Alycia Baumgardner continues to ride through a hail storm after reports the undisputed champion failed a drug test before her latest victory.
The opponent on the wrong end of that loss, Christina Linardatou – who beat Baumgardner the first time they met in 2018, is not holding back.
Linardatou fired in response to the claims against Baumgarnder, which the four-belt super featherweight ruler denies.
The Dominican-born Greek boxer believes Baumgardner was considerably more powerful than she was five years ago. She also posted a side-by-side image of Baumgardner looking much bigger this time than last.
She said: “After the fight with Alycia Baumgardner, my trainer asked me the difference between the first and the second fight. I told him that the only difference was that, this time, she was stronger. Now I understand why!”
Alycia Baumgardner faces cheating accusations
Baumgardner clapped back at Linardatou, stating: “Strength was never my issue. You felt that in ’18 and said so yourself.
“So, the only thing that got stronger was my will to win and my understanding that you were never on my level.”
Responding to a separate claim that she asked for a B sample to be opened on the test taken by Drug-Free Sport, Baumgardner added: “Here’s an actual factual headline.
“Alycia Baumgardner has made no requests and is still in the process of investigating all of the very complex conditions and details surrounding how her sample collection and testing was performed. She’s determining what steps should be taken next.”
After the fight with @alyciambaum her trainer asked me the deference between the first and the second fight,I told him that the only difference was that this time she was stronger, now i understand why!!! 😡💉💉 pic.twitter.com/444dMog8S8
— Christina Linardatou (@MambaChristina) August 19, 2023
Christina Linardatou wants answers
Concluding their back and forth, Linardatou is adamant her rival had done something untoward with her next accusation.
“You have a lot of nerve. I beat you in ’18, and I was probably going to do it again. But you had the extra boost!
“Fighting in your hometown with two referees from Detroit and one from Miami wasn’t enough! – I’m waiting for you to prove [you are] innocent, which I don’t think is possible.”
No words needed!!! 💣 pic.twitter.com/eAuiSul8PW
— Christina Linardatou (@MambaChristina) August 18, 2023
In another hammer blow, Linadartou added: “It doesn’t bother me to lose. I work on my mistakes to make myself better, but I won’t forgive going through hell after giving birth to fight to a high level and face a cheater!
“Let’s wait to find the truth!”
Promoter Lou DiBella plans to appeal the defeat with the authorities residing over the fight. The Hall of Famer wants the result overturned or reduced to a no-contest.
At present, Baumgardner is still in the process of attempting to find out what happened with the testing procedure.
She became the third Matchroom Fighter in a year to test positive for a banned substance following Conor Benn and Dillian Whyte.
Phil Jay is an experienced boxing news writer.
