Mikaela Mayer paused for a moment, then a wry smile spread across her face as she recognized the voice behind the 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 inquiry was pointed: what mindset had Mayer adopted, how had she grown, and why was Saturday’s fight different – presumably different from their own encounter. Mayer answered confidently, "I keep improving, learning not to repeat the mistakes I made against you.
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 highlighted a reunion that was anything but uncomfortable. Mayer had suffered a split‑decision loss to Baumgardner in their October 2022 world‑title unification bout at The O2, a fight she still feels she won. Yet the question today was not about a lingering rivalry.
Baumgardner appears to be charting a path toward a potential clash with Caroline Dubois, should both fighters prevail in their upcoming matches. Saturday, however, belongs to Mayer and Cameron, two elite technicians who have each fought their way back to the summit of women’s boxing. "I’m at a 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 aimed to be our best. We’re at the peak of our game and have fought our way back to the top." The matchup promises to be one of the most compelling in women’s boxing this year, with many pundits predicting it could be a contender for fight‑of‑the‑year honors.
Cameron, the only boxer to have defeated Katie Taylor in Taylor’s professional career, added to the narrative by declaring, "Let’s go get fight of the year." Cameron enters the bout holding the WBO super‑welterweight title, while Mayer carries the WBA and WBC belts. Both have endured setbacks – Cameron was denied in a rematch with Taylor, and Mayer feels she was on the wrong side of controversial decisions against both Baumgardner and Natasha Jonas – yet each has rebounded to claim world‑championship status again. "I’ve had my ups and downs, but I’m in a great place.
I think I’m in the best shape of my life," Cameron said. "Mikaela is a fantastic 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 ours will mesh for an exciting contest." Mayer, on the other hand, insisted that Cameron’s preparation would be futile against her newly expanded arsenal. "I think I can do more.
Her style is very straightforward, while I’m more diverse," Mayer explained. "If I need to adjust my game plan, I have the tools in my pocket.
In big fights you sometimes have to adapt, and I have what it takes to do that." The card’s undercard will also feature a headline bout: Caroline Dubois defending her WBC and WBO lightweight titles against America’s Amelia Moore. Dubois, a London‑born fighter with lofty ambitions, acknowledged that a future mega‑fight with Baumgardner could be on the horizon, but she emphasized that she never underestimates any opponent, including Moore. "I’m 100 percent confident.
I’ve come a long way – I changed my team, moved to LA, dedicated myself fully, and I’m excited," Dubois said. "People sometimes say I overlook opponents, but 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." Dubois added, "Respect comes from training as hard as possible.
I’ve trained like a beast and left no stone unturned. There’s no way I’ve looked past her." Both Mayer and Cameron have spoken about the importance of staying versatile and ready to adapt mid‑fight. Mayer highlighted her ability to switch tactics on the fly, while Cameron praised her own preparation and confidence in her current form.
Their contrasting styles – Mayer’s blend of speed, movement, and tactical variety versus Cameron’s power‑driven, straightforward approach – set the stage for a classic clash of technique versus aggression. Fans can catch the showdown live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available for those without a contract. The event promises not only a battle for world titles but also a defining moment in the evolution of women’s boxing, as two of the sport’s premier athletes vie for supremacy and cement their legacies in the annals of the sport.