Mary Spencer: “I think there is a very good chance I can stop Mikaela Mayer.”

Mary Spencer: “I think there is a very good chance I can stop Mikaela Mayer.”

“I am extremely excited,” the opening words of Mary Spencer.”

The reigning WBA super-welterweight champion has landed the biggest fight of her career on October 30th in Montreal against the current WBO world welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer.

“Sometimes, it’s hard to push through a training camp when fights aren’t exciting,” Spencer added. “But you do it anyway, hoping that an opportunity like this will come along. And it finally has. It’s a big, exciting fight. The motivation and the inspiration are there naturally because of the opponent. It’s going to make this training camp a lot more fun. Even the hard parts are going to be easier because it’s so exciting. I don’t really know how to articulate how excited I am.”

Mayer brings plenty to the table. A pound-for-pound talent, and she has at least four fights on her resume that could be considered amongst the greatest female fights of the modern era. Spencer understands the importance of sharing a ring with Mikaela Mayer. “I expect the fight will draw a lot of eyes,” Spencer says. “I think her style will bring the best out of me. I have watched her fights over the last few years. I love her style. I always thought I wished that I could fight someone like Mayer. She would be the perfect dance partner for me. But I never thought in a million years I would get to fight her. So I think this fight is just a gift.”

“I think Mayer is an excellent fighter,” Spencer adds. “But she is also an excellent entertainer. Mayer gets hit quite a lot for a fighter. Her style is that American pro-style; it’s fun to watch. But it is also fun to be up against. I think it’s perfect. It will be visually appealing for the spectators. It’s going to be fun to be in there. Mayer has good technique. Everything is clean. She doesn’t throw punches from her hips or anything like that.”

It is by some distance, the most high-profile fight so far for Spencer in the paid ranks. Mayer knows how to sell a fight probably better than any other female fighter on the planet. Those intense rivalries with Alycia Baumgardner and Sandy Ryan will live long in the memory. Spencer is beyond excited about the prospect of being a part of that kind of build-up.

“The trash talk between Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner was my favourite lead-up to a fight in women’s boxing. Not so long ago, my younger brother said to me: “You know what is missing from women’s boxing, the trash talk.” I told him. “Have you not heard of Mikaela Mayer. Go and look her up and check out her trash talk.” She sells the fights very well and makes it exciting, and I just love it.”

The former three-time world amateur champion firmly believes size will prove to be her biggest asset on fight night. But Spencer also considers her jab could be her primary weapon against the smaller fighter. “I am certainly the biggest fighter she will ever be in the ring with,” Spencer told me. “Is that how I am going to beat her? It could be. I think I am going to surprise everybody and out-jab her. Mayer is known for that nice jab, but I think mine is better. I have the reach advantage as well, so I think my jab will beat her jab.

“The weight is huge. I’m looking at this girl who got hit over three hundred times by Maïva Hamadouche. Maïva and I are not comparable, I am twice her size. So if you are going to be hit three hundred times by me, it won’t be the same. That’s how I feel. I think Mayer has miscalculated this fight. Someone who gets hit three hundred times, I do expect to stop them. She’s right there as well; it’s not as though she gets hit as she is moving away. She stands right there and goes toe-to-toe. But that would be a huge mistake for her against me. I have to go in this fight expecting her to come up with the best game plan possible, but I don’t know what that will be. The only other thing you can do besides stand there and bang is move. But I don’t think her feet are better than mine, and I have never seen her fight like that before. I think there is a very good chance I can stop Mikaela Mayer.”     

Mary Spencer and Mikaela Mayer will trade blows for the WBA super-welterweight title. But for the winner, the 154 bauble could be the catalyst for much bigger fights down the road. Mayer would become a three-division world champion and will likely then move back down to welterweight to chase an undisputed showdown with Lauren Price. Spencer is chasing a fight with Claressa Shields, a win over Mayer could put her in pole position for her dream fight. A high-stakes fight that could change everything for the winner. Mary Spencer is convinced that will be her.

Photo Credit: Vincent Éthier/Eye of the Tiger