Mikaela Mayer BLASTS Eddie Hearn Over Alycia Baumgardner Rematch Talks “He Can’t Afford The Rematch”
Mikaela Mayer Shocked Eddie Hearn Not Willing To Put On Undisputed Title Rematch
Alycia Baumgardner (14-1, 7 KOs) became the undisputed super featherweight champion on Saturday at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater. The American dropped Elhem Mekhaled twice en route to a convincing 10-round unanimous decision.
Immediately afterwards, in the ring, she was asked about a rematch with bitter rival Mikaela Mayer (17-1, 5 KOs). Baumgardner controversially outpointed Mayer via a split decision on the Shields Marshall card last October. She immediately denied any possibility of a rematch after her win but in recent months seems to have become more receptive to the idea.
Her promoter Eddie Hearn predicted this last October and explained that if it made financial sense, they would do the rematch. Hearn stated that the first fight was close, although he had Baumgardner winning, a rematch between the pair “would be sensational” and could headline a fight night in the United States – what Hearn believes it should’ve done the first time around.
However, on Saturday after Baumgardner’s win, Hearn alluded to the media that Top Rank, the promoter of Mayer, would have to make a major offer to stage the rematch whilst Alycia commented that she was the A-side now and a second fight would only take place on her terms. Mayer was quick to pick up on the paradox.
Mikaela Mayer told Boxing Social “Her (Baumgardner) and Eddie need to have a conversation. She’s saying ‘on my terms’ and Eddie is coming out saying ‘TR need to make an offer we can’t refuse and the number needs to be big’.”
“We made the first offer because we were the champions. Now you’re the champion, you’re the undisputed champion. Since when does the challenger make the offer?” It does seem odd that the British promoter doesn’t want to stage the fight on a Matchroon/DAZN show but one possible explanation could be that they would only do the rematch if the offer was too good to turn down.
“That means he (Eddie Hearn) is literally willing to send his undisputed world champion back over to Top Rank on ESPN, why? He can’t afford the Rematch.” Mayer, however, believes that Hearn/Matchroom simply cannot afford to stage a rematch between the pair. Hearn stated last September that Alycia Baumgardner was making seven figures for their undercard bout and a rematch would likely be even more expensive.
Neither are proven draws although a rematch would sell very well because of the rivalry. Mayer must first get past the only fighter to beat Baumgardner in a professional ring, Greece’s former super lightweight champion Christina Linardatou (14-2, 6 KOs) when they meet later this year – date TBC.