Alycia Baumgardner Moves Up to Challenge IBF Champion Elif Nur Turhan

Alycia Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs) faces Elif Nur Turhan (14-0, 8 KOs) for the IBF lightweight title this Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

Alycia Baumgardner moves up to the 135-pound division to challenge IBF lightweight champion Elif Nur Turhan in a 10-round title fight this Sunday at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The main card begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, following prelims on ESPN+ at 5 p.m. ET. This bout marks the first time Baumgardner has competed at lightweight since August 2021, when she weighed 132¾ pounds against Vanessa Bradford.

Baumgardner enters the ring with an 18-1 record including 7 KOs, holding the WBO, IBF, and WBA junior lightweight titles. She has gone 12-0 with one no-contest since her last defeat in July 2018. Turhan, who is 14-0 with 8 KOs, won her IBF belt via a fifth-round TKO of Beatriz Ferreira in December 2025. The champion defended her title earlier in 2026 with decision victories over Taylah Gentzen and Gabriela Tellez.

A significant tactical shift for this matchup is the use of three-minute rounds. While this is Baumgardner’s third career fight with three-minute rounds, it will be the first for Turhan. Analysts Chantelle Cameron and Soledad Matthysse note that Turhan’s looping right hand and aggressive pressure will test Baumgardner’s footwork and ability to fight at a distance. Matthysse, who has faced both fighters, observed that Baumgardner previously backed up after being caught by power shots in their encounter.