Mikaela Mayer paused for a moment, then a wry smile spread across her face as she realized who had just asked her a question. “Ohhh Alycia,” she replied, not to a reporter but to her old adversary, former undisputed champion Alycia Baumgardner, who was seated in the front row of Thursday’s Birmingham press conference. Baumgardner had been speaking only minutes earlier after the announcement of her upcoming bout with Elif Nur Turhan on November 8, and she turned her attention to Mayer, probing the champion’s mindset, her development as a fighter, and what made Saturday’s clash with Chantelle Cameron different from their own past encounter. Mayer answered confidently, “I’ve gotten better and better.

I’ve learned not to repeat the mistakes I made against you.” She added, “When I step into the ring I’ll start fast, stay aggressive, and won’t leave the outcome to the judges – you can’t always trust them.” The exchange was a reminder of the split‑decision loss Mayer suffered to Baumgardner in their October 2022 world‑title unification fight at The O2, a bout Mayer still believes she won despite the official result. That loss, however, is now a footnote as the focus shifts to the upcoming showdown between Mayer and Cameron, two of the sport’s most technically gifted women.

Baumgardner’s own trajectory appears to be pointing toward a potential clash with Caroline Dubois, should both fighters prevail in their next assignments. For now, though, the Saturday night main event will feature Mayer, who holds the WBA and WBC titles, against Cameron, the WBO super‑welterweight champion.

Both athletes have navigated setbacks and fought their way back to the summit of women’s boxing. “I’m at the stage in my career where these are the fights I truly want,” Mayer said. “Our careers have had highs and lows, but we’ve always strived to give our best.

We’re both at the peak of our abilities and have fought our way back to the top.” The boxing world agrees that few match‑ups could generate as much excitement as this one. Analysts predict a fight that could be voted fight of the year, with both competitors eager to cement their legacies.

Cameron, who famously holds the only professional victory over Katie Taylor, added, “Let’s go get fight of the year.” Her win over Taylor has become a key part of the narrative, positioning her as a potential icon if she can add another landmark victory against Mayer. Both fighters have faced adversity.

Cameron was denied a rematch against Taylor, while Mayer has felt the sting of controversial decisions in fights against Baumgardner and Natasha Jonas. Yet both claim they are in the best shape of their lives. “I’ve had ups and downs, but I’m in a great place. I think I’m in the form of my life,” Cameron said.

“Mikaela is a fantastic boxer; I respect her. I love watching her fight, which is why I wanted this bout. Our styles are different, and that makes for a compelling fight.” Mayer, on the other hand, insists that Cameron’s preparation will be insufficient against her expanded skill set.

“It’s impossible for her to train for what I bring,” she argued, emphasizing her versatility. “When I need to adjust my game plan, I have the tools. In big fights you have to adapt, and I have what it takes.” The card’s co‑main event will see Caroline Dubois defend her WBC and WBO lightweight titles against America’s Amelia Moore.

Dubois, who recently relocated to Los Angeles and overhauled her team, spoke about her ambitions, hinting that a future bout with Baumgardner could be on the horizon. Nevertheless, she dismissed any notion of underestimating Moore.

“I’m 100 percent confident. I’ve come a long way, changed my team, moved to LA, and dedicated myself fully,” Dubois said. “I set big goals – becoming undisputed champion is my ultimate aim. I respect every opponent and train as hard as possible.

There’s no way I’d overlook anyone.” Saturday’s event promises a night of high‑caliber boxing, with the Mayer‑Cameron clash positioned as the headline attraction. Fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports or stream the fights without a contract through various platforms.

The anticipation is palpable, as the two elite technicians prepare to test each other’s skill, strategy, and heart in what could become a defining moment for women’s boxing in 2026.