Mayer: Athletes often face verbal abuse from the public

Boxing stands out for its intense trash talk, which can escalate into physical confrontations in the ring. Mikaela Mayer, a three-weight world champion since October and recently signed with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, acknowledges the harsh realities of her sport. She recalls the challenges she faced after her first professional defeat to Alycia Baumgardner by split decision four years ago. "The toughest time for me was after my first loss. I was dealing with the pressures of my own career and goals, feeling like I'd failed myself. Then, I'd go online and face criticism from the world," Mayer shared with Sky Sports. This experience taught her to develop resilience and navigate the negative feedback. Mayer credits her team for helping her regain confidence, which led to her return to the ring six months later and her debut at lightweight, where she clinched the WBC interim lightweight title. While promoting fights is a routine part of a boxer's life, Mayer has learned that even in the face of losses, it's crucial not to let criticism get the better way. "I definitely reduced my social media presence after my first loss. It took me a couple of years to recover mentally," she said. Mayer advises against letting criticism hold you back and disappearing from the public eye. "You've got to maintain momentum, stay strong mentally, block out the noise, and keep building your fan base. It's not easy, but experience helps." This dilemma is not unique to boxing; many female athletes face online toxicity while trying to promote themselves and their sports. Georgia Evans, a Wales and Saracens rugby international, also spoke about the social media abuse she faced during the Women's World Cup for wearing bows in her hair and promoting her sport on social media. "It's tough because we're fighting for equality with men, but we must acknowledge that women's sports are different," Evans said. Mayer emphasizes that social media can be a valuable tool for female boxers to promote themselves, but they need to find a unique selling point to stand out from their competitors. "I've told girls coming into the sport that being a good boxer isn't enough. You need to look the part, promote yourself, and find something that sets you apart from others. Being talented is not enough; you need to find a gimmick that catches the fans' attention and makes them want to see you."