Maïva Hamadouche dreamed of writing the history of French women’s boxing in Las Vegas, but she failed to bring down Mikaela Mayer, winner by unanimous decision and who became the first boxer to unify the titles in the super-feathers on the night of Friday to Saturday in Las Vegas.
The Frenchwoman gave everything, tried everything. She kept moving forward and never backed down when the American managed to touch her better than she did. But his fury and self-sacrifice were not enough to convince the three judges, who awarded the victory to Mayer on points: 98-92, 99-91, 100-90.
Hamadouche knew that if she did not get the KO, it would be difficult for her to win after the ten rounds, believing that her rival was playing at home in the ring of Virgin Hotels, located slightly away from the Strip of Sin City. And as such, the arbitration favor, with moreover the support of the public, would play in favor of the Californian.
She was right. But Mayer did not steal his victory, the 16th (including 5 before the limit) in as many professional fights. De facto, the 31-year-old American has immediately added to her record the IBF belt, previously owned by the Frenchwoman, at the WBO which she already had since 2020. Faithful to her strategy, also taking into account her Sizeable deficit, Hamadouche immediately attacked his opponent, who obviously expected this scenario. This did not prevent him from taking some fairly powerful punches, while responding, in a series of blow for blow which suggested that the confrontation could not last.
Another failure after the Tokyo Games
The following rounds were of the same ilk, the Frenchwoman brushing against the referee warning twice when she grabbed the back of the American’s neck to bring her back towards her. Then Mayer began to gain the upper hand in the 3rd round with precise sequences which he lacked the power to really rock Hamadouche.
Delayed in points, the latter has never departed from its tactics, as in the 6th round won and synonymous with hope. But apart from the 10th round, the Frenchman’s unsuccessful last stand, Mayer managed to keep her at bay during the second part of the fight, to also become the very first boxer in her category to win the prestigious Ring Magazine belt, named after the reference publication on the noble art.
Only her compatriots Claressa Shields (middle and super-welterweights) and Jessica McCaskill (welterweights), as well as Ireland’s Katie Taylor (lightweight), have done so before her in their categories. Titles and consecrations which Hamadouche had made the supreme objective, that of a whole career, but this 2nd defeat in 24 fights prevents him from following in the footsteps of Anne-Sophie Mathis, French pioneer who had succeeded in unify the WBC-WBA-IBF titles in welterweight in 2008.
The one who is a police officer by profession dreamed of a better birthday present the day after her 32 years. But she can nevertheless be proud of the courage she has shown and that we know her. It is a dark year that the Albigensian is living sportingly since she had also suffered a failure as soon as she entered the competition at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, after a spring spent treating a nasty injury to her left arm.
