Baumgardner vs Linardatou Odds: Revenge or Redemption?
Baumgardner Heavily Favored to Even Score Against Linardatou
Boxing Odds Very Wide Despite Previous Result
Alycia Baumgardner can kill two birds with one stone this Saturday. She can defend all four of her belts and exact revenge against the only boxer to defeat her: Christina Linardatou. The Baumgardner vs Linardatou odds heavily expect her to do it as a -1000 favorite. The comeback on Linardatou is +600. Baumgardner is a much better boxer now than in their first bout. But are the odds justified?
Baumgardner vs Linardatou Info
Boxers: Alycia Baumgardner (C) (14-1-0, 7 KOs) vs Christina Linardatou (14-2-0, 6 KOs)
Day/Time:
Location: Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI
Broadcast: DAZN
What’s Changed Since Baumgardner and Linardatou First Fought?
It’s been five years since Baumgardner and Linardatou last fought. The former won the fight via a split decision, thus ending Baumgardner’s reign as an unbeaten boxer. For the now-undisputed super featherweight champion, facing Linardatou then was a big step up in competition.
It was Baumgardner’s seventh pro match and Linardatou’s 10th. For Baumgardner, she’s only fought other new boxers and Kirstie Simmons who was a 8-3 journeywoman. The Dominican brought the fight to Baumgardner by constantly attacking her. Baumgardner was unused to dealing with this work rate and tired out.
But as the new Baumgardner vs Linardatou odds indicate, there should be no gassing out for the champion. She’s improved in most assets of her game. While she still possesses that one-punch knockout power that led to her stardom, Baumgardner is also a more tactical boxer now.
She can beat up her opponents as she did to Harper and Edith Matthysse. Or she can outbox them as she did to Mikaela Mayer to become the undisputed champion. Whatever the boxing results are, Baumgardner’s multi-faceted approach to the game cements her as a champion and as a favorite.
“I’ve worked a long time to get here. To get this undisputed, to avenge this loss,” Baumgardner said on Matchroom Boxing’s In Camp With… YouTube series. “Hard work pays off, I’m gonna say that. It’s something I’m looking forward to.”
As for Linardatou, she went on to win the WBO Super Lightweight title and only dropped it to Katie Taylor. She acquitted herself well as she won a few rounds and even left a black eye on the former top-ranked boxer in the world.
Rematches Can Be Whole New Fights
Even if Linardatou has that confidence that she beat Baumgardner before, she may as well be fighting a new opponent. Every boxing match is different even if it’s the same two opponents. Muhammad Ali avenged his loss to Joe Frazier three years after their first bout. In the same light, Manny Pacquiao knocked out Erik Morales after losing to him a few months back.
In this sense, five years is a long time for a boxer. Baumgardner went from a fledgling boxer with no notable wins to one who holds all the main belts in the division. The Baumgardner vs Linardatou odds are this wide for a reason as Baumgardner has both the skills and the popularity to become a hot ticket online.
Linardatou can look to try and beat Baumgardner like she did before. She’ll need to close the gap and tie up Baumgardner when she starts to build momentum. The champion should have both a speed and power advantage and is fighting in her home city.
Linardatou will have to be the aggressor even if she’s not doing as much damage as Baumgardner. Going by the odds, this bout is expected to go past 8.5 rounds (-800) so a decision is likely. The challenger will be on the wrong end of a close fight unless she can start and finish strong.
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