Lissette Medel Gunning For World Title; Mikaela Mayer Targets Olympics

MAYWOOD, CALIF.-Maywood’s Lissette Medel slides around the ring and can be harder to catch than a slippery fish when you have greasy hands.

It’s not that she runs or glides around on her toes, she’s just hard to pin with a punch.

Medel, 26, has emerged as a top junior lightweight out and welcomes a world title match this summer. She almost had one signed but it takes two to tango. Medel now awaits another challenger.

Friday afternoon saw the always smiling Medel spar with one of the top amateur women in the world as Mikaela Mayer ( pictured above, on left with Medel, in Al Applerose photo) stopped by for ring work. The gym quieted as the two highly skilled female boxers exchanged punches and strategies during their session.

Mayer, 22, is a tall, slender, model-looking lightweight from the San Fernando Valley. You might have caught some of the commercials she’s made for various products. She may not be a professional, but she makes quite a bit of money as a highly ranked amateur. But it doesn’t stop there.

“I’m going for the 2016 Olympics,” said Mayer, who has won numerous national titles. “I’m really working hard.”

It showed.

Mayer can stay in the pocket or move on her toes while firing long jabs and crisp combinations. It was great to see two quality female boxers in their prime trading punches inside the Maywood Boxing Gym.

Medel always likes to put on the gloves and ply her trade. Mayer has sparred and fought against many of the best amateur and pros in the world and feels very comfortable inside a boxing ring. The action was pretty interesting as both had their strongpoints and seemed quite comfortable doing what they wanted.

It will be great to see Medel fight for the world title sometime this summer. I also can’t wait for the Olympics in Brazil when Mayer will be participating for Team USA.

Other women’s boxing notes

Sweden’s Frida Wallberg (11-0) suffered a brain injury in her fight with Australian WBC super featherweight champion Diana Prazak (11-2, 7 Kos), and underwent surgery after the bout, which took place in Stockholm. All fights fans are rooting for Frida to recover.

WBC female lightweight titlist Erica Farias (16-0, 9 Kos) fights Japan’s Chika Mizutani (14-3, 7 Kos) on Saturday June 15. The world title match will be staged in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Farias is from Argentina.