Mayer Vacates WBO Title, Is Price Next?

In a strategic move to boost her undisputed welterweight title aim, Mikaela Mayer has vacated her WBO junior middleweight title.

WBO President Gustavo Olivieri made the announcement, as Mayer’s focus is likely on facing Lauren Price for undisputed at 147. Mayer unified at 154 after defeating Mary Spencer, as she became the WBC and WBA junior middleweight champion. But holding championships in two different weight classes at once is against WBO regulations, so Mayer chose to keep her WBO Welterweight Title to facilitate a winner-take-all showdown with Price.

Mayer Vacates

“Be advised that Mikaela Mayer has formally relinquished the WBO Junior Middleweight Championship. [Mayer] will retain her WBO Welterweight World Title as she pursues undisputed status at 147 pounds.All the best to Team Mayer,” Gustavo Olivieri (WBO President) said

Meanwhile, Price holds the IBF, WBA, and WBC titles. Promoter Ben Shalom has already put a formal offer on the table for the two to headline a card at London’s Royal Albert Hall this year. However, the “undisputed” fight may have to wait until the summer. Price is first expected to make a homecoming defense in Cardiff first to stay active. If Price successfully defends her belts in Wales, the stage will be set for the Mayer fight. For Mayer, the gamble is clear: she is sacrificing one world title now for the chance to hold all of them.

Price’s Future

“I believe she will headline in Cardiff in the very, very near future. We want to make that Mikaela Mayer fight but let’s see what happens. “I think she could become a national icon. With her success at the Olympics in Tokyo where she won gold, and now her success in the pros, she is someone who has the entire nation behind her. “So, yes, we want big fights for Lauren and hope she headlines in Cardiff next. “We have that coming up, thick and fast in March. We will be returning there on the same date so there are a lot of big things in the pipeline,” Ben Shalom said

If the Price fight does not happen, Katie Taylor is open to facing Mayer at a catchweight bout. Taylor retained her undisputed junior welterweight title by beating Amanda Serrano last year. The win extended her rivalry to 3-0, as she ended their rivalry with a clean sweep.

“I’m waiting for a big fight that actually does excite me. I feel like I have done it all in the sport. I’m just waiting for a fight that actually excites and motivates me. Mikaela is a fantastic fighter. I feel like she hasn’t gotten the credit she deserves these last few years. She’s phenomenal. That would be an amazing fight. She’s a great all-around fighter. You need to be well prepared going into a fight like that,” Taylor said