Boxing is distinct due to its culture of trash talk, followed by intense physical combat in the ring. Mikaela Mayer, a three-weight world champion since October and recently signed with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, views her sport with a practical mindset.
She is aware of the potential pitfalls, including the hate and criticism that can come when things don't go as planned in the ring. Mayer recalls her first professional loss to Alycia Baumgardner by split decision four years ago, which left her dealing with unfamiliar territory and pressure from her own career goals.
"The toughest time for me was after my first loss. I was coping with the pressure of my own career and the feeling of failing myself. Then, going online and seeing the world criticize me was even harder," Mayer told Sky Sports. "Because we, as athletes, engage in trash talk, the public feels they can do the same.
It's a struggle to deal with your own pain and stay motivated while being bashed online and feeling like the world is against you." Mayer credits her team with helping her regain confidence after the loss. She returned to the ring six months later, debuting at lightweight and clinching the WBC interim lightweight title. "It's not easy to handle, but with time and experience, you learn to navigate it better. Having a good team, management, and friends who keep your spirits high is crucial.
Even when you doubt how things will turn out, you've got to keep showing up with a solid support team." Promoting fights is a routine part of a boxer's life to boost sales and stay in the headlines. However, Mayer has learned that even in the face of losses, it's essential not to let criticism get the best of you.
"After my first loss, I pulled back from social media for a couple of years. It took me time to get back to a good mental state. Looking back, I was really struggling, but I'm good now," Mayer said.
"My advice would be not to let criticism hold you back and disappear from what you've built. You've got to keep the momentum going, stay strong mentally, block out the noise, and keep building your fan base. It's not easy, but time and experience help." This dilemma is not unique to boxing but is faced by sportswomen across various disciplines. While they strive to promote themselves and their sports to reach new audiences, they become vulnerable to online toxicity.
Georgia Evans, a Wales and Saracens rugby international, shared her experience with Sky Sports regarding 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 have to acknowledge that women's sport is different. We love that the World Cup showed we have fans who follow individual players because they relate to them.
Social media is big, and we can show our personalities, which is the new world for women's sports. We have to put ourselves out there to achieve equality, whereas men don't have to do as much social media. That's the big difference, and it's what makes women's sport incredible," Evans said.
Mayer also believes that social media is a tool for female boxers to promote themselves but advises them to find a unique selling point to stand out from their rivals. "I've told girls coming into the sport that it's not enough just to be a good boxer. You have to look the part, promote yourself, and do extra things. Being a good boxer isn't enough; there are many great boxers who haven't made it to the top because we have to pick and choose who we want to be the face of the sport.
It's not just about talent. Find something that separates you from everyone else, catches the fans' attention, and makes them want to see you."