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“Hit Like a Girl, Fight Like a Champion”, is how the fight between Delfine Persoon (39) and Alycia Baumgardner (30) was announced everywhere. The match between the two women should decide all the important boxing titles among the super lightweights. But after just four rounds it was over: our compatriot suffered a cut above her right eye after a collision with the American and the doctor no longer allowed her to box. The match ended in a draw and the American retained her titles.
After more than two years the time had finally come. Delfine Persoon was finally allowed to compete against the American Alycia Baumgardner in Atlanta. In the ring they would decide who would win all the important lightweight boxing titles. It was certainly not going to be easy, because the American lost only one of her sixteen professional camps. Her nickname is not without reason The Bomb.
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In the first round, Persoon had to drop to her knees. Three more rounds later it was already over. But not because she was lost. After an unpleasant collision between the two ladies, the camp had to be stopped: our compatriot had suffered a deep wound on her right eyebrow. The doctor thought the injury was too serious to continue fighting, so it ended in a ‘no contest’. This means that due to exceptional circumstances no winner or loser will be declared.
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End of career?
For example, Baumgardner – who celebrated her return after more than a year of absence due to doping issues – retains her titles among the super lightweights. For Persoon it was perhaps her very last duel in the ring. It was written in advance that the fight for the world title could well be the end for our compatriot, who will turn 40 in January.
Winning this world title should have been the pinnacle in Delfine Persoon’s career. She held the WBC lightweight title (between 58.967 and 61.237 kg) for five years, but she lost it on June 1, 2019 to Ireland’s Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in New York. Ultimately, she had to wait more than five years for another chance at a world title.
In addition to Persoon, Amy Naert (10 wins, 2 defeats) also entered the ring in Fayetteville. The 36-year-old West Flemish woman returned after a shoulder injury and took on the 37-year-old American Rosalinda Rodriguez among the super flyweights. Our compatriot lost this WBC match on points: 97-93, 99-91 and 93-97.
