Mikaela Joslin Mayer (born July 4, 1990) is an American professional boxer, who has held WBO welterweight title since September 2024. She is also a former unified female super-featherweight world champion, having held the WBO and the IBF titles simultaneously. She has also held the interim WBC female lightweight world title. As an amateur, she won a bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships and competed for the U.S. at the 2016 Olympics.
Mikaela Mayer | |||||||||||||||
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| Born | Mikaela Joslin Mayer July 4, 1990 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Weight(s) | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Reach | 66+1⁄2 in (169 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 22 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Amateur career
editMayer competed internationally as part of Team USA in the women's 60 kg category at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.[1][2] She defeated Jennifer Chieng in the Round of 16 before being eliminated in the quarterfinal by Russian Anastasia Belyakova, who took a majority decision.[3]
Amateur accolades
edit- 2016 AIBA Americas Qualifier: Gold Medalist, Lightweight 60 kg (132 lb)[4]
- 2016 Olympic Trials Champion[4]
- 2015 USA Boxing National Champion 60 kg (132 lb)[4]
- 2014 USA Boxing National Champion 60 kg (132 lb)[4]
- 2012 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships: Bronze Medalist, Light welterweight 64 kg (141 lb)[4]
- 2012 AMBC Continental Championships: Gold Medalist 64 kg (141 lb)[4]
- 2012 USA Boxing National Champion 64 kg (141 lb)[4]
- 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: Runner-Up 60 kg (132 lb)[4]
- 2011 National Golden Gloves: Champion 60 kg (132 lb)[4]
Professional career
editAfter signing a promotional deal with Top Rank,[5] Mayer made her professional debut on 5 August 2017, defeating Widnelly Figueroa by first-round knockout.[6]
Mayer beat Ewa Brodnicka by unanimous decision to win the WBO female super-featherweight World title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on 31 October 2020. Her Polish opponent had been reigning champion but was stripped of the belt after failing to make the 130-pound weight limit.[7]
On 5 November 2021, she took on IBF female super-featherweight World champion Maïva Hamadouche in a contest that saw both women's titles and the inaugural Ring female super-featherweight belt on the line. Mayer prevailed by unanimous decision.[8]
Seeking to further unify the division, Mayer faced WBC and IBO champion Alycia Baumgardner in London, England, on 15 October 2022. She lost via split decision with judges John Latham and Steve Gray making Baumgardner the winner, both scoring the fight 96-95, while Terry O’Connor gave it to Mayer 97-93.[9]
Mayer switched to lightweight for her next outing where she was scheduled to face Christina Linardatou on 15 April 2023, but the Greek boxer failed her pre-fight medical. Sweden's Lucy Wildheart stepped in as a last-minute replacement with Mayer winning by unanimous decision to became the interim WBC female lightweight World champion.[10]
Mayer vs. Jonas
editAnother change in weight division saw Mayer challenge IBF female welterweight World champion Natasha Jonas in Liverpool, England, on 20 January 2024. After a closely fought contest, it was the English boxer who came out on top winning by split decision with judge Diana Drews Milano scoring the fight for Mayer 97-93 but Frank Lombardi (96-94) and Michael Alexander (96-95) giving it to Jonas.[11]
WBO Welterweight Champion
editMayer Vs Ryan
editMsyer was scheduled to challenge WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan in New York on September 27, 2024.[12] She won the fight by majority decision.[13] On the day of the fight, while leaving to the event, Ryan was hit by a tin of paint at her hotel.[14] Two days after the fight Ryan demanded an immediate rematch in light of the paint incident and alleged threats against her and her support team.[15]
Professional boxing record
edit| 22 fights | 20 wins | 2 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 5 | 0 |
| By decision | 15 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Sandy Ryan | MD | 10 | Sep 27, 2024 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won WBO female welterweight title |
| 21 | Loss | 19–2 | Natasha Jonas | SD | 10 | Jan 20, 2024 | Liverpool Arena, Liverpool, England | For IBF female welterweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Silvia Bortot | UD | 10 | Sep 2, 2023 | Manchester Arena, Manchester, England | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Lucy Wildheart | UD | 10 | Apr 15, 2023 | Copper Box Arena, London, England | Won vacant WBC interim lightweight title |
