 rounds, three minutes per round,” Baumgardner said in a statement. “I have chosen to move forward in my career under those terms.
“My next championship fight will take place under those rules, and since the WBC does not currently allow women to fight under those terms, I’ve made the difficult decision to vacate my WBC title.”
Beaudoin (13-1-0 with two knockouts) is ranked No. 2 by the IBF and WBC and No. 3 by the WBO and WBA. The 29-year-old from Levis, Que., has won four straight.
In January 2024, she avenged her sole professional loss by defeating Mexico’s Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza via unanimous decision.
Beaudoin, a Canadian amateur champion at 60 kilograms (132.3 pounds), turned pro in 2019 and won the WBO International super-featherweight title, a lesser championship, in August 2024.
“She had a good run, but Alycia Baumgardner’s reign ends Friday, Nov. 14,” Beaudoin said in a statement. “Every great story needs a turning point — this is mine.”
The weight limit for the super-featherweight division (also called junior lightweight) is 130 pounds.
The Ohio-born Baumgardner turned pro in 2017 and knocked out England’s Terri Harper in November 2021 to win the WBC and IBO world titles. In 2002, she defeated Argentina’s Edith Matthysse and American Mikaela Mayer to add the WBO and IBF championships.
In February 2023, she beat France’s Elhem Mekhaled to claim the WBA title and become undisputed champion.
In July 2023, Baumgardner avenged her only career loss with a win over Greece’s Christina Linardatou. Most recently, she successfully defended her undisputed title against Spain’s Jennifer Miranda in the co-main event of the Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano trilogy fight card.
The main event in Miami sees Paul, a social influencer, actor and boxer, take on Davis, the WBA lightweight champion.
The 28-year-old Paul (12-1-0) has fought a string of name opponents, albeit from different eras and sports, from 58-year-old Mike Tyson to former MMA stars Anderson Silva, Mike Perry and Nate Diaz.
While the 30-year-old Davis is a legitimate champion, he will be giving up a ton of weight.
Paul weighted in at 227.2 pounds for the Tyson fight while Davis weighed in at 133.8 pounds for his last bout. The November fight will be contested at a catchweight of 195 pounds.
The card, put on by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), will be aired on Netflix.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2025.