Published 2024-02-05 17.45
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Mikaela Laurén, 48, is making a comeback.
The six-time world champion wants to be the best of all again.
– That is the goal, says Laurén.
In 2019, Mikaela Laurén decided to have one last fight.
She stepped out of retirement temporarily while talking about the difficult struggle to succeed in becoming a mother.
Just over two years later, in June 2021, the big dream was fulfilled when daughter Nikita was born and since then Laurén has continued to train. So much so that it is now time for another comeback, over four years after the last professional match.
The laurel is back
Laurén is about to start a session at Haninge boxing club when Sportbladet calls to talk about the comeback.
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full screen Mikaela Laurén in her latest fight, against Paty Ramirez, 2019. Photo: Mathias Bergeld / Bildbyrån
– The thing is that I have kept going the whole time since I stopped boxing. I never really wanted to stop, I never felt quite finished. But it was “have children or continue boxing” and the longing for children was greater. Now I have children and feel that I am light, fast and fit. I actually feel almost better than I did before I quit, says Laurén.
She continues:
– Then I feel: “why not make a comeback”? Just to show that it works and because I still think it’s fun. So you’ll see, I’ll take one match at a time. I think it’s fun to spar and train and maybe not as much fun to step into the hot air. But you have to try, you have to take some chances in life. The idea is that I will enter the world rankings after the first match and then we will see if there will be a little tougher matches after that. Maybe a WC match? We can hope for that, that is the goal.
“Chasing henna in the ring”
Laurén has been sparred against the former world champion Ewa Brodnicka, but during Monday’s session it is instead her daughter who is accompanying her during training. Laurén has bribed with ice cream, balls and her own boxing gloves and she wants to show that it is possible to continue elite sports as a woman even after giving birth.
– It’s a bit unfair that guys can have as many children as they want and never take a break. Girls have to put sports and elite sports on the shelf for a while, and not everyone can come back, because it is very demanding with children. But it works and I want to show that, says Laurén.
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full screen Photo: Jonathan Näckstrand / Bildbyrån
She also believes that it is good for her daughter to be allowed to keep up.
– I also want to show her that exercise is a natural and fun part of one’s life. So it is very important for her to come here and put on the gloves herself and play with me, that I chase her in the ring and hit the sack.
Will have opponents
The comeback takes place on Danish Fight Night on February 24.
Lauren’s opponent is not yet clear.
– I know it was an opponent who just pulled out, so now they are working feverishly and have a few in the works. Nothing is completely clear yet and it’s hard, people still respect me despite my old age and my absence. It’s not just anyone jumping into the ring against me, people have respect. But we have to hope they find someone good and suitable.
Laurén laughs.
– You don’t want to go to a WC match the first thing you do, you want to get rid of the ring rustiness first.
Laurén has previously played 38 professional matches and won 32. She has won six World Cup titles.
