Alycia Baumgardner has identified her next two targets, and she says the groundwork for both fights is already being laid.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show ahead of her MVPW-02 title defense against Bo Mi Re Shin on Friday, the unified super featherweight champion revealed she has spoken directly with Katie Taylor about a potential matchup and described the conversation as mutually respectful and promising.
“I was able to talk to Katie personally. I had a great conversation with her recently, woman to woman,” Baumgardner said. “I said, ‘Listen, I respect what you do. I love what you have done. I would love to share the ring with you.’ And she agreed. She respects my level of skills. She respects who I am as an individual. And we know what the sport needs. She’s a gamer. She’s game on.”
Baumgardner is equally direct about wanting Amanda Serrano, and she already has a venue in mind for that fight.
“I love that fight. I’ve been very vocal with Jordan Maldonado. I’ve been vocal with Amanda. Would love to share the ring with her. The money has to be there, obviously. And that’s a fight we could see in New York City at the Garden. We have the fan base for that.”
She framed both names as the only ones that matter when discussing women’s boxing at the highest level right now. “When we talk about a super fight, we talk about the biggest stage. We were on Netflix twice last year. Now we’re headlining on ESPN. There’s only two names that have that pedigree of being on a stage like that. Those are the two fights, a super fight that I want.”
For now, the focus is on Shin. Baumgardner defends her WBA, IBF, and WBO titles at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden on Friday, headlining MVPW’s first show on ESPN. She views the performance as a statement that will accelerate conversations about those bigger matchups.
“The performance Friday night will elevate that. We’ll set the standard. Then, who do we want to see Alycia Baumgardner against? It’s got to be one of those two.”
MVPW-02 airs live on ESPN at 10 PM ET on Friday, April 17.
Alycia Baumgardner does not believe Claressa Shields is the best women’s boxer in the world. The unified super featherweight champion made that position clear on The Ariel Helwani Show ahead of her MVPW-02 title defense on Friday, going further by naming Michaela Mayer as someone she believes would beat Shields outright.
“My opinion is Michaela Mayer would beat Clarissa Shields,” Baumgardner said. “I think skills matter. The skill set, the grit, the experience. Michaela Mayer and I fought in London, amazing fight. We sold that show. Nobody was tuning in for Clarissa Shields and Savannah Marshall. It was Alicia Baumgardner and Michaela Mayer that sold that show at the O2 Arena.”
Baumgardner drew a distinction between Shields’ accomplishments and her actual ability, making clear she respects the resume without accepting the conclusion that it makes Shields the best.
“Clarissa thinks she’s the best in the world. She truly believes that. I don’t think she is,” Baumgardner said. “I think she’s the most accomplished, but I don’t think she’s the best. I believe that Michaela Mayer has the skills to beat Clarissa Shields due to her experience in boxing, her loss, and her character build.”
She also questioned Shields’ conditioning and commitment to making weight for bigger fights, issuing a direct challenge to her preparation habits.
“How dedicated are you? Get a nutritionist,” Baumgardner said. “I’ve never seen that girl come to weigh-ins with abs at all, and I don’t know if that’s AI, so you can’t tell me. I’ve never seen her come to weigh-ins in tip-top shape. If you want those big fights, come down to the weight class and get a nutritionist. It’s not hard. Fighters do it all the time.”
When the conversation turned to pound-for-pound rankings, Baumgardner dismissed the concept entirely, saying external validation plays no role in how she measures herself.
“These are people who come together at the kitchen table to make a list. I do not care about that list,” she said. “I don’t move off other people’s validation for me, their expectations for me. I know what I do on a daily basis. Baby, I make my own list. I’m pound-for-pound 1 through 10.”
Baumgardner defends her WBA, IBF, and WBO super featherweight titles against Bo Mi Re Shin at MVPW-02 on Friday, live on ESPN at 10 PM ET.
MVPW-02 takes place Friday, April 17, 2026, at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, airing live on ESPN starting at 10 PM ET.
Most Valuable Promotions brings its women’s boxing platform to the U.S. for the first time with a historic all-women’s main card. Unified super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner defends her WBA, IBF, and WBO titles against South Korea’s Bo Mi Re Shin in the main event. Here’s everything you need to know.
Key Points
Main Event: Alycia Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KOs) defends her unified WBA/IBF/WBO super featherweight titles against Bo Mi Re Shin (19-3-3, 10 KOs) in a 10-round, three-minute rounds contest
Co-Main Event: Shadasia Green (16-1, 11 KOs) puts her Ring, WBO, and IBF super middleweight titles on the line against Lani Daniels (11-4-2, 1 KO)
How to Watch: Main card on ESPN and ESPN App at 10 PM ET. Prelims stream on ESPN+ at 6:45 PM ET
First All-Women’s Main Card on ESPN
MVPW-02 marks a milestone for women’s boxing: the first all-women’s main card in ESPN history. The format flips the traditional script, with male fighters on the undercard supporting female headliners. MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian have positioned the promotion as the global home for women’s boxing through a multi-year ESPN deal running through 2028.
The card follows MVPW-01, which aired April 5 from London featuring Caroline Dubois vs. Terri Harper. MVPW-03 is already set for May 30 in El Paso with Stephanie Han vs. Holly Holm 2.
