It’s not a date that many of us would remember for any notable reason, but for Christina Linardatou it was a day of destiny: she captured the WBC’s international super-featherweight title from former champion Alycia Baumgardner.

Much has happened since for both fighters – Linardatou also claimed the junior-welterweight strap, while Baumgardner has embarked on a streak of eight consecutive victories, becoming the undisputed super-featherweight champion.

The pair will meet in a long-awaited rematch on July 16, with plenty riding on it for both pugilists. Baumgardner will be desperate to avenge the only defeat of her career so far, while for Linardatou the chance to become a two-weight world champion would be a remarkable slice of boxing brilliance.  But who will prevail in Detroit?

Unstoppable Force

For those interested in online Betting, there is only one winner of this bout: Baumgardner has been installed as the 1/10 favourite with the bookmakers – an implied probability of winning of some 91%. Linardatou, meanwhile, can be backed at 13/2.

The reason for such bullishness about Baumgardner’s chances is the form she has shown since that defeat to the Greek-Dominican fighter five years ago. The 29-year-old has won three of her next eight bouts by TKO and only once really been challenged – America’s Mikaela Mayer giving her a hard time in a split-decision win back in October 2022.

But most observers felt that Baumgardner comfortably won that contest – a notion supported by the punches landed stats, which reflects her superiority in the 130lb division.

   
Already holding most of the gold, Baumgardner added the WBA strap when she defeated Elhem Mekhaled last time out in February – a victory confirmed by two slick knockdowns of the Frenchwoman in the third round.

The American was simply too quick and too skilful for her opponent – a fate that most have experienced against Baumgardner. But not Linardatou…

An Underdog Story

The 35-year-old will now look to achieve a particularly rare feat in women’s boxing: winning a world title after an absence from the ring of more than three years.

Linardatou had failed a medical back in April for a proposed return bout in the UK against Mayer, but after securing international clearance to fight in July she will now take on Baumgardner in what will be a significant test of her ability – much has changed since their last meeting in 2018.

The fighter nicknamed Medusa will be stepping down to the 130lb mark for the first time in five years, with much of her success in the ring coming at the 140lb limit – as many fighters have found in the past, stepping down in weight is typically much harder than going up a division or two.

Only a fool would write off Linardatou given her glittering career, but a lack of activity in recent years – allied to the ascendance of Baumgardner as the best super-featherweight on the planet – suggests that lovers of true underdog stories may have to look elsewhere for their happy Hollywood ending.