Mikaela Mayer fights in Minnesota February 15

Born in California, living in Colorado and heading to Minnesota for her first bout of the year, undefeated, fast-rising, title-bound female star, Mikaela Mayer, is excited to kick off 2019.

There are cold winter temperatures outside these days in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” but things will be heating up inside the ring in Minnesota on February 15th.

Live from the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota, new WBA middleweight champion Rob Brant will make the first defense of the title he won from Ryota Murata last October in Las Vegas.

Saint Paul, Minnesota born Brant upset favoured Japanese star Murata, via 12-round unanimous decision, to win the title and is now excited to return home to make his first title defense in front of family and friends.

The undercard will feature several undefeated fighters including Tennessee middleweight Tyler Howard (16-0, 11 KO’s), Miami slickster Albert Bell (13-0, 5 KO’s), Cleveland, Ohio-based super featherweight prospect Ramiro Hernandez (13-0, 8 KO’s) and Terence Crawford stablemate Steve Nelson (12-0, 10 KO’s).

The ESPN, televised undercard will also feature Mikaela Mayer, (9-0, 4 KO’s) one of boxing’s brightest female stars and a fighter who is fast closing in on a world title shot.

Mayer will be facing Yareli Larios (13-1-1, 3 KO’s) of Guadalajara, Mexico who has some big fight experience having won the WBC FECOMBOX female featherweight title back in 2017, and then losing a close split decision for the WBC International super bantamweight title in 2018.

Mayer’s upcoming opponent, Larios, has never fought outside of Mexico and might be in for a shock when she steps off the plane in wintery Minnesota in February. She’ll definitely be looking for some heat in Hinkley, and Mayer will provide it, it just might not be the kind Larios was hoping for.

Entering the ring for her first fight of 2019, and her 10th bout in 18-months, Mayer has been kept busy by Top Rank Promotions since turning pro in the summer of 2017.

Coached by veteran, Philadelphia trainer Al Mitchell and US Olympic coach Kay Karoma, Mayer, who represented the United States at the Rio Olympics in 2016, has impressed with both speed and power in her professional run.

Mayer won the NABF super featherweight title in October of last year in Omaha, Nebraska and then defended it 2 months later in Corpus Christi, Texas, beating 30-fight veteran Calista Silgado by unanimous decision.

Working behind an impressive and consistent jab, and mixing strong body and head shots, Mayer is going to be tough to beat. It is clear she has a strong foundation of fundamentals, from an impressive amateur career, mixed in with the right amount of aggression to finish her opponents when the opportunity arises. In short, while Mayer can box, she is an offensive fighter who brings it and will quickly look to close the show if she gets her opponent hurt.

But, Mayer also knows that patience is the key in her fights and in her career. She has a good team around her and is looking to let them dictate where she needs to be. Her job is to make sure she is on point and meeting those directives in the ring, something she has done to perfection since turning pro.

As quick with a smile and a laugh out of the ring, as she is focused and aggressive in it, the articulate, well-spoken Mayer might just be the next star to really make some noise in female boxing. But, in a recent chat, while she expressed that patience is the key at this stage of her career she also knows that 2019 could be a very big year for her and she is more than ready to take those next steps.

Maxboxing caught up with Mayer in Colorado, en-route from the gym to home after another long days of training, entrenched in the last phase of her pre-fight preparation.

“I’m excited to get in the ring for my first fight of the year”, she said, “I know the girl I am fighting is very tough, she is quick and we are expecting a lot of punches from her. She has only lost one time and it was very close; we are expecting a tough fight”, said Mayer.

Woodland Hills, California-native Mayer has kept a busy pace as a pro and will be entering the ring for the 10th time in 18 months, but she, and her team, like the busy schedule.

“Obviously, if I had a world title I wouldn’t be fighting 5 times a year”, she said, “but at this time it is good to be busy and fighting a lot. My team never lets me get too far ahead and thinking about other possible fights, title fights or whatever. I am focused on each fight at a time and my coaches don’t let me think beyond that”, she said.

Asked to assess her greatest strength in the ring Mayer was quick to point out that with her team, it’s all about building off the fundamentals that are continually being worked on.

“Well, I’m tall and long and I am feel I have both strength and speed”, said Mayer. “I make 130 easily and I think I’ll be able to move up through a few weight divisions in my career. I’m very strong as a super featherweight and have a great team and program. I am eating 3 meals a day leading up to the weigh-in and feel very strong. The weight is a cut, but I’m strong”, she said. “With my coaches, you are always working on the fundamentals. We look at tape and study fighters and they put a good game plan together for me, but it all works off the strong fundamentals”.

Ranked #1 by both the IBF and WBA, Mayer may very well find herself in a world title fight before the year is out.

“We talk about things as a team and I know that the key is to stay focused on my fight and with a win bigger things will be coming”, she said. “I jut have to stay focused, work hard, listen to my coaches and when the call comes for a title shot, I know I’ll be ready”.