Finally, the second fight silenced the doubts that erupted during the first face-off. In a night of rematches, Mikaela Mayer led the American charge and inflicted a resounding defeat on rival Sandy Ryan. Six months after their first match at the Madison Square Garden, marred by a controversial incident that kicked up a fuss, the show at the Fontainebleau, Las Vegas, finally ended the debate.

“The goal in this fight is to really make it a lot clearer and solidify the win,” said Mikaela Mayer. And that’s what she did. Sandy Ryan gave it her all. However, she could not breach the champion’s solid defense and eventually settled for a second consecutive loss. Now for Mayer, who turns 35 this July, roads are open to elevate her career to new heights. Many expect an all-American clash with the ‘GWOAT’ Claressa Shields, who became boxing’s first three-division champion last month. But it appears Mayer has other plans.

Elated by her overwhelming win, Mikaela Mayer was celebrating with her team and associates backstage when an iFL TV reporter approached her for some quick reactions. Sharing her feelings, Mayer said that she was really happy with how the fight played out. She wanted to make sure this time there was no controversy or claims of a ‘robbery.’

“I’m really happy; um, I’m glad everyone’s thinking that I dominated more because you know the worst thing is to come out of a second fight and people still say, Oh, you know, robbery or this or that, so the goal in this fight was to really make it a lot more clear and solidify the win in just a more dominant way so I could shut up all the naysayers, and I hope I did that,” she said.

Later, the discussion segued to her much-publicized row with former trainer Kay Koroma. Mayer felt betrayed but wasn’t unsettled. She accused ‘Coach K’ of trying to ‘gaslight’ her. This was her second camp with a new trainer, Kofi Jantuah. Last time, she had only a few months to adjust to a new team. However, this time, she had six more months to train with Jantuah. That made a huge difference in her performance. Even just improving by 10% more from the last fight was enough to make it a decisive victory, Mayer emphasized.

Mikaela Mayer: For now, the ‘GWOAT’ will need to wait a little longer

“What’s next? Is it Lauren Price, or is it maybe Claressa Shields?” The reporter finally asked the million-dollar question. Perhaps Mikaela Mayer had already anticipated the poser. She responded back with confidence. “I don’t think Claressa is next; she’s still working to come down, and you know I’m in position now to go undisputed, so that was my original goal, and I fell short at lightweight, so I’m going to—I’m here; I got my second chance, and I’m going to go for undisputed at welterweight, and it’s time for me and Lauren Price’s people to start negotiating,” the welterweight champion emphasized.

For those who know, three weeks ago, at London’s Royal Albert Hall, an all-British showdown saw unbeaten Lauren Price, an Olympic gold medalist, register a thumping victory over Liverpudlian Natasha Jonas and unify the division. Many fans expected Sandy Ryan to finally defeat Mikaela Mayer in the rematch and join Price to retain the four belts in Great Britain.

Now, with Mayer retaining her title, chances for another high-stakes bout between two determined champions have increased like never before.

Do you think if she succeeds in becoming the undisputed champion, Mikaela Mayer should call out Claressa Shields for a mega fight?