After two controversial split-decision defeats in their last four fights, a former unified world champion has announced a shock split from their team.
Mikaela Mayer held the WBO and IBF super-featherweight titles ahead of an undisputed clash against Alycia Baumgardner on the Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall card in October 2022.
After a closely-fought contest, Baumgardner was declared as the winner but a number of viewers felt as though Mayer had done enough to claim the undisputed 130lb throne.
The American bounced back with two points wins in 2023 before moving up to welterweight and taking on Natasha Jonas on away soil, travelling to Liverpool for another high-profile main-event clash.
Once again, plenty of fans were surprised at the scorecards as Jonas got a favourable decision, intriguingly winning 96-95 on one of the cards.
As a result of the questionable split-decision, Mayer and Jonas appeared poised for a rematch, although it now seems as though talks have collapsed. One other opponent for Mayer would be WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan, but in March, Eddie Hearn spoke of the complications in staging that bout.
“The other fight [for Sandy Ryan], which is obviously difficult because it is [within] the same team – is Mikaela Mayer, which is a tremendous fight.”
Mayer and Ryan trained out of the same DLX Boxing gym in Las Vegas, following on from Ryan’s decision to split from long-term trainer Clifton Mitchell. Two months after Hearn’s comments, Mayer took to social media to reveal that she has decided to part ways with her team in Vegas and that she is keen to land a world title match-up against her former stablemate.
“Not anymore. Let’s run it.”
“I’ve had the same team my entire career. I’m loyal to the bone but I have boundaries & they’ve been crossed.”
As for Ryan, the Derby-born 147lber has fought just once since relocating across the pond as she returned to the United Kingdom and delivered a career-best performance to dethrone Terri Harper with a fourth-round stoppage – ending a run of five consecutive contests that went the full distance.
Since that victory, Ryan’s confidence has been clear to see and she did not shy away from a title defence against Mayer either, telling Boxing Scene that she will happily take on any opponent that her manager (Brian Peters) puts in front of her.
“One hundred per cent, [I would be up for fighting Mikaela Mayer.”
“Whatever Brian [Peters] says. I’ll take any fight. People know me by now that I’m not shy of a fight, I’m ready for anybody.”
Despite those comments, two of the other three belts at the weight are held by Ryan’s fellow Brits in Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price and the allure of a domestic unification bout could prove to be a stumbling block for a potential fight between her and Mayer.
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