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Mikaela Mayer will go toe-to-toe with Canada's Mary Spencer this evening in Montreal, battling it out for the WBA super welterweight world title and the chance to become a three-division world champion.
The 35-year-old American, a former unified champion at 130lbs and current welterweight star, has climbed through the divisions with ambition and grit, now stepping up to 154lbs in search of new glory.
'I've always wanted to make the biggest fights possible,' Mayer told Daily Mail Sport from her Las Vegas training camp. 'It wasn't about how many belts I could get; it was about making the biggest and best fights.
'I couldn't get the undisputed fight with Lauren Price this year, so the next best thing was to go up and challenge Mary Spencer for a third division world title. Then next year, I will become undisputed against Lauren.'
For Mayer, who has always been driven by a desire to test herself at the highest level, this latest challenge is about more than another belt. It's about proving that the setbacks she has faced - particularly the 2022 loss to Alycia Baumgardner - have only made her stronger.
'The lowest point in my career, period, was losing to Baumgardner,' she admits. 'It was devastating. Honestly, hate thinking about it even now. If I didn't have someone like Coach Al, who's been with me from the beginning, and a strong team and promoter, I don't know if I would've got out of it. It was hard. But I'm back and you best believe I am better than ever.'
Mikaela Mayer will face Mary Spencer this evening in Montreal, battling it out for the WBA super welterweight world title and the chance to become a three-division world champion
The 35-year-old American (pictured on the right), a former unified champion at 130lbs and current welterweight star, has climbed through the divisions
That sense of renewal was clear when Mail Sport caught up with Mayer during her final preparations in Las Vegas. The former Olympian began her session with an hour of shadow boxing in front of the mirror, focusing on footwork, timing, and rhythm before moving on to the pads.
Each combination was sharp and deliberate, rehearsed for the kind of fight she expects on Thursday night. Then it was onto the heavy bag, where she drilled the same movements she plans to unleash in Montreal - pivoting, slipping, and letting her hands go with trademark precision.
The mood in the gym was serious but light-hearted. Laughter broke out between rounds as Mayer teased her team, who affectionately refer to her as 'Team Captain'. It's a nickname she's earned through experience and leadership - and one she carries with pride.
'It's great being the team captain,' she laughs. 'I remember when girls weren't even allowed in the gym. Now I see these young girls coming up and they remind me of myself when I started.
'I was the only girl in the gym for years. Even now I mostly spar men. But it's fun seeing the next generation have someone to look up to. There's still a lot of work to do, but women's boxing has come so far.'
She's happy to be a role model, but that doesn't mean she always gets her way. Mayer has one ongoing battle in the gym... her music. 'They won't let me play my white girl playlist!' she jokes. 'I just want to play Britney Spears, but they won't let me. Honestly, you'd be surprised how pumped up Britney Spears gets you.'
It's a glimpse into the playful side of a fighter who has long been known for her competitive streak, her confidence, and her composure under pressure.
What's different about this camp, Mayer says, is how good she feels physically. After years of forcing her body to make 130lbs, she's now training without the strain of extreme weight cutting.
'I don't really believe in cutting weight anymore,' she explains. 'I fought at 130 for most of my career and it took a toll on my body. But now I feel stronger, better. All those little injuries went away.'
She went on to add: 'I wouldn't encourage young fighters to cut so much. It's hard when everyone's doing it, but I've learned that being healthy and strong is what really matters.'
That mindset could make all the difference against Spencer, a powerful 40-year-old from Ontario who brings both size and experience at the higher weight. Spencer (10-2, 6 KOs) will have the advantage of home soil and a natural frame for the division, but Mayer insists her technical skill and movement will be the difference.
'She's a worthy opponent,' Mayer says. 'She was a big name back in the amateurs. Those are the kind of fights I want. The ones that mean something. I plan on getting my hand raised and becoming a three-division world champion. Even though I'm the smaller fighter, skills pay the bills. Size doesn't win fights, skill does.'
Mayer's approach is as ambitious as ever. Should she beat Spencer and claim the WBA crown, her goal is to drop back down to 147lbs to chase the undisputed fight with Lauren Price before potentially moving to 140 to challenge again.
'I think these next two years are going to be the biggest of my career,' she says. 'Everything that's happened, the setbacks, the changes, it all happened for a reason. Now I feel like it's my time again.'
