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Mayer vs Cameron: Mikaela Mayer feels ‘unbeatable’ ahead of title unification fight against Chantelle Cameron | Boxing News
Mikaela Mayer says she feels “unbeatable” and that her blockbuster unification fight against Chantelle Cameron for the world super welterweight titles won’t be close.
British WBO title holder Cameron (22-1, 8 KOs) faces American Mayer (22-2, 5 KOs) at the bp pulse LIVE arena on Saturday – live on Sky Sports – with every bout on the MVPW-06 main card pitting a UK fighter against a US opponent.
WBA and WBC champion Mayer has no shortage of respect for Cameron – who has won her last four fights since a rematch defeat to Katie Taylor in 2023 – but has backed her own ability to unify the titles in front of what is set to be a hostile Birmingham crowd.
“I feel better than ever,” Mayer told Sky Sports. “I just know I just feel unbeatable right now. I feel in a great position and I can’t wait to get out to the UK and do my thing.
“[Cameron] is good at what she does. She’s an aggressive fighter. She lets her hands go.
“She fights at a fast pace and so do I. So that’s going to make for a very exciting fight for the fans.
“But I just don’t think it’s going to be as close and as much of a war as everyone thinks.
“There’s probably a handful of people who think I’m stupid for coming to the UK and going onto Chantelle’s turf, but I’m just confident in myself right now.
“I’m fighting better than I’ve ever fought, smarter than I’ve ever been. And I just believe in myself.
“I feel like no matter where I go, I’m still going to kick butt. So it could be here. It could be there. I’m taking the win.”
Mayer pointed to her “versatility” as a defining factor come Saturday, insisting nothing can prepare Cameron for the new and improved version of the 36-year-old that awaits.
“I’m really hard to train for because I’ve developed so much these last 10 months of being in the gym,” Mayer told Sky Sports.
“I know I haven’t fought since last October but the things I’m doing now, it’s really impossible for Chantelle to have trained for me at this point.
“I’m going to do everything I can to make it a very obvious win, maybe a stoppage, we’ll see, but I know I’m coming out with my hand raised.
“I’ve worked on making sure that my inside game and when I do press forward that my defence is tighter and I’m the one landing my shots. I’ll definitely be using a little bit of everything I’ve got, but knowing mine and Chantelle’s styles there will definitely be moments where it will be a dog fight.”
Mayer vs Cameron – fighter records
‘A win would be one of the best moments of my career’
The 35-year-old Cameron won the WBO super welterweight title – a belt Mayer had vacated just months after beating Mary Spencer for it – with a dominant victory over Michaela Kotaskova in April.
The significance of the chance to become unified world champion by reclaiming the WBO crown is not lost on Mayer, with the American describing the prospect of victory as a career-defining moment.
“[A win would be] definitely up there with one of the best [moments].
“I’ve had a pretty awesome career. Even though I’ve gone through some ups and downs, I think that’s what makes my career even more special and what makes these big fights that are ahead of me extra special.
“I’ve had to go through trials and tribulations – I’ve had to adjust, I’ve had to make changes in my team and keep continuing to get better – and I’ve done that.
“Going in there and having a dominating performance against someone like Chantelle Cameron, who is very highly respected – the only person to beat Katie Taylor – that’s going to definitely be one of the best moments of my career thus far.”
The upcoming bout may not be the last between the two, with Mayer revealing that a rematch clause has been included in the contract of both fighters:
“Well, Chantelle and I do have a rematch clause on both of our ends, which is unique, but if it’s the type of fight that everyone expects, then why not do a rematch?
“Why not give it to the world again? I have no problem giving a rematch when it’s, when it’s justified.
“Do I want to kick her butt so bad that she doesn’t even want to activate that rematch clause? Of course. But if she does, we can go again.”
Watch MVPW-06 in Birmingham, headlined by Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron and with Caroline Dubois also in action, live on August 29 on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.
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Sports
Irish League: What is the relationship between gambling and football in Northern Ireland??
The Irish FA’s betting regulations in Northern Ireland say that players cannot bet on any matches involving their team – at men’s, women’s or underage level – or league, and no one can place a bet on their behalf.
