Mea Motu is aiming to retain her WBA Oceania super featherweight title. Photo / Dean Purcell
Women’s professional boxing is on the rise, and Mea Motu wants a piece of the action.
If the 35-year-old retains her WBA Oceania super featherweight title tonight against India’s Manjot Rattu at Auckland’s ABA Stadium, her next fight could be on a card run by social media influencer Jake Paul.
Victory would move the WBA’s No 2-ranked super featherweight a step closer to fighting three-belt titleholder Alycia Baumgardner, who is signed to Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
The Herald can reveal that Motu has signed with a US-based promoter with ties to MVP, in the hopes of getting her on a future card in front of a global audience.
“I want to fight the big names like Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor, Alycia Baumgardner,” said Motu, a former IBO super bantamweight world champion.
“Those are the people that have put female boxing on the world stage and really showcased us females, so I’d love to share the ring with them or just be on a card with them, that’s the goal.”
Trainer Isaac Peach said, “We think we’re right where we need to be, and we’re just waiting for that opportunity.”
Most Valuable Promotions, run by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, has become the sport’s latest powerbroker, using battle-hardened veteran Serrano as its draw card in an enthralling three-fight series against Taylor.
It also manages a strong stable of female fighters, including Baumgardner, Ellie Scotney – who handed Motu her only professional loss in January – and Kiwi-born Cherneka Johnson, who in July became the first Māori to hold an undisputed world title.
Paul has used his own controversial in-ring career, which featured bouts against ageing mixed martial artists and a 58-year-old Mike Tyson, to attract attention to the boxers on his undercard.
“What Jake Paul’s done is amazing,” Peach said. “He’s bought money and eyes to women’s boxing, and he’s getting women paid, and we want to be a part of that.
“No one’s ever done what Jake Paul’s done and, without Jake Paul, women’s boxing wouldn’t be half as good, so he needs a lot of credit.”
Motu watched from home as Johnson became the undisputed bantamweight world champion on the Taylor-Serrano III undercard at Madison Square Garden in July. The same month, fellow Kiwi Lani Daniels was beaten by undisputed heavyweight titleholder Claressa Shields in Detroit.
“I feel excited and proud of them for getting there,” Motu said. “I just know my time will come when I get the opportunity and, when it comes, I’ll be straight in there.
“I know with Sugar [Johnson], her experience was amazing, and she put on a performance and was determined and hungry.
“For Lani, it wasn’t her night, but I’m sure she’s proud of herself and what she’s done for her community and her people, giving them encouragement to go out there and travel the world.”
A chance to fight on the world stage would give Motu a bigger audience to share her well-documented story of being a domestic abuse survivor and mental health advocate.
“I just want to showcase my authentic self and be true to who I am and not allow myself to change.
“A lot of people think boxing’s a negative sport, but it’s helped me navigate my life and given me courage and strength of how to attack this world, so if I can showcase to the world what boxing does for us mentally and physically, it’d be an honour.”
Tonight’s title defence against Rattu, who has a 7-2 record, is being billed as “the fight before the fight”, with the winner hoping to take on Baumgardner. However, given the unpredictable nature of boxing politics, Peach is keen to keep Motu active if they have to wait in line.
“We’ll keep training and, as soon as we get a call, we’re ready basically. If there’s any delays or they push it out, then I’ll put her on again here [in New Zealand].
“I’m not going to keep her on the shelf. I want to keep her busy, so when the opportunity comes, she’s ready 100%.”
Peach’s orders for his charge are clear if they’re to get Baumgardner’s attention tonight.
“I want her to go in there, not muck around, knock her out inside three rounds, call out Baumgardner and get going.
“I don’t want her to put on a nice boxing display, I want her to be ruthless, and I want her to show her power at this new weight.”