Christina Linardatou is out to prove that her 2018 victory over Alycia Baumgardner wasn't a fluke.
The women meet Saturday in Baumgardner's hometown of Detroit with the Michigan fighter's undisputed super featherweight title on the line, and the fight wil be broadcast live on DAZN. Baumgardner has dominated the division since her professional debut in 2017, with just a single loss on her otherwise spotless record.
That defeat came at the hands of Linardatou, with the Greek fighter earning a split decision victory when the pair met in July 2018. And while Baumgardner has since gone on to collect all the world title belts on offer in the division, Linardatou has been watching her opponent's progress and feels she can once again get her arm raised after going toe-to-toe with the undisputed champion.
"It’s such a great opportunity for me, it’s something any boxer dreams of - the biggest thing a boxer can achieve," Linardatou said on Thursday. "She’s already done it, but I have beaten her once and I will do it again."
Baumgardner insists that the loss to Linardatou in 2018 was an experience she needed to grow as a fighter and that she'll pose a much tougher challenge this time around, but Linardatou still expects some aspects of their previous meeting to remain the same and says she's ready for anything Baumgardner can throw at her on Saturday.
"She is very strong, I remember she was always hugging in the last round, she worked in the early rounds but then hugging - I was always hunting, never hugging, like I do in every fight," Lindatou said.
"I am not afraid of the power, I’m used to it, I spar with men, and I have been preparing for it, and I have a great defense too."