Mikaela Mayer made history Tuesday evening, but more importantly, she earned the win. Mayer (13-0, 5 KOs) outboxed Helen Joseph (17-5-2, 10 KOs) over 10 rounds, earning a unanimous decision (100-90 2x and 99-91) at the MGM Grand “Bubble.” Mayer-Joseph marked the first female main event in Top Rank on ESPN history.
(Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Mayer had been out of the ring since October 26, as she and Joseph were scheduled to fight June 9. A positive COVID-19 test for Mayer delayed the fight, but she scraped off the ring rust and put forth a dominating performance over the two-time world title challenger.
Following the bout, Mayer received a word of encouragement, and a promise, from Bob Arum.
“Bob said, ‘Great fight,’ and that the next one will be for the title,” Mayer said. “We’ve been trying to get a world title fight for a while now. I said, ‘Don’t let Eddie Hearn {outbid} us.’”
- The “Cassius” Clay Collard train rolled through Las Vegas once again, as Collard knocked out Lorawnt-T Nelson in the second round of a scheduled six-round middleweight contest. Collard (8-2-3, 3 KOs) improved to 4-0 on the year, including three victories over previously undefeated fighters. He knocked down Nelson (5-4, 4 KOs) in the opening round and twice more in the second before referee Celestino Ruiz stopped the fight.
“I showed my boxing skills in there tonight. I’m unorthodox, but I get the job done,” Collard said. “As soon as Top Rank wants me back, I’ll be ready. Next month on ESPN, let’s go!”
- Ruben Cervera (12-2, 10 KOs) picked up his second straight win, topping Clay “3rd Degree” Burns (9-9-2, 4 KOs) by six-round unanimous decision in a lightweight bout. Cervera knocked down Burns with a left hook in the opening round and prevailed by scores of 59-54 2x and 58-56.
- Highly regarded prospect Javier Martinez made a successful professional debut by winning a four-round unanimous decision over Ryan Burrs in a middleweight bout at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Martinez is under the guidance of Split-T Management’s Tom VanNewhouse.
Martinez boxed well and featured a strong right hook, especially to the body. He made Burrs back up on several occasions with those hard right hooks as the tall southpaw won by scores of 40-36 on all cards. With the win, the 24 year-old native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is now 1-0.
“I went in there with a game-plan that I thought that I was fighting a southpaw. I quickly adjusted. I should have used my jab more. In my next fight, I will fix that, and I will have my full team with me,” said Martinez.
“I could tell that I was working the body well. Those right hooks were very effective, and I am happy to win my pro debut. I will get back in the gym and work on the things that I need to work on, and I will keep getting better with each fight.”.
