Mikaela Mayer still isn’t over her disputed setback against Alycia Baumgardner in February but she’s moving forward.
Mayer (17-1, 5 KOs) lost a split decision to Baumgardner in a 130-pound title-unification showdown, a bitter setback that put a halt to her momentum. And when it became clear that she wouldn’t get a rematch, she made an overdue move to 135.
The 2016 Olympian from the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles faces late replacement Lucy Wildheart on the Joe Joyce-Zhilei Zhang card Saturday at Copper Box Arena in London (ESPN+).
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“It was tough coming off that loss,” Mayer said of the Baumgardner fight, which also took place in London. “I came out thinking we won. We didn’t get it after all the work we put in. We put in so much to get to that level.
“I had to go through all the emotions and then I had to put them aside.”
Mayer had fought at 130 pounds her entire career, which started in 2017.
She was having trouble making the weight. So when Baumgardner said she wouldn’t give Mayer a rematch, as disappointing as it was, there was a silver lining: The 32-year-old is more comfortable at 135.
Her goal now: become undisputed lightweight champion.
“I didn’t expect her to give me a rematch,” Mayer told Boxing Junkie, referring to Baumgardner. “… I wasn’t surprised. She knows she got away with it.
“Why put yourself back in a position to lose? What was surprising was how dumb it was. Why shoot down a rematch with someone [against whom] you were most viewed and made the most money you’ll ever make?
“… I’m at 135 now. I should’ve moved up a couple of years ago. I’m sticking with my plan to become a champion in multiple divisions.”
With Baumgardner in her past, Mayer is now targeting a fight with an even bigger figure in the sport: Katie Taylor, who fights Chantelle Cameron on May 20.
The unbeaten Irishwoman is the longtime 135-pound champion and arguably the face of women’s boxing. A victory over her would be more significant than one in a rematch with Baumgardner and propel Mayer to new heights.
“[The Baumgardner fight] should’ve been a huge step forward,” Mayer said. “Instead it was a step backward. It really took time but I came to realization that one fighter cant take away what you’ve built.
“Winning [on Saturday] will make me the mandatory for the Taylor-[Cameron] winner. Hell yeah. That excites me. It shows I’m right back in the same position I was.”
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