Mikaela Mayer Officially A Lightweight and More News
(Photo by JP Yim)
By David A. Avila
When Mikaela Mayer’s scheduled foe Christina Linardatou was forced off the match by the British Boxing Commission a strong replacement was quickly slotted in.
Lucy Wildheart, the one-day substitute, gave an entertaining performance.
Top Rank showed its decades long experience in staging expensive televised fight cards. The Las Vegas-based organization that promoted Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao was more than prepared for the loss of a key opponent. Even in London, England.
And so was Mayer.
Now living and training in Colorado Springs near the USA amateur training facility, Mayer gets an assorted supply of flavors and styles like a See’s Candies conveyor belt. You never know what you are going to get and Mayer is prepared.
Wildheart went 10 hard rounds against a bigger, stronger and determined Mayer who was antsy to trade blows with anyone in the heavier 135-pound lightweight division.
It showed.
Mayer has always displayed a visible hunger that shines through. The first time I ever saw her with boxing gloves was in an international match versus Poland. If I remember correctly, it was about 13 years ago, and I was in the Oxnard area to meet with Argentina’s Sergio Martinez. He had just defeated Paul Williams to become middleweight champion.
An international women’s amateur tournament was also taking place that week and I decided to take a look to see if there were any promising fighters. There were plenty on both sides, but Mayer had that look. Its hard to describe but it’s a visible hunger, an eagerness to perform and show off to everyone like a movie star with an expensive gown. Or a pitcher with a 105-mile-an-hour fastball, they just want to show it to everyone.
The first time I saw Mayer exchange punches she tore into some poor Polish girl as if she stole her wallet. None of the honed boxing skills she has now were evident, but there was a ferocity in her determination to win and she emerged victorious.
When Mayer finally made the US Olympic team in 2016, it was no surprise.
The fight against Wildheart showed that Mayer comes prepared for any deviations. Whether it’s a short girl with a pressure style or a taller Swede with a head-first attack. Wildheart’s head butts were more dangerous than her right cross. It landed more often and was finally recognized as a danger by the referee halfway through the fight.
One thing about amateur boxing, is how to deal with head butts during inside fighting. Most amateurs fight on the outside and wear head gear. They are taught to clinch, not fight.
Mayer needs a little work on avoiding butts. At least a dozen times Wildheart connected big with her head and it showed on the American fighter’s face.
It reminded me of Amanda Serrano’s fight with Erika Cruz. Many touted the Mexican fighter’s ability to fight it out with the great Puerto Rican fighter, especially inside. But all I can remember is getting squeamish watching Cruz butt Serrano time after time.
It was the same watching Mayer and Wildheart. Those numerous clash of heads made me look away at times. Somehow, no serious cuts emerged. But after 10 rounds it was a big lesson on the danger of head butts.
Fights in Cardiff, Wales
A couple of solid matches led by Sandy Ryan (5-1) and Marie Pier Houle (8-0-1) meeting 10 rounds for the vacant WBO world title. It’s the title stripped by the WBO from Jessica McCaskill. She still holds the other belts.
Ryan and Pier Houle is an intriguing contest and both are tall.
Also, featherweights Skye Nicolson (6-0) of Australia and Linda Laura Lecca (15-6-2) of Argentina will be performing. DAZN will be streaming the Matchroom Boxing card.
More Fight News
Argentina
Yamila Reynoso (13-13-3) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Sofia Rodriguez (5-9) on Saturday April 15. The South American super lightweight title fight took place at General Villegas.
Romina Sosa (4-2-4) beat Camila Avaca (2-4-2) by decision on Saturday April 15. The flyweight fight was held at Mar del Plata.
Lightweights Alma Prospetti (1-2-1) and Camila Avaca (2-3-3) fought to a draw after six rounds on Saturday April 15. The match took place at San Fernando.
Super bantamweights Eliana Orecchia (3-7-2) and Maria Cuello (0-3-1) fought to a split draw after four rounds on Friday April 14. The match took place at San Justo.
On Saturday April 22, super bantamweights Daniela Bermudez (30-4-3) and Daniela Rivero (9-4) meet 10 rounds for the vacant Argentine featherweight title at Timbues.
Australia
Chloe Chaos (1-1) knocked out Inise Kaunimara (1-3) in the first round on Friday April 14. The super middleweight fight was held in Fleming.
On Friday April 21, flyweights Vivian Ruiz (6-1) and Khwunchit Khunya (4-13-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Bowen Hills. Also, welterweights Jessica Messina (2-0) and Flora Kilasa (0-0) meet six rounds.
On Saturday April 22, lightweights Hayley Adrian (3-1) and Talei Aldiss (0-1) meet five rounds at Surfer’s Paradise.
On Saturday April 22, super featherweights Jaala Tomat (1-2-1) and Pam McLelland (2-1-1) meet four rounds at Melbourne. Also, super flyweights Connie Brown (0-0) and Ali Jensen (0-4) meet four rounds.
Belgium
On Saturday April 22, super welterweights Marija Zivkovic (1-12-1) and Sedem Dzandu-Hedidor (0-0) meet six rounds at Charleroi.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
On Sunday April 23, super welterweights Katarina Vistica (3-25) and Sonja Pilipovic (0-13) meet eight rounds at Ljubuski.
Colombia
On Saturday April 22, bantamweights Rini Khoudari (4-0-1) and Arlis Tapias (1-3-1) meet six rounds at Barranquilla.
