Alycia Baumgardner has always embraced a fighting spirit. Growing up in a family of fighters, she didn’t just learn to —she embodied it. Her journey to becoming the undisputed female super featherweight champion began long before she ever laced up her gloves.
In fact, the boxing champion was just four years old when she first wrestled, then eight when her dad asked a question that would define her future: “Do you want to box?” Her answer was simple and sure: “Yeah, I’ll box.” Looking back, she recalls the innocence of that decision, noting, “I didn’t even really know what I was getting myself into, but it just felt right.” Living in Fremont, Ohio, Baumgardner’s introduction to boxing didn’t come through watching legends or studying tapes.
Instead, her skills were shaped by family influences and by a lineup of trainers who saw her potential and helped hone her craft. “I didn’t grow up watching boxing too much,” she shared. “With the athleticism I had and the teachers along the way, I was able to really shape my style.
” Her fighting is versatile—she can brawl, she can move, and she can outwit her opponents with technical finesse. But what really drove her forward was the belief that “one day, they’re going to have to respect it.” That respect came in droves as the popular athlete quickly climbed the ranks, capturing titles in the WBC, IBO, WBO, IBF, and The Ring by 2022.
Her style, technical and relentless, made her a feared opponent. B.
