Mikaela Mayer admits Chantelle Cameron's trash talk 'triggered' her as American expresses regret for post-fight antics

The defeat was just the third of Mayer's professional career and cost her the unified belts she had brought to Birmingham, a breathless contest between two of the sport's pound-for-pound elite living up to its billing and strengthening Cameron's claim to a place among the greats of the women's game.

The pair had to be separated by security after a physical altercation at Friday's weigh-in and clashed again in the ring on Saturday night, with Mayer telling the new unified WBA, WBC and WBO champion "I did beat you" after the judges scored it 97-93, 97-93, 96-94 against her.

Speaking to Sky Sports News , Mayer said: "In the heat of the moment after the fight, I felt I had won, but I knew it was close, and I was prepared to go to the mic and give her her props and say I'm looking forward to the rematch.

"I'm not going to lie, I heard her on the mic talking trash and it triggered me. It brought something out of me and I feel like I acted in a way that I shouldn't have."

Mayer also traced the rivalry's flashpoint back to what happened in the build-up.

"We were always actually really cool, and the only thing that kind of triggered that rivalry was me getting in her face during the face-off," she said, suggesting Cameron may have "had all those words to say" about her "deep down".

Cameron, who admitted she had "genuinely respected" Mayer before the build-up soured, believes the hostility rebounded on the American.

"I was looking at her before the bell rang and thought, 'I'm going to smash your head in'," said Cameron after the fight. "And it worked. I was feeling the energy, she didn't want to be in there."

The contest exacted a toll befitting its billing, both fighters visibly swollen by the ninth round with Mayer cut by the eye and Cameron bleeding from hers, and the two embraced at the final bell before the verbal hostilities resumed.

A day on from disputing the verdict, Mayer struck a markedly different tone.

"I have not watched the fight back, but I am open to the idea that it was too close," she said. "I told myself I would not let the fight get close, and I didn't do that. I let it get too close, and so I can't be upset at the decision.

"It wasn't my night, and I have to give her the props for the win. She's a great fighter, and I'm just excited to go fix my mistakes and do better."

Victory further burnished a Cameron CV that already carried the only professional defeat inflicted on Katie Taylor, although the Briton played down talk of being the greatest of all time, insisting Claressa Shields still holds that mantle.

Rematch 'in the contract' with three-minute rounds on the table

Mayer confirmed a rematch clause exists and that she expects it to be activated.

The American also revealed she had declined to give up her WBC belt to make Saturday's fight three-minute rounds, and says the choice now rests with the new champion.

"I don't see a way that it doesn't happen because it's in the contract," she said. "We both want it and we'll make it happen.

"I wasn't willing to vacate my WBC belt in order to go three-minute rounds. In order to go three-minute rounds, I had to vacate that WBC belt but I know how much the belts play a role in your negotiation.

"She has the belts and she wants to go three-minute rounds. We can absolutely do that. I have no problem with that. It's her choice now, just like it was my choice for this fight."

Cameron made three-minute rounds her condition in the immediate aftermath of the dramatic victory.

"I want to do this again," she said on Saturday night. "It's up to Mikaela, but I want to do three-minute rounds."

Her coach Jamie Moore also said the champion could vacate the WBC belt if the sanctioning body refuses.

MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian welcomed a second meeting while revealing Cameron has pushed for fights with Claressa Shields and Lauren Price "from the jump".

He also insisted that the 35-year-old Brit is "unequivocally" among the top two or three female fighters of all time, if not the greatest.

Mayer, who on Saturday had insisted any rematch must happen in the United States, made no mention of venue and instead paid tribute to the UK fans.

"I love you guys, I can't wait to come back. I'm here for your entertainment," she added.