Mikaela Mayer paused for a moment, then a wry smile crept across her face as she recognized who had just asked her a question. "Ohhh Alycia," she replied, not to a reporter but to a familiar adversary – former undisputed champion Alycia Baumgardner, who had secured a front‑row seat at Thursday’s press conference in Birmingham ahead of Mayer’s highly anticipated world title showdown with Chantelle Cameron. Baumgardner had been speaking only minutes earlier, following the announcement of her upcoming November 8 bout with Elif Nur Turhan. Her query was pointed: she wanted to know what Mayer’s mindset was, how she had grown since their last encounter, and why the Saturday night fight would be different – presumably different from the one they had shared.
Mayer answered confidently, "I’ve gotten better and better, I’ve learned not to repeat the mistakes I made against you. When I step into the ring I’ll start fast, I won’t let anything slip away, and I won’t leave the outcome to the judges because you can’t always trust them." The exchange was a reminder of the split‑decision loss Mayer suffered to Baumgardner in their October 2022 unification bout at The O2, a fight Mayer has repeatedly claimed she actually won. Despite that bitter memory, Mayer handled the unexpected reunion with poise. The broader context of women’s boxing in 2026 is that the sport is finally seeing a string of marquee match‑ups.
Fans can stream fights without a contract through platforms like NOW, tune into the weekly Toe2Toe podcast for analysis, or catch highlights on various boxing channels. Yet the focus of this weekend is not the lingering rivalry between Mayer and Baumgardner. Baumgardner appears to be charting a path toward a potential clash with Caroline Dubois, should both women prevail in their upcoming contests.
Saturday’s headline will instead be the clash of two elite technicians, Mayer and Cameron, each chasing a place in boxing history. Mayer said, "I’m at a stage in my career where these are the only fights I truly want. We’ve both had ups and downs, but we’ve always strived to fight at our best. We’ve worked our way back to the top of the game." Women’s boxing currently has few, if any, more compelling match‑ups.
Analysts predict a fence‑sitting outcome, but the winner will undoubtedly join the conversation about the greatest fighters to ever lace up gloves. Cameron, who famously holds the only professional victory over Katie Taylor, echoed the sentiment, "Let’s go get fight of the year." Cameron’s resume includes the WBO super‑welterweight title, while Mayer carries the WBA and WBC belts.
Both have overcome setbacks: Cameron was denied a rematch with Taylor, and Mayer feels she was on the wrong side of questionable decisions against Baumgardner and Natasha Jonas. Cameron reflected, "I’ve had ups and downs, but I’m in a good place.
I think I’m in the best shape of my life." She added, "Mikaela is a great fighter, I’m a fan of hers. I watch her fights and enjoy them – that’s why I wanted to fight her. I want to fight the best.
Styles make fights, and her style is different from Katie’s, so I think our styles will create an exciting bout." Mayer, for her part, insisted that Cameron’s preparation would be insufficient against her new, more versatile arsenal. "I think I can do more. Her style is very straightforward; I’m more diverse.
If I need to change the game plan, I have other tools in my pocket. In big fights you have to adjust, and I have what it takes," Mayer said. The undercard will also feature Caroline Dubois defending her WBC and WBO lightweight titles against America’s Amelia Moore.
Dubois, a London native, spoke about her future ambitions, which may still include a bout with Baumgardner. Despite heavy speculation about a mega‑fight with the American, Dubois emphasized that she never underestimates any opponent. "I’m 100 percent confident. I’ve moved my team, relocated to LA, dedicated myself, and I’m excited.
This is my chance to show the world why I’m the best at 135 lb," she declared. She continued, "I don’t overlook opponents. I set big goals and small goals. Small goals are daily training; big goals are becoming undisputed champion.
My mind, heart, and soul are set on that, and nothing will stop me. I respect the sport by training as hard as possible, leaving no stone unturned. There’s no way I’ve looked past her." Fans can watch the Mayer‑Cameron showdown live on Sky Sports, with Dubois also featured on the card. The event promises high‑level technical boxing, contrasting styles, and the potential to cement both fighters’ legacies.
Whether the outcome will be a split decision, a knockout, or a unanimous verdict, the night is set to be a defining moment for women’s boxing in 2026, showcasing the sport’s depth, talent, and growing global appeal.