Mikaela Laurén’s boxing comeback: “Want to be world champion”

In the center of Brandbergen is Haninge boxing club’s classic venue. When DN gets there, Mikaela Laurén, who constantly has a hundred balls in the air, is standing, talking to boxing profile Ove “Jätten” Lundby. The training before the return has been intense and had to take place alongside being a mother to daughter Nikita and the job as a personal trainer.

The merit list is long and solid. First a swimming career with several Swedish records and a seventh place at the WC in 1995. When she did not get a place in the Olympic squad for the fourth time, the motivation disappeared.

Despite the roughly four-year break from professional boxing, Laurén is confident ahead of Saturday’s match. Photo: Beatrice Lundborg

She ended up on the wrong track and became part of a criminal network selling anabolic steroids. After a police raid, she was caught and sentenced to 14 months in prison for serious doping and weapons offences.

After she mucked, she found boxing – and it went well. She became a seven-time world champion with 32 wins and six losses as a professional.

In 2019, she fought her last fight, but now it’s time for a comeback for Laurén, who managed to turn 48 years old.

– A contributing reason for me making a comeback is the television program “Kompani Svan”. I felt anxious because I didn’t have the energy I used to have. I felt that this is not me. I was ashamed of the feeling in my body and didn’t want it that way. Then I started increasing my training and when I did, the motivation came back.

Coach Ove “Jätten” Lundby participated in the Olympics in 1972 and 1976. In the last year, he has helped Laurén to top her form. Photo: Beatrice Lundborg

To take it easy and relax after a long sports career was never an option for Laurén. It must be full speed all the time and the days are meticulously planned.

– When I lived with my friend Anthony Yigit in London, he didn’t want to do anything other than train and then sit at home and watch Netflix. And I just “we live in London – we have to come up with something”. I get panicky from just working out and then going home and resting – oh how boring.

– I think it’s fun to meet friends and have a glass of wine, I’m not Gunde Svan who only eats oatmeal and never drinks alcohol. I believe in balance in life, I do sports because it’s fun, and then it must not take away from the fact that I have time to live as well. Then it’s not worth it.

Everyday life has become different, daughter Nikita has come into the world and is a great motivation for Laurén. She often gets to accompany her to the boxing club and will watch her mother from the audience in Copenhagen.

– You get a different view when you have children. Then you can perform better because sport is no longer the most important thing there is.

“I definitely think she should try boxing. Then she doesn’t have to become a professional boxer, but it’s a damn good sport,” says Laurén about daughter Nikita. Photo: Beatrice Lundborg

The match will be decided on Saturday in Copenhagen – the opponent is 20 years younger Romanian Ioana Fecioru, who has five wins and two losses in her professional boxing career.

– She could be my daughter as well. She’s good, but if I get a really good hook, she won’t stand up, says Mikaela Laurén.

Getting a match at all hasn’t been easy. Opponents have dropped out and didn’t want to face her in the ring.

– Apparently people still have respect, sometimes I feel that maybe I shouldn’t post so much on Instagram because people get discouraged. Maybe it’s better that they think I’m an old hag who hasn’t played a game in years and is just a mother, she says and continues:

– It was important for me to get a match as soon as possible. So that I get a World Cup match before I get too old – preferably before I turn 50. It would be really cool to be world champion again.

In 2009, Laurén played her first professional match – it was a direct win against the German Sandra Kirchbaum. Photo: Beatrice Lundborg

Saturday’s match is part of the way to being the best again. But at the same time, she is clear that she takes it match by match and will see how far it takes.

– When I started, I thought it would be possible to become a boxer in a year. But the more you do, you understand that you have to learn. Only now do I really understand boxing. Not until now.

Facts. Mikaela Laurén

Born: January 20, 1976.

Childhood: Enskede, Stockholm.

Merits: 16 individual SM gold medals in swimming, set three Swedish records and finished seventh at the WC. Never got a place in the Olympic squad despite qualifying times. 32 wins and six losses in professional boxing. Seven times world champion.

Current with: Comeback in professional boxing on Saturday in Copenhagen. Runs a business in personal training. Released in 2023 the book “Nere för räkning”, about his life, written together with Anna-Maria Stawreberg.

The boxing gala “Danish fight night” is broadcast on Pluto tv.

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