Full Fight Card
Fight
Weight Class/Stakes
Alycia Baumgardner (c) vs. Bo Mi Re Shin
WBA/IBF/WBO Super Featherweight Titles (10 rounds)
Shadasia Green (c) vs. Lani Daniels
Ring/WBO/IBF Super Middleweight Titles
Tammara Thibeault vs. Nadja Jesus Santos
Middleweight (10 rounds)
Krystal Rosado vs. Fernanda Reyes
Bantamweight (8 rounds)
Jahmal Harvey vs. Leandro Medina
Lightweight
Javon Walton vs. Dionne Ruvalcaba
Lightweight (4 rounds)
Elon De Jesus vs. Connor Adaway
Super Bantamweight (8 rounds)
Alex Vargas vs. Ryan O’Rourke
Super Lightweight (8 rounds)
Main Event: Baumgardner vs. Shin
Alycia Baumgardner enters with three belts but not the fourth. The 31-year-old from Fremont, Ohio vacated her WBC title in September 2025 over her insistence on fighting three-minute rounds rather than the two-minute rounds the WBC mandates for women. That decision defines this fight: 10 rounds at three minutes each, the standard Baumgardner has championed.
Baumgardner has won her last five fights, including a unanimous decision over Jennifer Miranda at Taylor vs. Serrano 3 in July and a 12-round UD over Leila Beaudoin in December on the Joshua-Paul undercard. Her lone career loss came in 2018 to Christina Linardatou by split decision.
Bo Mi Re Shin brings experience and durability. The 32-year-old from Seoul owns the WBO Asia Pacific and WBC International super featherweight titles. Her three losses all came against elite opposition: a split decision to Delfine Persoon in 2023 and a majority decision to WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois in March 2025, where one judge scored it 95-95. She bounced back in November with a majority decision over Tywarna Campbell.
The winner positions herself for massive fights. Baumgardner has publicly stated she wants Amanda Serrano or Katie Taylor next.
Co-Main Event: Green vs. Daniels
Shadasia Green unified the WBO and IBF super middleweight titles with a split decision over Savannah Marshall at Madison Square Garden in July 2025. Marshall had been on the shelf for two years before that fight, and Green’s victory earned her “Athlete of the Year” honors in her hometown of Paterson, New Jersey.
The 36-year-old’s only loss came to Franchon Crews-Dezurn in December 2023 for the WBC and interim WBA titles. Since then, she’s won three straight, adding world titles along the way. Green has openly called for a showdown with undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields.
Lani Daniels provides a direct comparison point. The New Zealand native lost a wide decision to Shields in 2025, giving Green a chance to measure herself against the same opponent. Daniels at 11-4-2 has been in with top competition throughout her career.
Undercard Watch: Thibeault vs. Santos
The featured undercard bout pits unbeaten Canadian prospect Tammara Thibeault (4-0, 3 KOs) against Brazil’s Nadja Jesus Santos (5-0, 3 KOs) at middleweight. Thibeault, 29, stopped Cristina Mazzotta in the first round last September. Santos, 43, knocked out Daniele Bastieri in three rounds in December. Both women are undefeated, making this a meaningful step up for whoever wins.
How to Watch MVPW-02
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Venue: Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City
Main Card: 10 PM ET on ESPN and ESPN App
Prelims: 6:45 PM ET on ESPN+
UK Broadcast: Sky Sports+
Fight week events include a press conference Wednesday, April 15 at 5 PM ET at Palladium Times Square and public weigh-ins Thursday, April 16 at 5 PM ET at Infosys Theater. Both events are free and open to the public.
Follow BoxingWire for live results, round-by-round coverage, and post-fight analysis from MVPW-02.
Most Valuable Promotions has revealed the complete fight card for MVPW02, the inaugural U.S. event under Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s new all-women’s boxing platform. The card goes down Friday, April 17 at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, live on ESPN and the ESPN App.
MVPW02 Full Fight Card
Main Card
Alycia Baumgardner (c) vs. Bo Mi Re Shin – Unified WBA/WBO/IBF Super Featherweight Titles
Shadasia Green (c) vs. Lani Daniels – Unified Super Middleweight Titles
Tamm Thibeault vs. Nadja Jesus
Krystal Rosado vs. Fernanda Reyes
Undercard
Jahmal Harvey vs. Leandro Medina
Elon De Jesus vs. Connor Adaway
Wanna Walton vs. Dionne Ruvalcaba
Nat Dove vs. Maria Micheo
Raquel Miller vs. Adriana Araújo
Alex Vargas vs. Ryan O’Rourke
MVPW02 Preview
Headlining is unified super featherweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (17-1, 7 KOs) putting her WBA, WBO, and IBF titles on the line against South Korea’s Bo Mi Re Shin (19-3-3, 10 KOs) in a 10-round contest fought under men’s standard three-minute rounds.
Shin comes in fresh off a narrow majority decision loss to WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois in March 2025, making her one of the more dangerous challengers in the junior lightweight division.
“New York sets the tone for boxing’s biggest nights,” Baumgardner said. “I’m here to dominate and continue building something that lasts beyond belts. ESPN is where greatness is documented, and I’m ready to perform at that level.”
In the co-main event, unified super middleweight champion Shadasia “The Sweet Terminator” Green (16-1, 11 KOs) makes a title defense against former light heavyweight champion Lani Daniels (11-4-2, 1 KO) in a 10-round bout at 168 lbs.
MVPW02 serves as the U.S. linear debut for the newly launched MVPW platform, which secured a multi-year broadcast deal with ESPN through 2028. The event also marks the first boxing on ESPN since the network’s long-running partnership with Top Rank expired in July 2025. MVP has additionally locked in a three-year relationship with Madison Square Garden Entertainment to stage annual MVPW events at the iconic venue.
Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster and here at Boxing Wire Tickets.
🚨FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS🚨#MVPW02 is officially LOADED from top to bottom — headlined by Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner vs. Bo Mi Re Shin from the Infosys Theater at MSG in New York City on LIVE on ESPN 📺
