Mayer: The Dark Side of Trash Talk in Boxing

Mikaela Mayer, a three-weight world champion, has spoken candidly about the harsh realities of her sport, where trash talk and online abuse can take a heavy toll on athletes. 'Boxing is unique in that there's a lot of trash talk, and then we get in the ring and punch each other in the face,' she said. Mayer, who recently signed a multi-year contract with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, has experienced her fair share of setbacks, including a split decision loss to Alycia Baumgardner four years ago. 'The toughest time for me was after my first loss. I was dealing with the pressure of my own career and goals, and then I'd go online and see the world bashing me,' she revealed. Mayer believes that the experience made her stronger and credits her team with helping her regain her confidence. She advises young female boxers to find a unique selling point to set themselves apart from their rivals. 'It's not enough just to be a good boxer. You have to look the part, promote yourself, and find something that separates you from everyone else,' she said. Mayer also emphasized the importance of staying strong mentally and not letting online criticism hold you back. 'Don't fall off social media, don't let the criticism get to you, and keep building your fan base,' she advised. The issue of online toxicity is not unique to boxing, with many female athletes facing similar challenges across various sports. As Georgia Evans, a Wales and Saracens rugby international, noted, 'Women's sport is very different from men's, and we have to acknowledge those differences.' Evans believes that social media can be a powerful tool for female athletes to promote themselves and their sports, but it also requires a unique approach. 'We have to put ourselves out there to get that equality with the men, and social media is a big part of that,' she said.