Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron were part of a long list of women waiting for Katie Taylor to call, but the call never came. It was not a shock when they were both ignored ahead of Taylor’s retirement party – in front of 80,000 at Croke Park in two weeks – but a fight between Mayer and Cameron themselves was a nice idea.
This Saturday, in Birmingham, they fight each other with three world-title belts on the line, and it is one of the very best fights that could be made in the women’s game. It is an MVP promotion, their second in the UK, and once again the full card is exceptional. This time, American stars face Britain’s own in every bout.
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Mayer holds the WBC and WBA belts at super-welterweight, and Cameron has the WBO version, which means there will be a decent scuffle at the end between the commissioners in the ring, all desperate to attach their bauble to the champion first.
In an ideal boxing world, Cameron would be getting her third fight with Taylor, and Mayer (who first fought for a world title at super-feather, a full 24lb below this weekend’s limit) would be fighting at a lighter weight.
The women’s game often throws up odd fights at strange weights, and this is certainly one of the very best ever in that category. The willingness and ability of the top fighters to flip in and out of alien divisions has made the women’s side of the sport so competitive.
American Mayer and Britain’s Cameron are both senior members of the team, exceptional fighters, veterans of long and successful amateur careers, and have been in close to 25 world-title fights in five divisions as professionals. They have taken risks, taken hard fights on the road, and are now firmly established as two of the very best in their sport.
Cameron during her brutal second fight with Katie Taylor (Getty)
Cameron held a version of the world title at lightweight nine years ago, which is nearly 20lb below the super-welterweight limit. It can often feel like there are three weight classes: those under super-feather, then somewhere near the super-welterweight limit, then those up at middleweight and above. Small, medium, and big, if you like.
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Mayer has lost just twice, both tight decisions and both in Britain; Cameron’s only loss was in the rematch with Taylor in Dublin in 2023. They could, once Taylor retires at midnight in two weeks, be fighting for the unofficial crown of the world’s top female boxer. Mayer against Cameron feels that big.
Caroline Dubois defends her two lightweight world championships on the same bill and is a contender for that same honorary title.
Mayer’s only two defeats were both razor close, with one coming against Natasha Jonas (Getty)
On Saturday night, there will be no time for getting a sense of distance, feeling their way into the fight or taking a few rounds to – as we say – “have a look”. It will be furious from the start. They can both box, but this fight will be decided by the tiniest margins; if either boxer decides to move her feet, pick her punches and show their ring skills, they risk getting lost in the storm.
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Once the first bell sounds, they will meet in the centre of the ring. It will stay that way throughout the 10 short rounds. The pattern of the fight is simple to predict, the outcome with any confidence less so. A draw is a great suggestion; a split decision is almost inevitable.
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