Tag: Lucy Wildheart

Mikaela Mayer easily outpoints Lucy Wildheart in debut at 135 pounds

Mikaela Mayer easily outpointed Lucy Wildheart in her debut at 135 pounds Saturday in London.

Mikaela Mayer appears to belong in the 135-pound division.

The former 130-pound titleholder, making her debut at the heavier weight, outworked late replacement Lucy Wildheart to win a unanimous decision over 10 rounds on the Joe Joyce-Zhilei Zhang card Saturday in London.

The official scores were 100-90, 98-92 and 98-92. Boxing Junkie scored it 99-91, nine rounds to one.

Wildheart (10-2, 4 KOs) took the fight on 24 hours notice when Christina Linardatou was removed from the card after she failed an eye test.

The Swede was game and had her moments, landing eye-catching right hands with some consistency. However, she was outworked by Mayer, who pushed the action and landed many more punches than her opponent.

The 2016 U.S. Olympian jabbed well early, which set the tone and kept the shorter Wildheart away. And then, when they settled into a toe-to-toe battle, Mayer got the better of the exchanges. She connected on power shots to both the head and body almost at will.

Mayer landed 236 of 592 punches (40%), according to CompuBox. Wildheart was 131 of 462 (28%).

“She stepped in at the last minute,” Mayer said of Wildheart. “That was gutsy of her to take a big fight, to jump in on 24 hours notice. She’s strong and durable. I see why she has the confidence to do that.”

They fought for the vacant WBC “interim” title, which puts Mayer near the head of the line to face undisputed 135-pound champion Katie Taylor.

Taylor is scheduled to face Chantelle Cameron on May 20 and is expected to face Amanda Serrano in a rematch after that. However, that’s who Mayer is targeting.

“It’s definitely really exciting for me,” Mayer said. “This is where I belong. I belong in big fights, I belong in title fights. I’m in my prime. I feel great.

“I want the toughest challenge possible. And right now, at 135 pounds, that’s Katie Taylor.”

Mikaela Mayer easily outpoints Lucy Wildheart in debut at 135 pounds

Mikaela Mayer easily outpointed Lucy Wildheart in her debut at 135 pounds Saturday in London.

Mikaela Mayer appears to belong in the 135-pound division.

The former 130-pound titleholder, making her debut at the heavier weight, outworked late replacement Lucy Wildheart to win a unanimous decision over 10 rounds on the Joe Joyce-Zhilei Zhang card Saturday in London.

The official scores were 100-90, 98-92 and 98-92. Boxing Junkie scored it 99-91, nine rounds to one.

Wildheart (10-2, 4 KOs) took the fight on 24 hours notice when Christina Linardatou was removed from the card after she failed an eye test.

The Swede was game and had her moments, landing eye-catching right hands with some consistency. However, she was outworked by Mayer, who pushed the action and landed many more punches than her opponent.

The 2016 U.S. Olympian jabbed well early, which set the tone and kept the shorter Wildheart away. And then, when they settled into a toe-to-toe battle, Mayer got the better of the exchanges. She connected on power shots to both the head and body almost at will.

Mayer landed 236 of 592 punches (40%), according to CompuBox. Wildheart was 131 of 462 (28%).

“She stepped in at the last minute,” Mayer said of Wildheart. “That was gutsy of her to take a big fight, to jump in on 24 hours notice. She’s strong and durable. I see why she has the confidence to do that.”

They fought for the vacant WBC “interim” title, which puts Mayer near the head of the line to face undisputed 135-pound champion Katie Taylor.

Taylor is scheduled to face Chantelle Cameron on May 20 and is expected to face Amanda Serrano in a rematch after that. However, that’s who Mayer is targeting.

“It’s definitely really exciting for me,” Mayer said. “This is where I belong. I belong in big fights, I belong in title fights. I’m in my prime. I feel great.

“I want the toughest challenge possible. And right now, at 135 pounds, that’s Katie Taylor.”

Mikaela Mayer puts disputed loss behind her, sets sights high

Former champion Mikaela Mayer has puts her disputed loss to Alycia Baumgardner behind her and has set her sights high.

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+).

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QwVB6TuniiQ

“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.”

[lawrence-related id=33413]

Mikaela Mayer puts disputed loss behind her, sets sights high

Former champion Mikaela Mayer has puts her disputed loss to Alycia Baumgardner behind her and has set her sights high.

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+).

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QwVB6TuniiQ

“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.”

[lawrence-related id=33413]