It was introduced Thursday at a information convention to advertise Mikaela Mayer’s title protection in opposition to Jennifer Han on Saturday that Mayer has signed a multi-year contract extension along with her promoter, Prime Rank.
That achievement rivals her success within the ring when one considers that the game has lengthy favored males.
“Ever since I walked right into a fitness center 14 years in the past, I’ve been combating for a spot for ladies within the sport and to show that we’re a strong pressure within the sport of boxing. This contract solidifies that,” mentioned Mayer, who faces Han within the 10-round essential occasion in Costa Mesa, California (ESPN, ESPN+).
“I’ve accomplished that purpose to an extent. Clearly, there’s a lengthy solution to go together with creating equality within the sport and shutting that hole, however I couldn’t be happier with this contract. It’s a dream contract.”
One other purpose is to proceed successful large fights, as Mayer (16-0, 5 KOs) has carried out.
The 2016 U.S. Olympian from California simply outpointed Ewa Brodnicka to win the vacant WBO junior light-weight title in October 2020 and efficiently defended in opposition to Erica Farias and Maiva Hamadouche, including the IBF belt within the final victory. All three of these opponents are good fighters.
So is Han, a former featherweight titleholder from Texas. She’s coming off a shutout loss to light-weight champion Katie Taylor final September however had problem reducing weight for the combat after giving start to her second little one.
The 38-year-old Han (18-4-1, 1 KO) wasn’t Mayer’s first alternative. She had hoped for a chance to unify three titles in opposition to both Alycia Baumgardner (WBC) or Hyun Mi Choi (WBA) however neither needed the combat.
“[Han] simply went 10 rounds in opposition to the 135-pound undisputed champion, Katie Taylor, so I’ve tons of respect for her,” Mayer mentioned. “I do know she has expertise and has skilled arduous, and we didn’t look previous her in any respect in making ready for this combat.”
“It’s no secret that I needed to proceed to unify. I needed Alycia Baumgardner. I needed Hyun Mi Choi. That was my first alternative. They’re not fairly able to step as much as that, I assume, so we had to have a look at one other route.”
“We needed to combat somebody who is powerful and confirmed. We don’t need any straightforward fights. We need to proceed rising and getting higher.”
The combat is a homecoming for Mayer, who spent a lot of her youth within the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. She has fought solely twice within the L.A. space as an expert, the final time in 2018
“I haven’t fought in L.A. in a very long time,” she mentioned. “It’s form of come full circle. I began right here 14 years in the past after I was 17. And I left at 19 years outdated with a dream: to change into an Olympian and change into the most effective feminine fighters on the earth.
“Fourteen years later, I’m right here combating in the primary occasion on ESPN. I’ve come a great distance.”
