Could Mayer vs Harper Finally Happen?

Could Mayer vs Harper Finally Happen?

Terri Harper and Mikaela Mayer share many things in common. They are both former unified world super-featherweight champions. Both lost their titles to Alycia Baumgardner. They also have personal history.

At one time a fight between the two was the biggest in their division. It seemed a fight lost in time when Baumgardner shocked Harper in Sheffield last year. But now with Baumgardner also relieving Mayer of her world titles, albeit in highly-controversial circumstances, could Harper/Mayer now be resurrected?

Harper courtesy of her recent victory in Nottingham over Hannah Rankin is now the WBA super-welterweight champion, and after what she hopes will be a routine first defence in the coming months, Harper will then target a big fight in the early part of next year. Harper has already made advances towards renewing acquaintances with Natasha Jonas for a big unification fight and replaying their classic first encounter from 2020. But Jonas has options elsewhere and may choose to go an entirely different route. If so, Harper may look to reignite the fire with an old verbal sparring partner.

Mayer after that debated split-decision loss to Baumgardner in London is now evaluating her options, and could her thoughts turn to Harper if all doors are closed nearer her more natural weight divisions.

The American has long targeted Katie Taylor, and while her desire to share a ring with Taylor will never fade, a rematch with Amanda Serrano looks far more likely for the Irish superstar if as expected, Taylor successfully defends her undisputed world lightweight titles this coming Saturday in London.

Jessica McCaskill and Chantelle Cameron do battle next month for undisputed status at super-lightweight, and Mayer will have more than one eye on the winner or even the loser if it’s McCaskill. With no rematch clause, Mayer is not without hope of getting either Cameron or McCaskill.

Mayer would, of course, want a rematch with Baumgardner above any other fight, but that looks remote at the time of writing. Her fellow American will look to secure her own undisputed legacy before any thoughts turn to rematching Mayer. And Baumgardner has already been quoted as looking at the likes of Taylor herself. If Baumgardner and Mayer do eventually meet again, it is highly unlikely to be at super-featherweight. Baumgardner and Mayer is still unfinished business.

There are options at lightweight for Mayer, making herself mandatory to Taylor must be high on her wish list. A fight with Delfine Persoon would surely rival Mayer’s fight with Maiva Hamadouche for action and would serve many purposes for both fighters. A fight with Persoon is highly probable.

But if all roads are blocked for Mayer in the short term, or if she decides on a much quicker route back to another world title, and if Harper is frustrated by her attempts to get Jonas again, a fight between Mayer and Harper might become of interest to both. Both want the big fights, and despite the recent setbacks of both to Baumgardner, it is still a seriously good fight. The fight didn’t happen when it was one of the hottest tickets in town. But there still might be a little life left in their rivalry. It was always too good a fight to waste, and there is at least some chance it may yet happen.