Baumgardner Retains Titles With Decision Over Shin

Alycia Baumgardner keeps IBF, WBA and WBO junior lightweight belts after competitive bout with Bo Mi Re Shin at Madison Square Garden.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:43pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the intense action of a boxing match, with the fighters' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and movement.Baumgardner's hard-fought victory over Shin showcases the fractured, high-intensity action of their competitive junior lightweight title bout.NYC Today

Alycia Baumgardner retained her IBF, WBA and WBO junior lightweight titles with a unanimous decision victory over challenger Bo Mi Re Shin at Madison Square Garden. The fight was competitive, with Shin giving Baumgardner some tense moments, but the champion ultimately prevailed by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92 to move her record to 18-1 (7 KOs).

Why it matters

Baumgardner's victory keeps her in control of the junior lightweight division's major titles, setting her up for potential high-profile matchups against stars like Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano that could elevate her profile in the sport.

The details

Baumgardner looked sharp early, using her jab and straight right hands to control the pace. But Shin kept pressing forward and landed a hard right hand in the third round that shook the champion. Shin had other good spells, forcing Baumgardner to grab and slow things down at times. However, when Baumgardner boxed at range and worked behind the jab, Shin struggled to land cleanly. Late in the fight, Baumgardner relied more on movement and timing to close the door over the final rounds.

  • The fight took place on April 18, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The players

Alycia Baumgardner

The defending IBF, WBA and WBO junior lightweight champion with an 18-1 (7 KOs) professional record.

Bo Mi Re Shin

The South Korean challenger with a 19-4-3 (10 KOs) record, who gave Baumgardner a tough fight but ultimately came up short on the scorecards.

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What they’re saying

“Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, what's up?”

— Alycia Baumgardner

What’s next

Baumgardner's post-fight comments indicate she is eyeing high-profile matchups against stars like Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, which could be her next moves as she looks to further elevate her profile in the sport.

The takeaway

Baumgardner's victory keeps her in control of the junior lightweight division's major titles, but the competitive nature of her fight with Shin shows she will need to continue improving to fend off the division's other top contenders as she pursues bigger fights.