Hyun Mi Choi Defends Her WBA Jr Lightweight Title

On Wednesday night in Seoul, South Korea, WBA women’s 130 lb. titleholder Hyun Mi Choi successfully defended her title for the 10th straight time by scoring a 10 round decision win over Canadian Vanessa Bradford. And, in doing so, Choi has now positioned herself for a possible undisputed title shot with new three belt champ, Alycia Baumgardner of the USA.

First, Choi got the win by unanimous decision in her first defense since last September,

Hyun Mi Choi beats Vanessa Bradford by UD in Seoul. Congratulations!#AndStill WBA Super Featherweight Champion @HyunMiChoi7 #Boxing #Boxeo #WBA #WBABoxing #ChoiBradford pic.twitter.com/Zs2xFoXCsp

— WBA Boxing (@WBABoxing) October 19, 2022

Choi, who will turn 32 in three weeks, was the busier, more effective puncher throughout the bout and that included scoring with body punches throughout the fight.

The 38 year old Bradford was facing her toughest challenge of her career Wednesday in terms of opponent and being in her setting at Olympic Park Gymnasium.  She took punches throughout the bout and was actually scoring late in the fight with right hands, but it was not enough to get the win.

Choi improves to 20-0-1 and has held the WBA version of the title since 2014, although she’s only had four title defenses in the lasts 51 months. Interestingly, Bradford had already lost Baumgardner and former unified jr. ligthweight champ Mikaela Mayer both by decision earlier in her career.

As for the possible undisputed battle with Baumgardner for Choi, the American just upset Mayer on a split decision Saturday night in London, England to capture the WBO, IBF and WBC titles.

The Ohio born Baumgardner had a vocal rivalry with Mayer in the build up to their unification bout and in the ring after the decision was read said she said to the Sky Sports broadcast that she has no interest in giving Mayer an immediate rematch.

“No, that girl (Mayer) ‘aint getting no rematch. I’m going after Choi. Undisputed- that’s what I claim. I’m just thankful, again,” the brash Baumgardner said.

As for that possibility, Choi has actually defended her title in the U.S. and recently. That came in December 2020 defense against Colombian Calista Silgado at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL. Choi won by easy decision that night, as well.

Still, the much more marketable/lucrative fight for Baumgardner in the short term and in the U.S., etc. is to let things settle down and give Mayer the immediate rematch.

Now, we’ll wait to see which of those would happen next.