Alycia Baumgardner joins Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions

Alycia Baumgardner, the undisputed junior-lightweight champion, has joined Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), expanding the firm's female boxing roster and marking another step in her return after a 14-month hiatus caused by a temporary doping suspension.

Boasting a 15-1 record (7 KOs), Baumgardner initially captured the WBC belt with a dramatic finish against Terri Harper in Sheffield, England, in November 2021. She claimed the WBO and IBF titles the following year with a close win over Mikaela Mayer in October 2022, and added the vacant WBA title in February 2023 after defeating Elhem Mekhaled.

Now part of MVP’s lineup—which includes unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, Canadian two-time Olympian Tamm Thibeault, and Puerto Rican contender Krystal Rosado—Baumgardner made the first defense of her undisputed crown in July 2023. In that bout, she avenged her lone career loss by outpointing Christina Linardatou in Detroit. However, Matchroom Boxing announced in August that a pre-fight sample tested positive for mesterolone and methenolone acetate metabolites, though two post-fight tests later came back negative.

Baumgardner strongly denied any wrongdoing, insisting on social media, “I never have, never would, and never will take this or any other drug.”

In January 2024, the WBC cleared her of deliberately using banned substances, and the Association of Boxing Commissions lifted her temporary suspension two months later. When she finally returned to the ring in September, she knocked down Delfine Persoon in the opening round, only for the fight to end in a no-contest after an accidental head clash in the fourth round forced Persoon out of the bout.