Boxing stands out for its unique blend of trash talk and in-ring intensity. Mikaela Mayer, a three-weight world champion, has signed with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions and is pragmatic about her sport, acknowledging its pitfalls, including the hate that comes with losing.
Four years ago, after her first professional loss to Alycia Baumgardner, Mayer struggled with the pressures of her career and the harsh online criticism, feeling like she had failed herself and was being bashed by the world. However, she credits her team with helping her build her confidence again, and she returned to the ring six months later, debuting at lightweight and clinching the WBC interim title. Mayer believes that promoting fights is part of a boxer's routine but has learned that even in the face of losses, it's essential not to let the haters win. She advises not to let criticism hold you back and to stay strong mentally, keeping the momentum going and blocking out the noise.
This quandary is not unique to boxing but is faced by sportswomen across various disciplines, who must navigate the fine line between promoting themselves and their sports while avoiding online toxicity. As Georgia Evans, a Wales and Saracens rugby international, noted, women's sport is different, and athletes must put themselves out there to achieve equality with men, making social media a crucial tool but also a potential source of vulnerability.
Mayer emphasizes that for female boxers, being a good boxer is not enough; they need to find a unique selling point to set themselves apart from their rivals, whether through their personality, style, or a gimmick that catches the fans' attention.