Mayer vs Baumgardner: The fierce rivalry between Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner poses a threat to overshadow Saturday’s major event.
The WBC, WBO, and IBF super-featherweight world championship fight between Mayer and Baumgardner serve as the main support for Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall for the undisputed middleweight championship.
Shields and Marshall’s rivalry has been going on for the past ten years, but Mayer and Baumgardner’s animosity erupted this week, starting with a tense on-screen altercation and continuing with an emotional face-off when they came face to face at Wednesday’s open workout.
However, the news conference on Thursday lacked some of the acrimony. All the rhetoric, according to Mayer, will ultimately be pointless.
“I know there’s been a lot of trash talk between me and Baumgardner but I respect her enough to train extremely hard for this fight,” Mayer said.
“I think these rivalries are good for women’s boxing.
“But I also know none of it matters. All that matters is when we walk into the ring on Saturday night and I’ve fully prepared myself for war.”
Baumgardner agreed. “It’s always about what happens on Saturday night,” she said. “I’m so excited to be a part of something like this and Saturday night’s going to be fireworks.