Michael Carvill, head of the Professional Footballers’ Association in Northern Ireland, said it was something he had noticed in a 15-year career at the top of the Irish League.
The PFA are working with the Irish FA and former players with the Gambling Support Group, where support and education are key.
Carvill relates to his former Crusaders team-mate Matthew Snoddy, who is one of four players involved in the GSG alongside Hogg, Aaron Traynor and Michael Ruddy.
“I sat beside Matthew for seven years and I never knew he had an issue,” said Carvill, who added you could see players’ moods change whenever they checked their phones immediately after games.
“It’s something that is concerning when you think you can share a changing room, train with them three nights a week and play with them and you’re not aware of what’s going on.
“It’s really a wake-up call for all of us that this isn’t going away. We have to set up something to try and treat it, and that’s the purpose of this project.”
As Carvill points out, gambling goes far beyond the traditional forms of betting – something he says has “increased risk”.
He touches on prize websites and competitions on TV, and says it is even being found in the academy levels of the game in Northern Ireland through gaming and in-game purchases.
Across his career in the Irish League, which started in 2006, Hogg witnessed first hand how the gambling industry changed, and how that impacted players.
While you used to have to go into the bookies to physically place a bet, with smartphones you can now gamble 24/7, and on endless things.
“The markets are now more advanced. It’s now become, like roulette, it’s almost instant,” he said.
“Betting habits have changed. Back then, when I started, there was more a social aspect to it.
“There’s just so much accessibility now that it is becoming more and more prevalent to footballers.”
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Sports
Linz ASK 5 – 1 Celtic
Celtic suffered a stunning Champions League play-off collapse as LASK overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to win 5-4 after extra-time and sent the Scottish champions crashing into the Europa League.
In one of the worst nights in Celtic’s European history, the Hoops were up 4-0 on aggregate after Callum McGregor extended their 3-0 first-leg advantage early on in Austria.
Asked if it was the worst he’s felt on the touchline, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said: “Without a doubt. Naturally it took me a long time to get over the UEFA Cup final in 2003, but this was majorly disappointing.”
Despite wobbling after goals from Moses Usor, Robert Ljubicic and a Samuel Adeniran stunner, Celtic were minutes from booking a place in Thursday’s League phase draw before second-half substitute Florian Flecker headed home a 90th-minute equaliser to force extra-time.
Full of all the energy and desire that Celtic whimpered at the sight of, the momentum belonged to the Austrian champions. Adeniran struck from range again in the 109th minute to put LASK in front on aggregate for the first time.
He very nearly added salt to Celtic’s wounds when he stepped up for a penalty moments later, after Reo Hatate fouled Krystof Danek deep, but Viljami Sinisalo kept the spot-kick out to give his side a lifeline.
It was a lifeline that went begging as the full-time whistle confirmed Celtic would miss out on the Champions League for the second consecutive season. Last season they were eliminated on on penalties at this stage to Kairat Almaty.
This year’s failure, given the context of a four-goal aggregate lead, will be an even harder blow.
Once again the Hoops will be involved in the Europa League league-phase draw on Friday.
The key moments from Raiffeisen Arena
- 6: BIG CHANCE! Celtic move it quickly up the field. Yang plays a ball into the area that Baur latches onto, poking wide of the mark with Hogh running in.
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20: LASK CHANCES! The first falls to Mbuyamba in the area, who can’t quite match the flight of the ball to send it goalwards. Any touch on that and Lask would have had a goal. The second has Sinisalo worried, as it strikes the post.
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21: GOAL! It’s a smart, smart low strike from McGregor but it takes a nick off Andrade and flies past Jungwirth in the LASK goal.
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32: GOAL! IT’S A GIFT! Celtic punished for complacent play at the back. Nygren passes a ball back into no man’s land, putting it on a plate for Usor to stroke past Sinisalo.
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48: GOAL! LASK LEAD! Lask are beginning to believe. Ljubicic beats Sinisalo from range with a superb low strike from the edge of the area.
