Mikaela Mayer has not abandoned her goal of becoming undisputed champion.
However, she was forced to let go of one belt as she mulls all next step options. WBO officials confirmed that Mayer – who simultaneously held the sanctioning body’s title at both 147lbs and 154lbs – has parted ways with the junior middleweight belt.
The decision was made on Tuesday, less than three months after Mayer, 22-2 (5 KOs) defeated Mary Spencer to win the WBA, WBC and WBO 154lbs titles last October 29 in Montreal, Canada.
“Be advised that Mikaela Mayer has formally relinquished the WBO Junior Middleweight Championship,” WBO president Gustavo Olivieri informed BoxingScene and other media outlets. “[Mayer] will retain her WBO Welterweight World Title as she pursues undisputed status at 147 pounds.
“All the best to Team Mayer.”
An update on her WBC and WBA 154lbs titles were not yet made available as this goes to publication. WBO rules do not permit titlists to hold belts at multiple weights, which left Mayer with a difficult choice.
Mayer has been adamant about wanting to fully unify the welterweight division, which is a one-fight effort. Lauren Price, 9-0 (2 KOs), is the recognized lineal, WBA, WBC and IBF champ at the weight, and due to defend her unified crown in March, according to promoter Ben Shalom.
Prior to Tuesday’s decision, Mayer was theoretically one fight away from undisputed status at 154lbs as well.
Oshae Jones, 9-0 (3 KOs), the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist for the U.S., currently holds the IBF belt. Mayer and Jones have been friends – or at least friendly – since their respective amateur careers, though would have to put that aside for business should the right opportunity arise as it relates to multi-belt glory.
Mayer was recognized as 2025 Fighter of the Year by several outlets, and was BoxingScene’s top runner-up to Elif Nur Turhan.
The 2016 U.S. Olympian scored a repeat win over Sandy Ryan, whom she dethroned to claim the WBO 147lbs title in September 2024 but won in more dominant fashion in their March 29 rematch in Las Vegas. She then traveled north of the border to upend Spencer for a three-belt victory in becoming a three-division titlist.
Mayer previously held the IBF and WBO titles at 130lbs before she suffered a disputed points loss to Alycia Baumgardner in their October 2022 unification bout. She also fell just short to Natasha Jonas in their January 2024 scorcher before rattling off three straight wins and adding four major titles to her collection in the process.
