Mikaela Mayer aiming for world title fight with Terri Harper

Top Rank prospect and former U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer has quickly worked her way up the rankings as a 130-pound pro, and has her sights firmly set on a world title shot sooner than later.

The 29-year-old Mayer, who competed at Rio 2016, has a record of 12-0 (5 KO) and strong backing from Top Rank, who see her as a potential star for women’s boxing, and with good reason. She took some fan questions on Instagram on Thursday, and one asked if she had any intention of fighting in the United Kingdom at some point.

That turned Mayer’s attention to Terri Harper, who won the WBC junior lightweight title from Eva Wahlstrom on Feb. 8 and is starting to really pick up some buzz.

“I’m sure I’ll be heading out to debut in the UK soon, hopefully to swoop the belt from Harper,” Mayer said, adding that she was “looking forward to it.”

The 23-year-old Harper (10-0, 5 KO) looked terrific beating the veteran Wahlstrom, and like Mayer, she has a good promoter behind her in Matchroom, who see her as someone to help lead the evolution in women’s boxing going forward. Both women can fight, both have personality, both are looking to make their mark.

In short, it’d be a really good matchup.

Mayer also said that the boxer who influenced her style the most was Vernon Forrest, who held world titles at 147 and 154 and was briefly seen as arguably the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world after his two wins over Shane Mosley in 2002. Forrest was trainer Al Mitchell’s first world champion in the pro ranks, and Mitchell now trains Mayer.