Mary Spencer isn’t disillusioned by the hometown advantage she enjoys in what marks her biggest pro fight to date.
The defending WBA 154lbs titlist is well aware of the public perception that Mikaela Mayer is expected to prevail in their scheduled 10-round clash. Mayer, 21-2 (5 KOs) travels to Spencer’s Montreal hometown and moves up in weight but is heavily favored to claim her third divisional title by night’s end.
“I saw the odds. I know that I'm the underdog according to the bookies,” Spencer noted during Tuesday’s final pre-fight press conference. “But I mean, they get it wrong often. I don't feel like an underdog. I feel like this fight is a gift.
“I get to be here at home. I get to really show a hometown crowd my best, and I'm very excited for that.”
In addition to Spencer’s WBA belt, the vacant WBC and WBO titles will be at stake in their clash. The bout will headline a show this Thursday from Montreal Casino, to air live on Top Rank Classics FAST channel via ROKU, Tubi, VIZIO and Pluto TV.
Spencer, 10-2 (6 KOs) will attempt the second defense of her title.
The 40-year-old, Montreal-based boxer – a quarterfinalist for Canada during the 2012 London Olympics - claimed an interim version of the belt last September. She was upgraded to full titleholder after Terri Harper vacated to commit to her current WBO lightweight title reign.
Her lone fight in between that period came in a dominant 10-round, unanimous decision victory over Ogleidis Suarez on April 10. The bout took place at the same venue that will host her challenge of Mayer, a former unified 130lbs titlist and current WBO 147lbs titleholder who makes her first appearance on the northern side of the U.S./Canada border.
Meanwhile, Spencer not only fights at home but amongst her adoring fans at Montreal Casino for the fifth straight time and eighth overall.
Despite the intangibles, Mayer will enter the ring as a -750 betting favorite according to bet365 sportsbook, who lists Spencer as a +475 underdog.
The defending titlist chooses to lean into the role as she is confident in her own abilities while fighting in familiar territory – in every sense of the word.
“I think the key to victory is going to be me staying comfortable and being myself in the ring, and just being calm,” insisted Spencer. “I know where I'm at as far as training, where I'm at in my life, and I felt even before this fight was matched that the next opponent was going to be in trouble, whoever that was.
“And now the situation is even more exciting because it's Mikaela, because of the style that she brings.”
Spencer-Mayer tops a five-fight stream on Top Rank Classics, beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
