The Ferreira conqueror receives an immediate marquee assignment after joining Jake Paul’s expanding MVP lightweight roster.
Elif Nur Turhan will make the biggest defense of her IBF lightweight reign when she fights Alycia Baumgardner on November 8 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. Turhan (14-0, 8 KOs) enters her first major assignment since signing with MVP against Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs), with their championship fight contested over 10 three-minute rounds on ESPN.
Turhan has moved quickly since punching her way past Beatriz Ferreira.
The Turkish champion stopped the Brazilian Olympic gold medalist in five rounds last December, taking away Ferreira’s space before forcing the finish. Victories over Taylah Gentzen and Gabriella Tellez followed, strengthening Turhan’s position before MVP brought her into a lightweight roster already loaded with champions.
Now comes a different examination.
Baumgardner has spent years fighting championship opposition and brings sharper counterpunching than Turhan has encountered during her title run. She also climbs from 130 pounds, leaving Turhan with the natural size advantage and an opportunity to make that strength count through pressure and body work.
Turhan expects neither woman to surrender ground easily.
“I do not want to lose, either. As two boxers sharing a ‘win at all costs’ mentality, we guarantee a fierce, relentless battle where everything is left on the line.”
The championship picture surrounding Turhan adds another layer. Caroline Dubois controls the WBC and WBO lightweight belts, while Stephanie Han holds the WBA championship. With Turhan carrying the IBF crown, MVP now works with fighters holding every major belt at 135 pounds.
November 8 therefore gives Turhan a chance to strengthen her hand before any future unification talks develop.
The supporting fights follow a similar championship theme.
Tiara Brown defends her WBC featherweight title against Ellie Scotney, who climbs to 126 pounds seeking a championship in a second division. Skye Nicolson puts her WBC super bantamweight belt against experienced two-division champion Miyo Yoshida, while Ramla Ali fights Mikiah Kreps for unified titles at 122 pounds.
Turhan-Baumgardner should hinge on who establishes punching distance first. Turhan needs to pressure without walking onto Baumgardner’s counters, cut off the ring and attack the body when she gets close. Baumgardner will want space for her feet and quicker hands.
If Turhan can pin her down and force prolonged exchanges, the natural lightweight gets the kind of fight she wants.