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 Alyciaa,” 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 Birmingham press conference ahead of Mayer’s highly anticipated world‑title bout with Chantelle Cameron. Baumgardner had been speaking only minutes earlier, after the announcement of her own November 8 showdown with Elif Nur Turhan. Her query was pointed: she wanted to know about Mayer’s mindset, her development as a fighter, and why the upcoming Saturday night clash would be different – presumably different from their own past encounter.
Mayer answered confidently, “I keep getting better and better. I’ve learned not to repeat the mistakes I made against you.” She went on, “When I step into the ring I’ll start fast, stay aggressive, and won’t leave anything to the judges, because you can’t always count on them.” The exchange was noteworthy because the two athletes share a recent history.
Mayer suffered a split‑decision loss to Baumgardner in their October 2022 unification bout at The O2, a fight Mayer still believes she won. Yet the current press conference was not about reigniting that rivalry. Baumgardner appears to be charting a path toward a potential clash with Caroline Dubois, should both win their upcoming fights.
Saturday, however, belongs to Mayer and Cameron, who will headline a meeting of two of the sport’s most technically gifted women. “I’m at the stage of my career where these are the fights I truly want,” Mayer said.
“Our careers have had highs and lows, but we’ve always aimed to fight at our best. We’ve worked our way back to the top.” Women’s boxing currently lacks many match‑ups that capture the imagination quite like this one.
Analysts are split, but most agree the winner could stake a claim as one of the greatest ever to lace up gloves. Cameron echoed the sentiment, urging fans to “go get fight of the year.” Cameron brings a unique résumé to the bout: she is the only boxer to have defeated Katie Taylor in Taylor’s professional career, a fact that adds an extra layer of narrative intrigue. She holds the WBO super‑welterweight title, while Mayer carries the WBA and WBC belts.
Both women have overcome setbacks – Cameron was denied in a rematch with Taylor, and Mayer has felt the sting of controversial decisions against both Baumgardner and Natasha Jonas. “I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’m in a great place now. I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life,” Cameron said.
“Mikaela is an excellent fighter, I’m a fan of hers. I watch her fights and enjoy them – that’s why I wanted this matchup. Styles make fights, and her style is different from Katie’s, so I think ours will blend into a spectacular contest.” Mayer, for her part, insisted that Cameron’s preparation would be futile against her newly expanded arsenal. “I think I can do more.
Look at her style – it’s very straightforward. I’m more diverse,” Mayer explained. “If I need to adjust my game plan, I have the tools to do it.
In big fights you sometimes have to adapt, and I have what it takes.” The evening’s supporting card will also feature Caroline Dubois defending her WBC and WBO lightweight titles against American challenger Amelia Moore. Dubois, a London native, spoke about her long‑term ambitions, acknowledging that a future mega‑fight with Baumgardner remains a tantalizing prospect.
Nevertheless, she emphasized that she never underestimates any opponent, including Moore. “I’m 100 percent confident,” Dubois declared. “I’ve come a long way – I changed my team, moved to LA, dedicated myself fully, and I’m excited. This is my chance to prove why I’m the best at 135 lb.” She added, “People often talk about overlooking opponents.
I set goals, big and small. Small goals are daily training, big goals are becoming undisputed.
My mind, heart, and soul are set on that, and nothing will stop me.” Dubois continued, “Respect means training as hard as possible. I’ve trained like an animal and left no stone unturned.
There’s no way I’ve looked past her.” Overall, Saturday promises a night of high‑stakes boxing, with the main event featuring two seasoned technicians vying for supremacy. Fans can watch the Mayer‑Cameron showdown live on Sky Sports, and the undercard will showcase Dubois’s title defence. For those without a Sky subscription, streaming options are available without a contract, ensuring that boxing enthusiasts worldwide can tune in to what could be a historic night for women’s boxing.