A Baumgardner win would set the table for a unification clash against bitter rival Caroline Dubois. A bout of that magnitude between two fighters who have bad blood would make it difficult for anyone not to look ahead into the not-too-distant future.

Despite that, Turhan doesn’t believe Baumgardner is looking past her when they clash on Sunday. Baumgardner will face Turhan for her IBF lightweight title in the main event of MVPW-07 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on ESPN.

“I don't think she's taking me lightly,” Turhan said. “If she was taking me lightly, she wouldn't be stepping up, and she wouldn't be ready to fight me.”

The bout will be contested at 10 three-minute rounds. Baumgardner has fought three-minute rounds in her last two bouts, while Turhan will be doing so for the first time.

Turhan (14-0, 8 KOs), The Ring’s No. 1-rated lightweight contender for Dubois’ title, has gone the distance in her two successful title defenses: a split decision over Taylah Gentzen on January 31, and a unanimous decision against Gabriela Tellez on June 13. The 31-year-old from Istanbul, Turkey, had won four straight fights inside the distance beforehand, including a fifth-round stoppage of Beatriz Ferreira to become the IBF champion 11 months ago.

Baumgardner (18-1, 7 KOs), The Ring’s No. 10-ranked fighter pound-for-pound, is moving up from 130 pounds, where she was previously the undisputed champion. The Fremont, Ohio, native vacated her WBC title in September 2025 due to the sanctioning body not allowing her or other women to fight three-minute rounds.

Baumgardner, 32, is coming off a unanimous decision against Bo Mi Re Shin at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on April 17.

“You have to be a warrior to be in this division,” Turhan said. “I'm a warrior. It's all about who prepares the best, and whoever prepares the best will come out victorious.”