Mikaela Mayer Debuts on Big Stage in City of Angels
By Igor Frank
LOS ANGELES-Ten years ago Mikaela Mayer walked into the Mejiro Gym, L.A in Woodland Hills, California.
“I just turned seventeen,” said Mayer while in Hollywood on Wednesday. “And I kind of had been to four different high schools and I just wanted to do something that kind of grounded me and focused me.”
It was inside a building filled with mats, heavy bags and people honing their fighting skills. It keenly interested the bored teen.
“I am going to try something new,” said Mayer recollecting that day. “I took the last 100 dollars out of my account and signed myself up at the gym.”
Ten years later after two Olympic trials and participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil, and a lot of hard work behind her, Mayer is set to perform on a big stage in her professional debut on August 5th, 2017 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
“It’s definitely an honor to fight on such a huge card in my pro debut,” said Mayer, 27. “And also to be able to fight in my home town. I’ve been away for so long training for the Olympics. Now that I am back I get to see my family and friends who have never been able to see me compete.”
Signed by a major boxing promoter, Top Rank, Mayer’s future looks as bright as the Pacific Ocean on a sunny day in Southern California.
“I told myself if I ever were to turn pro that I wanted a major promoter behind me,” said Mayer, who is trained by Al Mitchell. “And I know that big promoters don’t really sign women. This is a new era. I think all these big promoters are picking up their first female and with Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm and all these women in MMA showing that women can be competitive in combat sports. So that is what we needed.”
Slender, tall, and athletic, Mayer brings a lot to the table as a professional lightweight. Determination and perseverance are qualities she demonstrated in the amateurs when after not making the team in her first attempt, she decided to dedicate the next four years to making the team for 2016 Olympics. Qualifying for the Olympic team was by far the biggest accomplishment in Mayer’s life.
“Coming out of United States trials it’s so huge, so competitive ,” said Mayer. “And then only 12 girls in the entire world can qualify in those weight classes going into Olympics. So I had to beat a lot of great girls around the world and getting there was a dream of mine and it was hard to leave that world, but I am ready for a new chapter.”
Mikaela didn’t bring home the Olympic gold like her famous team mate Claressa Shields. She lost to Anastasyia Belyakova from Russia in the quarter finals. But what she did bring home was wealth of experience on the international level as well as zest for combat and lightning speed inside the ring. It should aid her in her professional career.
The new chapter begins on August 5th, 2017. Mikaela will face Widnelly Figueroa from Green Bay Wisconsin. The fight will be streamed live by ESPN 3. Don’t miss it, or better yet come down to Microsoft Theater on Saturday night and watch Mikaela live alongside another Olympian, two-time Olympic gold medalist, Vasyl Lomachenko. The Ukrainian star will headline night and defend his super featherweight crown against tough as nails Colombian, Miguel Marriaga.
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(Photo by Rocco Ceselin)
Contact Igor Frank via email at axident@pacbell.net or via Twitter (Fightmonger)
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