By the end of this weekend, boxing fans will know with certainty who is the best female super featherweight boxer in the world. Some will already say that it is Alycia Baumgardner, however now ‘the Bomb’ has an opportunity to put that beyond a doubt.
This Saturday night in New York, Baumgardner will put all four of her own super featherweight belts on the on the line, plus have an opportunity to claim the vacant WBA Super Featherweight belt. The only thing standing in her way is France’s Elhem Mekhaled. Can Mekhaled spoil Baumgardner’s party? Bookmaker William Hill helps answer this question as we look at how this fight is likely to pan out and offer up the best bets to make ahead of the first bell this weekend.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 4th, 11:15 A.M. (GMT)
Looking at the odds from bookmaker William Hill, Baumgardner is the clear favourite to win this match—her outright odds are as low as 1.10, compared to Mekhaled’s 7.00. The American has been virtually untouchable the past five years, rolling through seven straight wins since she had her first taste of defeat in 2018. As the incumbent holder of four of the five belts that are being contested on Saturday night, the expectation is that she will not only defend her current belts but walk away the undisputed super featherweight champion.
France’s Elhem Mekhaled has also been boxing as a professional since 2017 and has developed a record of 15-1-0 in that time. She tends to take matches deep and win on points, with only three knockouts across her career so far. The 31-year-old had been undefeated until recently, with the only loss of her career coming mid-way through 2022 in her latest fight against Delfine Persoon.
Looking at the best bets to make on this fight, an interesting trend is that three of Baumgardner’s past four wins have gone down to the judges. While she does have a 50% knockout rate across her career wins, this has been less and less common. Combine this with Mekhaled’s propensity to take fights the distance as well, and we say the conservative bet here is to wager that Baumgardner will win this on points, which she should do comfortably.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 4th, 11:15 A.M. (GMT)
Those after a higher return should gamble that Baumgardner will come out swinging and rise to the occasion by executing a knockout here. While the sight of Baumgardner on her feet with an opponent on the canvas is becoming more and more rare, the reality is the American still has knockout power in her punches—just ask Terri Harper in 2021.
It’s less likely than a decision, but there’s still every chance that Baumgardner will be after an emphatic win here and will win by knockout.
