Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron will clash for the WBO, WBA and WBC super-welterweight world titles at MVPW-06 in Birmingham on Saturday, August 29.
The high-stakes unification contest tops the bill in the West Midlands city, with the world title belts of major sanctioning bodies the World Boxing Organization, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council on the line.
A stacked panel of current champions, former titleholders, contenders and promoters have given their predictions ahead of the main event, which will be broadcast live on British television network Sky Sports from 7pm.
Fighters Trade Words Ahead of Unification Clash
WBA and WBC super-welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer enters the bout with a professional record of 22 wins and 2 losses. The American fighter expressed confidence that her training camp preparations will yield a decisive result in the ring.
Mayer said that if she reproduces her form from training camp, she may shock pundits predicting a close contest and win by knockout.
"It pans out leaving Chantelle Cameron fans just flabbergasted. Just like, oh, s***, we lost all of our money. I can't believe Mikaela boxed that well," Mayer said.
WBO super-welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron, who holds a record of 22 wins and 1 loss, dismissed Mayer's pre-fight remarks. The British boxer said the talk was a sign of lacking confidence and expressed certainty that she will win a close contest in Birmingham.
"I beat her by turning up, being me, doing what I do best and relaxing," Cameron said.
Champions Pick Mayer to Edge Victory
WBO, WBA and IBF super-featherweight world champion Alycia Baumgardner backed Mayer to prevail, pointing to the resilience her former opponent showed following their past fight.
"It's a great fight. I think they're both well skilled. But I think Mayer just edges it just a tad more than Cameron just because of her adversity that she went through. I think specifically because of me, too. You think about that loss," Baumgardner said.
"I've thought about the loss, and you want to revenge it somehow. Mikaela's done a great job. She's gone on. She took the L, she moved on, and she's done great for herself. I think that this fight will solidify her career just in making the big fights possible. I think that's just what she has in her career. I credit her," Baumgardner added.
Baumgardner also made an unexpected appearance during the official pre-fight press conference, taking everyone by surprise including Mayer when she grabbed the microphone to ask her former rival a question.
Former cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson also tipped Mayer to come out on top, predicting a victory on points due to her physical attributes and boxing skills.
"Even though I'd like to say Chantelle Cameron, I think Mikaela Mayer has a little bit too much variety, experience inside and outside the ropes," Nelson said. "I would lean towards Mikaela to beat Chantelle on points even though it will be a fascinating fight. She has the height, the reach, the variety in her style of fighting."
American featherweight contender Reina Tellez echoed those sentiments, aligning herself with the American champion while offering respect to Cameron.
"I'm team Mayer. She's a great person and an amazing athlete," Tellez said. "Chantelle is also an amazing athlete. You know, clearly she's a world champion for a reason, and she's had a lot of amazing fights. You've got to give the respect where it's due. I take nothing away from Chantelle, but I think Mayer might edge this one out."
Scotney and Dubois Undecided on Winner
Former undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney declined to choose between the two fighters, predicting an entertaining contest that could showcase the sport at its highest level.
"I feel like stylistically it's a fight that you can get someone to watch boxing and they'll love boxing after watching it, I think it's going to be non-stop. I think it's going to be a fight for the ages," Scotney said.
"I think the winner of it breaks out, of course they're in the pound for pound list, but I think they'll be mentioned in the top four greatest fighters of all time within female boxing. They both love to fight, and I think for that factor they're going to give you everything," Scotney added, concluding: "I'm on the fence!"
WBC and WBO lightweight world champion Caroline Dubois also remained on the fence, expressing high regard for both competitors.
"It's a great fight, a great matchup, I think it will be action packed, they both come to fight," Dubois said. "I think I'm going to go on the fence. I have a lot of love and respect for both women, at the end of the day I think boxing wins and I want to see both of them do well."
Promoter Points to Legacy and Tactics
Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian described the matchup as extremely difficult to predict, framing it as a clash with historic significance for women's boxing.
"I think it's a very close fight. I wish it was three minute rounds. I think it's going to be non-stop action. Chantelle Cameron, I've said it time and time again, if Katie Taylor is one of the goats, Chantelle Cameron is one of the goats of women's boxing," Bidarian said.
Bidarian noted Cameron's accomplishments against Irish boxing icon Katie Taylor, whom Cameron defeated in Ireland before losing a narrow decision in their rematch.
"She went to Ireland, hostile territory, beat Katie Taylor, went back and almost beat her again in a close decision," Bidarian said. "And Mikaela Mayer, if she beats Chantelle Cameron, then she's one of the goats. So it's a goat versus a soon-to-be goat if she wins. Chantelle cements her legacy as the goat if she dominates Mikaela Mayer. I think it's very hard to predict, very, very hard to predict."
"What I can predict, nonstop action that is going to have you at the edge of your seat every single second of every minute of every round," Bidarian added.
American lightweight contender Amelia Moore highlighted the contrasting styles of both fighters, pointing out that range and conditioning will decide the encounter.
"Chantelle is incredible, she has great pressure, IQ. Mikaela has distance, a really good distance control," Moore said. "And I have talked to people before about this. It's really going to be reliant on distance control and pacing. I really believe that. So it's who can maintain that pacing and be able to handle that distance control who is going to take it. I can't give you a prediction."
Dubois Faces Moore on Undercard
In addition to her commentary on the main event, Caroline Dubois will be in action on the MVPW-06 card against Amelia Moore in a lightweight contest.
During their face-to-face press encounter, Dubois spoke extensively to Moore, with the American contender appearing unimpressed and unamused during the prolonged interaction.
The MVPW-06 event takes place on Saturday, August 29, at the venue in Birmingham, with live coverage starting on Sky Sports from 7pm UK time.
