Who is Mikaela Mayer? What you need to know about the American female boxing sensation

American boxing sensation Mikaela Mayer will get to headline her own event this Friday as she challenges Sandy Ryan for the WBO welterweight title inside The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Mayer is one of the most recognizable rising stars in boxing today, being a part of the Olympic team as an amateur and getting promoted by Top Rank promotions in her pro career.

Despite coming in as a challenger against Ryan, Mayer is no stranger to wearing gold around her waist. The 34-year-old boxer has held the unified women's super-featherweight (130-pound) titles in the past, with both the WBO and IBF belts in her possession.

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Who is Mikaela Mayer?

Born Mikaela Joslin Mayer, on July 4, 1990 in Los Angeles, California, the American pugilist now trains and resides in Colorado Springs.

Ealy in her life, Mayer tried many activities such as soccer, motocross and snowboardiing. She was even encouraged to try modeling for her looks. Still, none of these were her true calling as she gravitated more towads a fight gym near her town. Standing 5'9" with a reach of 66.5 inches, you'd say Mayer's physique is best suited for the fistic arts.

At 17-years old Mayer started fight training with Muay Thai as her main sport. While taking time away from the Art of Eight Limbs to rest her legs, she tried to do some boxing, which eventually became the conduit of her dreams.

After winning a Golden Gloves championship, Mayer went through a gruelling boxing scholarship program under Olympic coach Al Mitchell, who is still her main coach to this day. At the moment, she is managed by veteran manager George Ruiz.

With the help of Ruiz and Mitchell, Mayer reached the World Championships and went on to compete in the OIympics, as well as winning belts in her pro career.

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Mikaela Mayer boxing career explored

Despite starting boxing late in her life, Mikaela Mayer amassed a substantial run in the amateur ranks, with a record of 60-25. Some of her major accomplishments as an amateur include being a three-time USA Boxing National Champion at 64 and 64 kg (2012, 2014, and 2015), a National Golden Gloves champion at 60 kg, and a Bronze medalist at the 2012 World Championships.

Mayer turned pro in August 2017 under Top Rank promotions, knocking out Widnelly Figueroa in the first round. She then complied a 17-fight undefeated streak with notable wins over Erica Farias, Maiva Hamadouche, Jennifer Han, and Ewa Brodnicka, whom she beat to win her first world title, the WBO super-featherweight belt.

After dropping her 130-pound belts to Alycia Baumgardner in 2022, Mayer moved up to lightweight and beat Lucy Wildheart for the vacant WBC interim lightweight title. Two years later, she moved up again to welterweight to challenge Natasha Jonas for the IBF welterweight throne but lost via a controversial split decision.

Her bout with Sandy Ryan this Friday will be Mayer's second attempt at winning a title at welterweight.