By: Sean Crose
Michaela Mayer now has three junior middleweight title belts in her possession. By defeating Mary Spencer Thursday night in Canada, America’s Mayer became even more solidified in her position as one of the top female boxers in the world. On top of winning the WBC and WBO titles after the sound of the final bell on Thursday, Mayer walked out of the ring in possession of the WBA title belt as well. “I’ve won a WBO before,” said Mayer (courtesy of the BBC) “but I’ve never had the WBA or WBC put around my waist, so this is extra special.”
While Spencer certainly showed up to fight on Thursday, she simply didn’t have the ability to handle the far more skilled Mayer. “She’s a strong, solid opponent,” Mayer said of Spencer. “Props to her, she didn’t have to take this fight…she took a big risk taking on a fighter like me. I always come forward and put on tough fights.” Well Spencer certainly had nothing to be ashamed of, the night clearly belonged to Mayer. The thirty five year old Californian has continued her reign as one of the biggest draws in female boxing.
“The most important thing is that I have options,” the world titlist claimed.”I’d love to do both – go back down to 147lb for undisputed, then come back up and defend at 154lb.” Mayer has more than good reason to feel comfortable with the options she’s presented with. She remains the WBO welterweight champion of the world, meaning that jumping up and down from one division to the next is more than feasible at this point. It’s all a far cry than the struggles Mayer was facing not so long ago.
“I came off two years of my career, took a left turn and had to get my way back to this position…It was a great experience and I can do both. We’ll have to see what’s best.” With losses to the likes of Natasha Jonas and Alycia Baumgardner now well behind her, Mayor can focus on the future, including a possible fight with Claressa Shields who may well be the most highly-regarded female boxer in the world. Indeed it might be a fitting match between the two, a high profile affair that might decide who the best woman’s fighter in the sport really is. Both Mayer and Shields certainly have the confidence and the skills to make it a much see event.