Mikaela Mayer Says Alycia Baumgardner is Untested!
On September 10, unified women’s junior lightweight champ Mikaela Mayer (17-0, 5 KOs) will battle WBC women’s champ, Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (12-1, 7 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London, England, on ESPN+. Serious discussions for this unification showdown began after Baumgardner captured the WBC title with a fourth-round TKO win over Terri Harper in November 2021.
A press conference took place on July 5. Technical issues prevented Baumgardner from appearing, so Mayer had the floor to herself. It’s no secret that they are far from friendly and have traded countless insults. Mayer acknowledged the animosity. But in her mind, this is about the business of fighting the top ladies and winning world titles. She believes Baumgardner is in her feelings and emotions.
MORE BUSINESS THAN PERSONAL
“I’ve done what I’ve always done, and that’s chase the champions. That’s what I’ve always done. Terri Harper and I had a rivalry building before she got beat by Baumgardner. Now that Baumgardner is in that position, I’m coming for her, and that’s just the way it is.
“She seemed to take it personally, thinking that I was trying to steal her shine or make it about me. But obviously, she didn’t have the same champion mindset I’ve always had, and that’s fight the best.
“She wanted me to wait. She told all the media ‘no, Mikaela was going to have to wait! She’s going to have to come to me!’ Blah, blah, blah, blah, and now look. I made the fight happen six months after she got the world title, and it’s on ESPN, Sky Sports, my networks, not hers! ‘Mayer versus Baumgardner’ like I said it would be.
“She hasn’t done shit yet; she really hasn’t. Terri Harper wasn’t that big of a test. Her biggest test was (Christina) Linardatou, and she failed. She still has a lot to prove in my eyes.”
WHAT SEALED THE DEAL
To her point, Baumgardner wanted to push the fight back until late 2022 or early 2023 and was actively pursuing a fight with WBA champ Hyun-Mi Choi. But Mayer explained that fight was unlikely because of the exceedingly high demands from Choi’s management.
Mayer grew impatient and put her foot down explaining that if the fight fails to happen this year, the plan is to move up to lightweight. Once negotiations with Baumgardner and Choi fell through, the WBC champ had no other out. Mayer said it was then her promoter, Top Rank, who came with an offer Team Baumgardner could not refuse.
As to why a contest between two American world champions is happening overseas instead of Stateside, Mayer said it’s a matter of mathematics. Because women’s boxing is more popular in the UK than in the United States, the fight and this card are taking place in England.
LIMITS TO HER GAME
In breaking down her stye, Mayer says “The Bomb” is not her best opponent. She conceded that her rival is good but is one-dimensional and has yet to be pushed to the limit.
“She’s a very one-dimensional fighter to me. I’ve had my tests. Baumgardner has not. She has not been tested, and the one time she was, she lost. […] She’s never had someone step to her and take her to the deep waters. That’s what I’m going to do to her, and she won’t know how to handle it.”
This match-up is the co-main event on a card headlined by the grudge match between unified middleweight champ Claressa Shields and WBO champ Savannah Marshall for undisputed honors at 160-pounds. However, it should surprise no boxing fan if Mayer vs Baumgardner steals the show and turns out to be the fight of the night.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
