Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
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Mikaela Mayer’s impressive decision victory over previously unbeaten Ewa Brodnicka’s not only earned her a junior lightweight title but will ensure her a seat at the division’s head table when unification fights are discussed in 2021.
Mayer (14-0, 5 KOs) nearly scored a shutout to take the belt from Brodnicka (19-1, 2 KOs) on the Naoya Inoue vs. Jason Moloney card Saturday in Las Vegas.
And the California fighter has wasted no time in declaring her intent to unify at 130 pounds.
“I definitely want to unify this division,” Mayer told BoxingScene.com. “I don’t want to wait around for years. I want to unify right away.”
Mayer mentioned fellow titleholder Terri Harper, who had said before Saturday that Mayer needed a world title of her own before the Brit would consider fighting her. Now she has one.
“Terri Harper said I had to go get a belt,” Mayer said. “[Harper promoter] Eddie Hearn said I had to go get a belt. I have the WBO belt now. So let’s make that fight happen. I want Terri Harper next.”
Harper (10-0-1, 5 KOs), whose last fight was a hotly contested draw with Natasha Jonas in August, is scheduled to defend her title against Katarina Thanderz as part of a historic tripleheader of women’s title fights on Nov. 21.
That card, headlined by Katie Taylor’s lightweight title defense against mandatory challenger Miriam Gutierrez, will be staged in London.
Maiva Hamadouche and Hyun Mi Choi hold the WBA and IBF junior lightweight titles, respectively.