Rising women’s boxing star Mikaela Mayer tests positive for COVID-19

Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images

Mayer was scheduled to fight Helen Joseph in the co-main event.

Women’s boxing standout Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5 KOs) was due to return on this Tuesday’s Top Rank Boxing card as the co-feature against Helen Joseph, but she’s been removed from the event after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Mayer released this statement on her Instagram page.

“I am heartbroken to report that I will no longer be fighting on Tuesday’s Top Rank card due to a positive result in my COVID-19 test yesterday.

“It came as a complete surprise. I am currently asymptomatic and am quarantining at an off-site location per recommended guidelines.

“The rest of my team tested negative and they are all in good health. I was really looking forward to bringing back boxing for all of you and I’m disappointed for myself, my team, my supporters and for my opponent, Helen Joseph, who worked just as hard to be here this week and put on a show for everyone.

“After two hard back-to-back camps, not being able to step in to the ring both times, you can imagine how disappointed I am. However, these protocols were put into place for a reason and it’s more important to care about the health and well being of my team and the people at this event. So I am complying with the rules set forth by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Top Rank to keep everyone safe.”

“I will just have to take a quick break but I will be in the ring soon. I appreciate all the love and support. Please tune in to ESPN on Tuesday night and support the card and all of the fighters. Boxing is back and I’ll be back.”

Mayer was supposed to be on the St. Patrick’s Day show in mid-March before that got cancelled due to the pandemic. With Top Rank returning to action, now she’s out because she actually has COVID-19. She appears to be the first boxer scheduled for a fight who’s since had to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test.

One area where Top Rank’s protocols differ vastly from the UFC is that they apparently won’t even chance it that the positive could be a false positive. As soon as a fighter tests positive, they are quarantined off-site and removed from the card.

“The bottom line is if someone comes up positive on their test, there’s no retest,” Top Rank COO Brad Jacobs told ESPN last month. “There’s no ‘Oh man, the thing was wrong.’ You’re done. Very simple.”

This week marks the return of Top Rank Boxing for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic. WBO featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson headlines Tuesday’s show against Puerto Rico’s Felix Caraballo. Over the next several weeks, Top Rank intends to have multiple cards per week but no major title fights until at least August. There will also be fewer fights per show, no media allowed at ringside, and ESPN’s announcers will call the action remotely from their homes.