Mikaela Mayer (L) and Maiva Hamadouche (R) pose through the press convention previous to their Ring journal championship combat at Virgin Accommodations Las Vegas on November 03, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc by way of Getty Pictures)
After attempting her hand at kickboxing, disarming bombs for the French military, turning into a police officer, fulfilling her Olympic dream and profitable a boxing championship, just a few issues remained in IBF 130-pound titlist Maiva Hamadouche’s bucket record.
One in every of them will change into a actuality on Friday, Nov. 5. on the Virgin Accommodations Las Vegas in a High Rank card televised by ESPN.
“Combating in Las Vegas is an efficient occasion for me. I’ve been ready a very long time for this second, I’m coaching onerous for this second, and I’m prepared for this second,” stated Hamadouche via a translator in a telephone convention from Las Vegas, the place she is going to fulfill each fighter’s dream of placing all of it on the road for all of the marbles on the most important boxing stage on this planet in a combat towards WBO junior light-weight titlist Mikaela Mayer that may even have the inaugural Ring journal belt in that division. “I will likely be very joyful to be right here exterior of Europe.”
Europe is the place her total profession as a fighter has taken place, however lately she took a primary step exterior of the outdated continent to strive her hand at a distinct self-discipline, and the outcomes weren’t as anticipated.
“The Olympics for me was a bonus,” stated Hamadouche, when requested about her failed try to succeed in Olympic glory in Tokyo 2021, the place she lost in her first fight in a controversial split decision against Finland’s Mira Potkonen. “I used to be very joyful to make them. And it was journey, it didn’t have an effect on my confidence. I’ve full confidence in myself for this coming combat. I left that behind me, and I can’t await the combat to occur.”
Hamadouche reinserted herself in amateur-style boxing competitors for about three years earlier than embarking on her journey to Tokyo, and she or he has been knowledgeable prizefighter since 2013, grabbing the IBF belt in 2016 in a vacant title combat and accumulating six defenses earlier than bringing her act stateside. It’s tough to suppose that she doesn’t really feel anxious about the opportunity of shedding her title to a girl like Mayer (15-0, 5 KOs) who was simply making her skilled debut when Hamadouche was already a champion.
Add the truth that the taller and rangier Mayer, 31, is taken into account one among girls’s boxing best pound-for-pound fighters and will likely be preventing in house turf, and Hamadouche, 32, ought to have greater than sufficient causes to fret.
Not an opportunity.
Mikaela Mayer (L) and Maiva Hamadouche (R) face-off through the press convention previous to their Ring journal/WBO/IBF junior light-weight title combat at Virgin Accommodations Las Vegas on November 03, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc by way of Getty Pictures)
“The combat towards Mayer will likely be an enormous combat. For my technique, you’ll have to wait till Friday evening to see that, however her peak is not going to be an issue for me. Quite the opposite, it fits me,” stated Hamadouche. “That is an thrilling alternative for me. I’ve defended the title on a number of events and now it is a nice alternative to unify world titles. My coaching camp was excellent, and I’m very excited in regards to the combat.”
Hidden within the pre-fight evaluation is the truth that Hamadouche’s signature brawling and mauling type has made her one of the crucial feared girls in her division, the place she was declared the No. 1 fighter on this planet when The Ring’s rankings had been first created again in 2020. After two years of solely two fights because of the pandemic-induced inactivity in Europe, coupled together with her failed Olympic bid, she has slipped to No. 3 behind Mayer and Britain’s Terri Harper on No. 2.
Her type did trigger a number of issues earlier on, however as her profession superior, it turned simpler to seek out fighters risking all of it to face her.
“In the beginning of my skilled profession, it was tough to seek out good opponents, as a result of I already had stage, and discovering opponents to face me once I already had status was fairly tough,” stated Hamadouche. “Now, on the highest stage, what is nice is that I combat in a really wealthy class with many good boxers.”
Going from being pressured to look high and low for prepared opponents to being challenged by the very best fighters on this planet has given Hamadouche the boldness that some other fighter could not have after such a tricky couple of years. Add to that the historic event of getting the inaugural Ring belt on the road, and you’ve got all of the motivation that she wants for this problem.
“I’m going to combat for the Ring belt, I’m very joyful as a result of it is a vital belt for me, it’s recognition and I might do something to win it,” stated Hamadouche. “I imagine my expertise would be the distinction. I’m very aggressive and really bodily. I’ll come at her like no different fighter has come at her earlier than.”
Quotes from a High Rank press launch had been additionally used on this article
