Mikaela Mayer: “It makes sense to fight at 154. Chantelle has a belt there. We can unify the division.”

Mikaela Mayer: “It makes sense to fight at 154. Chantelle has a belt there. We can unify the division.”

Mikaela Mayer will head back to UK soil on August 29th in Birmingham, to fight Chantelle Cameron in a big super-welterweight unification showdown between two pound-for-pound fighters. Mayer and Cameron will clash over ten two-minute rounds for three 154 baubles. Mayer will defend her WBA and WBC titles, and Cameron is defending her WBO title.

The American still holds the WBO world welterweight title, but that won’t be on the line in August. “I would be fighting her for a lot less money,” Mayer told me as to why the fight is at super-welterweight and not at the lower weight.
“I get more money for fighting in unification fights. It’s in my contract. It makes sense to fight at 154. Chantelle has a belt there. We can unify the division. I agreed to meet her there. We have a catchweight limit of 148.”

Somewhat refreshingly, there is no tiresome rematch clause in place. The three-division world champion believes that if there is a need for a second fight, it will happen naturally. “So far, there is no rematch clause,” Mayer says. “Hopefully, Chantelle agrees as well, but if the fight warrants a rematch, and the money is there, then we will do the rematch.”

Many believe that Mayer should still be undefeated. Both of her career defeats came in the UK and in highly controversial circumstances. Mayer lost on a split-decision to Alycia Baumgardner in 2022 and to Natasha Jonas in 2024. The American was deemed extremely unfortunate on both occasions. Mayer is seemingly unconcerned about having another major fight in England. All the American wants is a fair deal from the scoring officials. “I’m going to her backyard, and I am hoping that as we are both with MVP, there will be no bias.”

Those defeats to Baumgardner and Jonas haven’t deterred her from fighting again in a country that hasn’t always been kind to her, and Mayer strongly believes she will remove all doubt against Cameron. “Surprisingly, it’s not a big concern for me fighting again in the UK. I feel like I’ve learned so much from those experiences. I’ve been with Kofi (Jantuah) now for two years. My volume has really increased. Kofi will tell me no, we are not going to let it be close. I’ve learned from those fights with Baumgardner and Jonas. I’ve picked up my aggression and my punch count. So it’s up to me to create that gap.”

I interviewed Mayer’s trainer, Kofi Jantuah, a few weeks ago, and he’s of the opinion that his fighter will not only beat Cameron, but stop her also. “When he says that, I know he means it,” Mayer says. “He doesn’t compliment me very often. He knows I am punching hard now. I know I have the power to stop people. I’ve really worked hard on turning over my punches.”

Mayer has been a part of two of the biggest ever rivalries in women’s boxing history. Those fights with Alycia Baumgardner and Sandy Ryan were beyond heated. But that won’t be the case with Cameron. There is a mutual respect between the pair. “I’m not going to push a rivalry that isn’t there. I’ve always been authentic. I don’t think Chantelle and I need that to sell the fight. We have both done big things in the sport. We have our names, and we both have exciting styles. That will sell the fight on its own.”

Katie Taylor will have her final fight in September at Croke Park. A long-cherished venue for Taylor. Mayer has always wanted to share a ring with Taylor. “It is sad that I never fought Katie Taylor,” Mayer told me. “I realised in the last couple of years that it probably wouldn’t happen. I always hoped I would get the call, but I knew the likelihood of that happening was slim. I guess the next best thing is to beat the only girl who beat her.”

“Katie is insanely important to women’s boxing, “Mayer added. “She is a legend. Katie is going to go down in history as one of the best to ever do it. I’m pleased she has got her fight at Croke Park. Getting her final fight at Croke Park will make a great story. It is a great story.”

But Mayer will look to add even more to her story. On paper, Chantelle Cameron is probably her best opponent to date. The only fighter to have ever inflicted defeat on Katie Taylor. A victory that still goes under the radar somewhat. If Mayer can get a win over Cameron, it will add another little layer to her already impressive resume.