Multiple-weight world champion Mikaela Mayer has offered to put her world title on the line for Holly Holm to make a return to the ring.
Holm is already a Hall of Fame boxing champion, but retired years ago to pursue a career in the UFC. There, she pulled off the greatest upset of all time when she knocked out Ronda Rousey in November of 2015 at UFC 193.
At the start of the year Holm left the UFC despite having fights left on her contract. After years of turning down boxing opportunities, it now appears that she is keen to get back into the ring and make up some unfinished business.
Mikaela Mayer willing to defend welterweight title against Holly Holm
During a recent appearance on Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman’s Pound for Pound podcast, Mikaela Mayer was asked to name her all time top three of women’s boxing. She picked Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor and herself and noted that older champions didn’t have a top talent pool.
This meant that the likes of Laila Ali or Holly Holm didn’t qualify, and Cejudo then asked if the UFC legend could become a world champion in today’s era. “I haven’t watched enough of her boxing fights,” Mayer admitted.
“The one I’ve seen everywhere is the one where she got knocked out of the ring. But I know she’s great and I have a lot of respect for her. If she came to my division? No she wouldn’t be because she wouldn’t beat me. She can come and try though; Mayer vs Holm!”
Holly Holm has ‘unfinished business’ in boxing
Earlier this year, Holm opted to leave the UFC despite still having two fights to go on her latest contract. She is known to headline fight nights and land big spots on major cards, but apparently believes there are still opportunities in the boxing ring.
She wants some of the biggest names in the sport, including the winner of the massive Netflix trilogy between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano on Friday July 11.
“When I boxed, I fought at 140, 147, and 154,” Holm told Ariel Helwani after her departure. “I never fought at 135 in boxing so sometimes I feel like it’s unfinished business, do I go back and the people that have belts at that weight are (Amanda) Serrano and (Katie) Taylor.”