Alycia Baumgardner's star power is in accelerated ascension toward superstar orbit

NEW YORK — Alycia Baumgardner walked onto the Palladium Times Square stage Wednesday rocking what looked to be a custom-cut, high-fashion blue coat with exaggerated shoulders, her eyes wrapped in black shades, smile radiating.

Right then and there, ‘The Bomb’ went to work, waving to the media and fans in attendance for the Most Valuable Promotions’ press conference of her headlining fight, before breaking into a flurry of shadow boxing, and blowing a kiss to her supporters.

And she was just getting started. When press conference host and moderator Ariel Helwani asked Baumgardner about her inspiration for the outfit, the 31-year-old Dallas, Texas resident — by the way of Fremont, Ohio — was equally eclectic in response.

“I am just in my element, coming from the solar system,” Baumgardner said, “and baby, I’m ready to put on a show.”

Seconds later, before the presser officially kicked off, Baumgardner had one more item to take care of, announcing she had a “special traditional gift” to present her South Korean opponent, Bo Re Mi Shin. With that, Baumgardner walked across the stage and handed Shin a pink drawstring pouch. In it, contained a Korean flag, which Baumgardner explained is important to her culture, considering her mother is part Korean.

When the conference did get underway, ‘The Bomb’ kept the fire lit, acknowledging Shin “is a warrior,” but that “I’m hungrier, and I’m meaner, and I’m just sharper.”

In those brief moments, Baumgardner displayed all the intangibles of star power on the brink of entering orbit into superstardom.

• Magnetic vibes – check.
• Cool confidence – check.
• Style points – check.
• A palpable energy – double check.
• Above all, a galore of sweet science skills – triple check to match her three world titles.

Watching Baumgardner command the stage Wednesday was like watching a star on the precipice of household-name glory.

Last summer, ‘The Bomb’ served as chief support to the Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano trilogy at Madison Square Garden. Tonight, the unified super featherweight world champion is on the marquee as the A-side headliner across from Shin inside the Infosys Theater at MSG.

(Most Valuable Promotions/Michelle Farsi)

A dazzling win and Baumgardner will put herself in better position to possibly land a mega showdown with the Irish legend, Taylor, the unified super lightweight world champion.

When the names of Taylor, Amanda Serrano, and Mikaela Mayer were broached, Baumgardner offered: “Those are all great fights. Let’s get them all.”

And barring an unforeseen upset tonight, there’s a magnetic feeling that some of these bouts could happen soon, beginning with Taylor.

A clash with Serrano, the unified featherweight champ, is certainly possible as well. Serrano, who walked into the press conference toward the end and took a seat in the front row, is also signed to Jake Paul’s MVP. That would seemingly make any negotiations easier.

“Eventually it can be,” Serrano told DAZN News exclusively on Wednesday about a potential super fight with Baumgardner. “I'm at the stage where I'm established already, but I think it can eventually be."

Mayer, the unified super welterweight world champion, has history with Baumgardner via a contemptuous buildup culminating in ‘The Bomb’ outpointing her rival by split decision in October 2022.

Baumgardner also used this fight week to relegate WBC lightweight titleholder Caroline Dubois as not quite ready to see her in the ring just yet. That’s despite Baumgardner and Dubois having words.

“I am aligned with the biggest fights possible,” Baumgardner told the media, “and that fight will happen when it happens.”

By then, Baumgardner’s accelerated ascension might be in full motion.

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