| 18 | Loss | 17–1 | Alycia Baumgardner | SD | 10 | Oct 15, 2022 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Lost WBO, IBF, and The Ring female super featherweight titles; For WBC female super featherweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Jennifer Han | UD | 10 | Apr 9, 2022 | OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, California, U.S. | Retained WBO, IBF, The Ring female super featherweight titles |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Maïva Hamadouche | UD | 10 | Nov 5, 2021 | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBO female super featherweight title; Won IBF and inaugural The Ring super featherweight titles |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Érica Farías | UD | 10 | Jun 19, 2021 | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBO female super featherweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Ewa Brodnicka | UD | 10 | Oct 31, 2020 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBO female super featherweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Helen Joseph | UD | 10 | Jul 14, 2020 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Alejandra Soledad Zamora | RTD | 6 (10), 2:00 | Oct 26, 2019 | Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC-NABF female super featherweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Lizbeth Crespo | UD | 10 | Jun 15, 2019 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Yareli Larios | UD | 8 | Feb 15, 2019 | Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota, U.S. | Retained WBC-NABF female super featherweight title |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Calista Silgado | UD | 8 | Dec 14, 2018 | American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | Retained WBC-NABF female super featherweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Vanessa Bradford | UD | 8 | Oct 13, 2018 | CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | Won vacant WBC-NABF female super featherweight title |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Edina Kiss | TKO | 3 (6), 2:00 | Aug 25, 2018 | Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Sheena Flamand | UD | 6 | Jun 30, 2018 | Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Baby Nansen | UD | 6 | May 12, 2018 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Maria Semertzoglou | KO | 1 (4), 0:35 | Mar 10, 2018 | StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Nydia Feliciano | MD | 4 | Dec 9, 2017 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Allison Martinez | TKO | 3 (4), 0:39 | Sep 22, 2017 | Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Widnelly Figueroa | KO | 1 (4), 1:15 | Aug 5, 2017 | Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Personal life
editBetween 2003 and 2005, Mayer played bass in heavy metal band Lia-Fail, which also included Nita Strauss.[16][17]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Stevens, Carrie (May 8, 2013). "How Boxer Mikaela Mayer Knocks Out Cravings". Fitness.
- ^ Nuñez, Alanna (September 20, 2013). "How Model-Turned-Boxer Mikaela Mayer Stays Fit". Shape.
- ^ Kevin Iole (August 15, 2016). "American boxer Mikaela Mayer falls just short of Olympic medal". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Mikaela Mayer profile". TeamUSA.org. United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- ^ "US Olympic boxer Mikaela Mayer turns pro with Top Rank". ESPN. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Mikaela Mayer wins pro debut with first-round KO". SportsNet. August 6, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Mikaela Mayer Decisions Ewa Brodnicka To Capture WBO Title". Boxing Scene. October 31, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Mikaela Mayer downs Maiva Hamadouche by unanimous decision to unify junior lightweight titles". ESPN. November 6, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Alycia Baumgardner Edges Mikaela Mayer With Split Decision To Unify Titles". Boxing Scene. October 15, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Mikaela Mayer Outworks Lucy Wildheart, Wins Decision To Capture WBC Interim-Title". Boxing Scene. April 15, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Natasha Jonas Edges Mikaela Mayer in Fire-Fight With Split Decision, Retains IBF Title". Boxing Scene. January 20, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (August 5, 2024). "Mikaela Mayer challenges Sandy Ryan at MSG in New York in September". FIGHTMAG.
- ^ Christ, Scott (September 28, 2024). "Mikaela Mayer wins WBO title from Sandy Ryan after paint attack controversy". Bad Left Hook.
- ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (September 28, 2024). "Video: Sandy Ryan hit with tin of paint ahead of Mikaela Mayer fight in New York". FIGHTMAG.
- ^ "Ryan wants immediate Mayer rematch after paint attack". BBC Sport. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ "Inside the music: The story of the fast rise and quick fall of Mikaela Mayer's teenage metal band". ESPN.com. June 16, 2021.
- ^ "NITA STRAUSS To Play Boxing Champion MIKAELA MAYER To Ring For Historic Title Unification Bout". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. November 5, 2021.
Other sources
edit- Kevin, Baxter (October 15, 2011). "Mikaela Mayer hopes to rebound at Olympic boxing trials". Los Angeles Times.
- Kohn, Jody (June 27, 2013). "Mikaela Mayer discusses Golden Gloves, her future, more". Pro Boxing Insider.
External links
edit- Boxing record for Mikaela Mayer from BoxRec (registration required)
- Mikaela Mayer - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live
- Mikaela Mayer - Profile at Women Boxing Archive Network
- Mikaela Mayer at Olympedia