Czech Republic
Fabiana Bytyqi (20-0-2) defeated Elizabeth Lopez (10-6-5) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 15. The WBC atomweight world title fight took place in Brno.
France
Light flyweights Souad Masmoudi (3-0-1) and Isabel Rivero (3-2-1) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds on Saturday April 15. The regional light flyweight title match was held at Epernay.
On Saturday April 22, Lydie Bialic (2-2) and Laela El Ksiri (2-3) meet six rounds at Auch.
Germany
Maja Milenkovic (11-11) beat Dunja Bocan (0-3) by decision after four rounds on Saturday April 15. The super bantamweight bout took place at Mecklenburg.
Farina Roemling (3-0) knocked out Sabine Hempel (0-5) in the first round on Saturday April 15. The super featherweight contest was held at Euskirchen.
Italy
On Sunday April 23, Silvia Bignami (0-0) and Evelin Camporeale (2-2-1) meet six rounds at Rome.
Japan
Noa Sakamoto (4-0) defeated Muthita Iansaard (2-1) by knockout in the fourth round on Sunday April 16. The atomweight fight took place in Osaka.
Sumire Yamanaka (7-0) knocked out Pimchanok Thepjanda (4-2) in the third round on Saturday April 15. The atomweight fight took place at Osaka. Other results: atomweight Kaori Nagai (7-5-3) knocked out Kanyarat Nunoi (3-2) in third round; bantamweight Terumi Nuki (13-5) knocked out Myung Eun Lee (2-4-2) in fourth round; Aka Ringo (4-1) knocked out Kim Actub (8-11-1) in two rounds for Japanese bantamweight title; super flyweight Miku Nagasaki (1-2) beat Kaho Munetoshi (1-1) by decision after four rounds.
On Saturday April 22, atomweights Sakura Kannari (0-0) and Riho Yoshida (1-0-1) meet four rounds at Kariya.
Nicaragua
Luisa Vallejos (1-1) won by split decision after four rounds versus Marcela Sanchez (0-2) on Saturday April 15. The bantamweight fight was held at Managua.
Poland
On Saturday April 22, super bantamweights Laura Grzyb (8-0) and Maria Cecchi (8-1) meet 10 rounds for the EBU title at Rzeszow.
Slovakia
On Saturday April 22, super middleweights Jessica Triebelova (2-0) and Christianne Fahey (2-0) meet eight rounds at Kosice.
South Africa
On Friday April 21, super featherweights Chiedza Homakoma (6-6-2) and Bukiwe Nonina (19-4-1) meet eight rounds at Johannesburg.
Spain
Tania Alvarez (8-1) defeated Angelika Oles (2-3) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Friday April 14. The super bantamweight bout took place at Castellbisbal.
On Saturday April 22, super featherweights Alba Sanchez (3-0) and Katherine Quintana (0-19-1) meet six rounds.
Switzerland
Gabriela Timar (9-1) defeated Giorgia Scholastri (3-2) by majority decision after 10 rounds on Friday April 14, The EBU light flyweight title match was held at Basel.
Tanzania
On Sunday April 23, lightweights Feriche Mashaury (10-8) and Rukia Nasirite (7-10-6) meet six rounds at Dodoma. Also Happy Daudi (12-13-1) and Suzana Mahenge (0-2) meet six rounds; super flyweights Jesca Mfinanga (2-1-1) and Jivunieni Kisarawe (0-0-1) meet six rounds.
United Kingdom
Mikaela Mayer (18-1) defeated Lucy Wildheart (10-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday April 15. The interim lightweight title fight took place at London, England. Wildheart was a one-day replacement for Christina Linardatou who was not allowed to fight by the British Boxing Board for health reasons.
Chelsey Arnell (2-1-1) won by decision after six rounds versus Amy Greatorex (0-2) on Saturday April 15. The lightweight fight took place at Hull.
Tysie Gallagher (6-1) defeated Lisa Whiteside (5-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday April 14. The regional super bantamweight title fight took place at London, England.
On Saturday April 22, welterweights Sandy Ryan (5-1) and Marie Pier Houle (8-0-1) meet 10 rounds for the vacant WBO world title. Also, featherweights Skye Nicolson (6-0) and Linda Laura Lecca (15-6-2) meet eight rounds at Cardiff, Wales.
On Sunday April 23, bantamweights Tracey Webber (0-0) and Svitlana Vasylevska (2-3) meet four rounds at Manchester.
USA
Carmen Vargas (4-1-1) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Melissa Holguin (3-1) on Saturday April 15. The regional featherweight title fight was held at San Antonio, Texas.
Gloria Munguilla (3-0) won by majority decision after four rounds versus Nikkia Williams (0-1) on Friday April 14. The flyweight bout took place at Commerce, Calif.
On Friday April 21, super bantamweights Leesh Pike (1-0-1) and Sandra Cheng (0-0) meet four rounds at Windham, New Hampshire.
On Saturday April 22, Stevie Jane Coleman (4-1) and Sarah Click (1-3-1) meet six rounds at Uncasville, Conn.
On Saturday April 22, lightweights Sarah Alpar (0-0) and Yuri Medina (0-0) meet four rounds Amarillo, Texas.
Venezuela
Bantamweights Julimar Paez (1-0-1) and Sara Suarez (2-0-1) fought to a split draw after four rounds on Saturday April 15. The bantamweight contest was held at Caracas.