Korean Champion Choi Retains WBA 130 Female World Belt; Will Undisputed Battle vs Alycia Baumgardner be Next?

By Carlos Costa

In a hard-fought, close, entertaining women’s combat, Korean Hyun Mi Choi retained for a 10th time her WBA Super Featherweight World Title with a win by points over tough-as-nails Canadian warrior Vanessa Bradford at the Olympic Park Gym in Seoul, Korea.

Fans saw Choi narrowly edging the brave Bradford in a gallant, brave effort from the Canadian.

The hard-battled clash, watched live on tvN, Instagram and other social media platforms witnessed Bradford’s commendable effort with the champ Choi a step ahead her.

Choi managed to defuse a final stand by the energized Bradford during the battle’s closing instances, the two fighting women embracing in beautiful sportsmanship after their vibrant duel.

It was a rumble in which the challenger from Edmonton, Canada had some rounds of success during the 10-chapter saga.

Bradford’s best weapon was her right hand over the top of Choi’s guard, impacting on Choi with several of those blows, especially during the second part of the encounter.

Bradford did not lessen her spirit while battling the younger, more experienced Korean, claiming some rounds, however not enough of them to dethrone Hyun Mi Choi, who is hailed by fans as one of the world’s top-3 fighters in the hot super featherweight division.

Not surprisingly, the Filipino and the Korean judges rightly scored 6 rounds to 4 in favor of the Korean champion, reasonably very good numbers in sync with reality.

What Next?

Hyun Mi Choi, 32, the storied North Korean defector who found home and fame in the South, could land a battle against cute American world titlist Alycia Baumgardner for the undisputed Super Featherweight World Title next.

That is a clash that fans would absolutely love to watch. Will it happen?

“For me, I want Choi next,” said Alycia Baumgardner (13-1, 7 KO’s), some days ago after her win over Mikaela Mayers (17-1. 5 KO’s) in England.

“This is what I planned on, (to unify with Choi),” added Baumgardner. This is what we talked about and this is what I plan to do.”

So, Choi is clearly Baumgardner’s target. Awesome.

Will Baumgardner vs Choi happen next?

The wining woman would become undisputed super feather world champion.

However, for Baumgardner, wouldn’t be more financially rewarding the Mayer rematch? What would her promoters Kings Boxing and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing will really want?

Baumgarder vs Choi for undisputed titles… Or Baumgardner vs Mayers 2?

Both are exciting fights for fans, surely the two hottest possible matches at 130 for 2023; and which one would you like best?

The author, veteran boxing writer Carlos Costa, can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and whatsapp +639184538152