Mikaela Mayer has openly admitted that Chantelle Cameron’s trash‑talk after their bout in Birmingham sparked the heated exchange that followed their super‑welterweight showdown. In a candid interview, the American fighter confessed that she "acted in a way that I shouldn't have" after hearing Cameron’s comments, acknowledging that her reaction was fueled by the provocations. The loss was only the third defeat of Mayer’s professional career, but it cost her the unified titles she entered the fight with. The contest lived up to its hype, pitting two of the sport’s pound‑for‑pound elite against each other in a fight that many observers say has bolstered Cameron’s claim to a place among the greats of women’s boxing.
The bout was closely contested, with the judges scoring it 97‑93, 97‑93 and 96‑94 in Cameron’s favour, handing her the WBA, WBC and WBO belts. The rivalry between the two fighters had already been simmering before the night of the fight. Security personnel had to intervene at the weigh‑in on Friday after a physical scuffle, and the tension resurfaced inside the ring on Saturday.
After the decision, Mayer told the new champion, "I did beat you," a statement that reflected her belief that the fight could have gone either way. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Mayer explained her mindset in the immediate aftermath: "In the heat of the moment after the fight, I felt I had won, but I knew it was close, and I was prepared to go to the mic and give her her props and say I'm looking forward to the rematch.
I'm not going to lie, I heard her on the mic talking trash and it triggered me. It brought something out of me and I feel like I acted in a way that I shouldn't have." Mayer traced the origin of the animosity back to the build‑up period, noting that the two athletes had generally been cordial until a face‑off where she felt she had gotten too close to Cameron. "We were always actually really cool, and the only thing that kind of triggered that rivalry was me getting in her face during the face‑off," she said, suggesting that Cameron may have harbored unspoken resentment.
Cameron, who had previously expressed genuine respect for Mayer, admitted that the pre‑fight tension influenced her mindset on fight night. "I was looking at her before the bell rang and thought, ‘I’m going to smash your head in,’" Cameron recalled after the decision. "And it worked. I was feeling the energy, she didn't want to be in there." The fight itself was a brutal affair, with both competitors showing visible signs of punishment by the ninth round.
Mayer sustained a cut above her eye, while Cameron bled from a wound on her own. Despite the physical toll, the two embraced at the final bell before the verbal sparring resumed backstage.
A day after the controversial verdict, Mayer’s tone shifted. She said she had not yet reviewed the fight footage but was willing to accept that the bout was extremely close.
"I told myself I would not let the fight get close, and I didn't do that. I let it get too close, and so I can't be upset at the decision. It wasn't my night, and I have to give her the props for the win. She's a great fighter, and I'm just excited to go fix my mistakes and do better," she added.
Cameron’s victory added another impressive line to her résumé, which already includes the only professional loss ever handed to Katie Taylor. Yet the British champion downplayed any talk of being the greatest ever, acknowledging that Claressa Shields still holds that distinction in her view.
Mayer confirmed that a rematch clause is embedded in their contract and expressed confidence that it will be activated. She also revealed that she declined to relinquish her WBC belt in order to fight under three‑minute rounds, a stipulation Cameron has now made a condition for any future encounter. "I don't see a way that it doesn't happen because it's in the contract.
We both want it and we'll make it happen," Mayer said. "I wasn't willing to vacate my WBC belt to go three‑minute rounds. In order to go three‑minute rounds, I had to vacate that belt, but I know how much the belts play a role in your negotiation.
She has the belts and she wants to go three‑minute rounds. We can absolutely do that. I have no problem with that.
It's her choice now, just like it was my choice for this fight." Cameron reiterated her preference for three‑minute rounds, stating on Saturday night, "I want to do this again. It's up to Mikaela, but I want to do three‑minute rounds." Her coach, Jamie Moore, added that if the sanctioning bodies object, Cameron could vacate the WBC title to accommodate the arrangement. MVP co‑founder Nakisa Bidarian welcomed the prospect of a second meeting between the two fighters and noted that Cameron has already expressed interest in bouts with Claressa Shields and Lauren Price. Bidarian asserted that the 35‑year‑old Briton is "unequivocally" among the top two or three female boxers of all time, if not the greatest.
While Mayer had previously insisted that any rematch should take place in the United States, she did not specify a venue in her latest comments, instead offering gratitude to the British fans. "I love you guys, I can't wait to come back. I'm here for your entertainment," she said, underscoring her respect for the audience that supported her throughout the intense encounter. The saga between Mayer and Cameron illustrates how personal dynamics, pre‑fight hype, and in‑ring performance intertwine to shape the narrative of modern boxing.
As both athletes look ahead, the possibility of a high‑stakes rematch—potentially under different round lengths and with titles on the line—remains a tantalizing prospect for fans worldwide.