Undisputed junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner’s return to the ring ended in a disappointing no-contest following a fourth-round head clash in her fight against Delfine Persoon at Lux Studio in Atlanta.

Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs), of Detroit, was dominant until the accidental collision that occurred before the end of the fourth round and resulted in no official decision being made.

With a new head coach, Ramon Matthews Jr., at her side, the 30-year-old Baumgardner made a strong impression from the start. She kept the 39-year-old Belgian Persoon (49-3, 19 KOs) at bay with her jab in the first round, scoring a knockdown with a left hook that caused Persoon’s glove to hit the canvas.

Baumgardner continued her aggressive pace in the second round, pushing Persoon to the ropes and landing powerful punches, including a right hand punch that visibly staggered her opponent. Despite Persoon’s typical pressure in the third round, Baumgardner’s power and timing limited Persoon’s performance and made it clear that Baumgardner was in control.

In the fourth round, Baumgardner landed more clean right hands, showcasing her superior speed and sharpness. However, the decisive clash of heads came after Baumgardner struck with his right hand and Persoon tried to counter. The resulting cut to Persoon’s face caused the ring doctor to stop the fight, leaving Persoon unable to continue fighting.

The fight was Baumgardner’s first fight after a year’s absence following a positive test for a banned substance in July 2023. Baumgardner denied any wrongdoing and following an investigation, the WBC cleared her of intentional ingestion. The Association of Boxing Commissions lifted Baumgardner’s ban in March 2024 and allowed her to return to the ring.

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of Inside The Ropes of Boxing (available on Amazon). Contact him at X @LukieBoxing.