As she prepares to defend her WBO and IBF Super-Featherweight titles against former world champion Jennifer Han, Mikaela Mayer believes she has “reached another level”.
Mayer added the IBF belt to her WBO title with a thrilling point win over Maiva Hamaduch last November, where Han lost by points in her last fight against Olympic gold medalist and undisputed lightweight world champion Katie Taylor.
Mayer, who has just signed a new multi-year contract extension with Top Rank, hopes that both himself and Han will be in their sharpest position if important this weekend. The fight is going on live Sky Sports Action Sunday from 2 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“I think Saturday night we’re both going to be strong and sharp,” Mayer said.
“Training for this fight, from what I’ve done for the fight in Hamadouche, I’m starting to hit another level and I hope he [Han] Feels the same way.
“When you’re ready to come from Hamadouche for Taylor and someone like me, you go to another level. Sometimes, what you did during that camp is not really fruitful until the next fight. I’ve noticed it a lot. “
“I think I’m in my prime,” Mayer added.
Mayer also has a Ring Magazine title for her department. He is keen to fight integration with WBA champion Hyun Mi Choi and WBC belt holder Alycia Baumgardner and is confident that they will succeed.
“If the girls want these belts, the fight they say and what they say, they want to fight me,” Mayer said.
“I am just sitting here with the hardware [belts] Whatever everyone wants, there’s no reason not to fight this year.
“I think I’m my prime and I don’t want to sit around. There are so many girls that I like to challenge myself at 130lbs, 135lbs and even 140lbs. So, there is no reason not to fight this year. “
‘I’ll show my boxing IQ’
Mayer has also made it clear that his boxing IQ will appear inside the Costa Messa ring and he wants to change his style against Han.
“One thing I’m proud of is that I think I’m a versatile boxer, I think one of the most versatile boxers,” Mayer said.
“I can do a lot of different things and people finally saw that when they saw me hanging out with Hamaduch for 10 rounds. I’m tall and fat, so people always expect me to box, but I’m versatile – I can do it all.
“I think in this fight you will see a little more of my boxing IQ, which I am excited to show. It’s a completely different fight, so it will be a completely different game plan. “
Han, who returned to the ring just six months after giving birth to fight Taylor, believes he is now fully fit.
“Women are amazing. Our bodies change and giving birth to a man and coming back to your pre-pregnancy is an amazing process,” Han said.
“I didn’t have enough time to go back to my pre-pregnancy and yet I did what I did [against Taylor]. I have [now] The time was right, I was ready, and this fight was a good opportunity. “
Mayar fights for equality in boxing
Prior to the weekend fight, the mayor announced the extension of a new multi-year deal with the top ranks, and the fighter believes it highlights a great achievement of his bid for equality in the sport.
“Ever since I went to the gym 14 years ago, I’ve been fighting for a place for women in this sport and to prove that we are a strong force in the sport of boxing,” Mayer said.
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“So, this agreement really reinforces that I did it, to an extent, and I accomplished that goal to an extent. There’s still a long way to go to create parity in this game and close that gap, but I couldn’t be happier with this deal.
“I have always enjoyed working with the top ranks and when I first signed with them five years ago, I knew I had a lot to prove. Every time I stepped into that ring, I fought to show the boxing world that I and women.
“I plan to continue that mentality for the next few years as we break down more barriers and build a wider legacy.”
