Leila Beaudoin believes her breakthrough moment has arrived. Fresh off a sixth-round TKO win over Elhem Mekhaled in June, the Quebec native is preparing for the biggest fight of her career: a November 14 showdown with Alycia Baumgardner for the WBA, WBO and IBF junior lightweight titles. The bout serves as the co-feature to Jake Paul’s exhibition against Gervonta Davis at Miami’s Kaseya Center, streamed worldwide on Netflix.
“Timing is very important in life,” said Camille Estephan, president of Eye of the Tiger. “Leila had a beautiful performance, stopping Elhem Mekhaled. Mekhaled had fought Baumgardner and won a few rounds, and everybody took notice.” For Beaudoin, that win shifted perceptions, proving she could fight in a fan-friendly style and silence those who had once dismissed her.
Baumgardner, 16-1 (7 KOs), has already walked the road Beaudoin hopes to follow. The Detroit fighter rebounded from an early loss to become one of women’s boxing’s biggest names, defeating Terri Harper and Mikaela Mayer en route to championship glory. Beaudoin, now 13-1 (2 KOs), is on a four-fight winning streak after a surprising setback in Mexico to Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza. Like Baumgardner, she is determined to turn an early career blemish into the foundation of her rise.
“Everyone doubted me and said I was not an exciting fighter,” Beaudoin recalled after the Mekhaled win. “I was very happy to shut them all up.” Her promoter points to consistent activity and high-level sparring, including sessions with Olympian Caroline Veyre, as keys to her growth.
With Estephan predicting a “war,” Beaudoin enters her first world title fight carrying momentum, belief, and the chance to follow the path of her stablemate Christian Mbilli, who thrilled fans on the Canelo Alvarez–Terence Crawford undercard. “She is capable of beating anyone,” Estephan said. “It will be a massive fight for us. Mbilli stole the show, and we hope Leila does the same.”
Image Credit: EOTTM