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58: GOAL! WHAT A FINISH!!! That is simply superb technique. No chance Sinisalo was getting anywhere near that. The LASK striker is teed up outside the box and curls home.
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90: GOAL! LASK MAKE IT FOUR TO SEND IT TO EXTRA TIME! Sinisalo does brilliantly to deny Joao Victor Tornich initially, but he can do nothing about the rebound as Florian Flecker heads home to make it 4-4 on aggregate!
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108: GOAL! Nightmare stuff for Celtic as Adeniran strikes from range again. LASK now lead on aggregate.
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114: FROM BAD TO WORSE! Hatate brings down Danek in the box gives away a penalty!
O’Neill: We should’ve been out of sight
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill speaking with Amazon Prime:
“We should’ve been out of sight by half-time. We missed two great opportunities and then we gave them a lifeline right before half-time and then another one just after it. They came roaring back. That’s my team, that’s my responsibility.
“At half-time I thought we were still well in command of the game. Just after they score and then momentum goes in their direction. It’s hard to stem it when they’re chasing the game and we can’t get out for 10 minutes.
“These are tough games. This might have been a qualification game but it felt like a Champions League game. That doesn’t matter. Talking about the squad is for another day.
“It’s a massive disappointment. We’re playing in the Europa League but that’s no consolation this evening. There was a feel good factor and that’s a massive disappointment tonight.”
McGregor issues apology to Celtic fans
Celtic‘s Callum McGregor speaking with Amazon Prime:
“We got what we deserved. I thought we were passive all night. We actually looked scared to go and win the game.
“To be honest, I don’t think we were that good in the first leg either and we kind of got away with it. But then you’re up 3-0 and think you have a chance. When you play like that, you can’t have any excuse whatsoever.
“We have to suck it up. We apologise to the supporters and to the club because there’s no way we should lose that game. Now we have to see what character we have.
“You can’t lose the game by such a big margin and look for excuses elsewhere. This is where we see what people are made of in terms of what we achieve this season.”
Your views: ‘Celtic were hapless, hopeless and humiliated’
LJJ: “Absolutely embarrassing for Celtic, maybe Europa League is the level for them since they get into the CL with ease every year but don’t make an impact when actually in it. Maybe that’s their level, but I don’t think they deserve Europe at all after what I’ve just witnessed!”
Jonny: “Celtic got what they deserved. They didn’t exactly play well last week and were lucky to come away with three goals and decided to park the bus, just not good enough.”
Reinaldo7: “Don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Worse than last year against Kairat. Strange choices for subs tonight. Hang your heads in shame boys, they weren’t that special but made us look ordinary. More work needed if we are to succeed in Europe.”
Stevo: “I think this was worse than Kairat. Yes, it’s not ideal losing on penalties to them, but to be 4-0 up and throw that all away, that’s impressively shocking!”
jcluk: “No more LASK chances for Celtic. They were hapless, hopeless and humiliated. Can see them struggling domestically too this season.”
What next for Celtic…
Celtic will play in the Europa League this season. The Europa League league phase draw – involving Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace – takes place at 12pm UK time on Friday
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Sports
College Football Classic: Bill Belichick’s ‘wisdom’ guiding UNC on Dublin trip to face TCU
Belichick arrived at Chapel Hill amid much fanfare, signing a five-year $50m (£36m) deal to join a university which, thanks to the likes of Michael Jordan and legendary head coach Dean Smith, has a far greater legacy in basketball than American football.
His first year in college after almost 50 years in the NFL was markedly below expectations with North Carolina slumping to a 4-8 record.
While some have questioned how last season’s struggles, and his final years with the Patriots, will impact his reputation, linebacker Derek McDonald said it is “pretty special” to be working under the head coach.
“We’re just trying to soak up as much knowledge as we can,” said the transfer from Syracuse.
“He knows so much about football, but not even just about football, about life. He has so much more wisdom than us. He really just preaches the process and doing things the right way.
“He’s in here all day long and he loves football, loves doing everything he can to get us prepared. For us, it’s to understand that if we can work as hard as him and soak up some of that knowledge he has, then we’ll definitely find success.”
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