Alycia Baumgardner ended her 2022 in the best possible way when she beat Mikaela Mayer in London to add the IBF and WBO women's super featherweight titles to her WBC belt.
With the victory coming by split decision, an immediate rematch seemed likely due to the close nature of the contest, but with Mayer moving up to lightweight for her next fight, Baumgardner is now looking to become the undisputed champion at 130lbs when she takes on Elhem Mekhaled on Saturday night where the vacant WBA title will be at stake.
However, as expected in the build-up, Mayer is a name which has continued to be mentioned around Baumgardner, and when reflecting on their first meeting, it's a moment which the American relishes.
"A great build-up, I loved the animosity we had, I was fighting someone that I had been watching for a long time in the amateurs, and now as a pro I was in a unification with her," Baumgardner said.
"I know I won that fight, you don’t like it? Argue with the judges, they got it right."
Moving onto a potential rematch with Mayer, Baumgardner could not help but express extreme confidence that she would be able to produce the same outcome as the first fight and bring the curtain down on Mayer's career.
"I became World champion and beat ‘the best’ in Mayer and made it easy work," Baumgardner stated.
"If we run it back again, I would really dog her, know that now. Now I know I have you, next time, your career might be finished, because you keep playing with me, and I don’t like that.”