Baumgardner and Persoon fight to no-contest on clash of heads

Alycia Baumgardner still has her belts after a no-contest with Delfine Persoon.

Alycia Baumgardner and Delfine Persoon fought to an unfortunate no-contest tonight in Georgia, with Baumgardner retaining her super featherweight championship due to the fight ending on a clash of heads in the fourth round.

Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KO) hadn’t fought since July 2023, largely due to a failed drug test after her bout with Christina Linardatou, and to say this card was a step down in exposure and notoriety from her most recent fights would be a drastic understatement, and one figures she’ll attempt to get back onto a major card next.

The 39-year-old Persoon (49-3, 19 KO) fought with a large brace on her right knee, and appeared to have limited mobility — though no lack of desire to be there and fight — from the jump. She was clipped with a left hook late in round one, and referee Laurence Cole made the fair call to rule a knockdown because Persoon’s glove touched the canvas, though she was not seriously hurt or anything.

The clash of heads opened a nasty cut on Persoon’s eye in the fourth round, and the ringside physician did not allow it to continue. Had the bout gone into round five for even one second, it could have been sent to the scorecards for a technical decision.

“I just know I was gonna really lay it on her, but this is boxing,” Baumgardner said. “I did what I wanted to do, just to be back in the ring is what’s important at this point.”