In a year where women's boxing hasn't been as prominently featured compared to the past few years, Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer engaged in an epic encounter worthy of a mention for Fight of the Year in Madison Square Garden's Hulu Theater.
A heated rivalry came ahead in the ring, with Mayer beating Ryan via majority decision to win the WBO welterweight title. The judges scored the fight 95-95, 97-93, 96-94. The Sporting News scored it 96-94 for Mayer.
Both were full of emotion, from before the fight to the war they competed in. Ryan got hit with red paint as she left the hotel before fight night. She proclaimed Mayer's team set her up. Her comments stemmed from Mayer's outbursts after former trainer Kay Koroma left her to work with Ryan.
The aftermath of the paint stunt! 🤯
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 28, 2024
And Still, @sandyryan93 👑 #RyanMayer pic.twitter.com/TL5QVGR2uk
Koroma told Ryan not to fight after the ordeal, but she insisted, claiming she was ready for war. Whether Ryan's accusations are true is unknown, but she was right about one thing: there was a war.
MORE: The case for two vs. three-minute rounds in women's boxing
Not touching gloves, Ryan and Mayer gave it their all for ten two-minute rounds. They traded jabs in the center of the ring, neither backing down. Mayer started having an edge early following a right that buckled Ryan. The latter fought back with rights of her own and hooks.
IT’S GOING TO BE A WAR ⚔️
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 28, 2024
The main event for Welterweight gold is finally here 🏆 pic.twitter.com/myeZBAvWbN
Ryan and Mayer followed the first two rounds with a Round of the Year contender. Ryan loaded up with left hooks as Mayer tried to counter with body shots. Mayer landed hooks and uppercuts from the inside. She followed it up with rights, but Ryan persevered with her own hooks. That round showcased the resiliency of both women.
There was fury in Ryan's eyes as round four began. Both traded rights and jabs that went through their defenses. Mayer's reach gave her the edge in round five, while Ryan used left hooks to rock Mayer in round six. A comeback formed as Ryan dug into Mayer's body, landing 22 power shots.
LEAVING IT ALL OUT THERE‼️ pic.twitter.com/aUNNCsrdi1
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 28, 2024
The fight got closer as Ryan pushed Mayer back. However, Mayer hit hooks of her own. Two-punch combinations were enough to get Ryan to back up. Ryan did trade roles and chased Mayer, landing massive combinations. Mayer landed top-tier left hooks in the eighth and ninth.
The Hulu Theater gave these women a standing ovation as round ten began. They landed rights on the inside. On the outside, they tried forcing the other down. Both determined, Ryan and Mayer traded blows until the final bell.
CompuBox had Mayer landed 132 of 319 shots (41%), while Ryan landed 128 of 343 shots (37%).
Just a few months before Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano compete in a rematch two years after their 2022 Fight of the Year, Ryan and Mayer emphatically told them, "Top that!"
Mayer is now 2-1 in her last three fights, finally holding gold again following multiple weight changes. Ryan's five-fight unbeaten streak has come to an end and she is now 1-1-1 in her last three contests. Both were interested in a rematch, though Mayer is also interested in becoming undisputed champion.
The Sporting News provided results from the entire Ryan vs. Mayer fight card.
Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer full card results
- Mikaela Mayer def. Sandy Ryan (c) via majority decision for the WBO welterweight title (95-95, 97-93, 96-94)
- Xander Zayas def. Damian Sosa via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90)
- Bruce Carrington def. Sulaiman Segawa via majority decision (95-95, 97-93, 97-93)
- Vito Mielnicki Jr. def. Khalil El Harraz via majority decision (95-95, 100-90, 98-92)
- Floyd Diaz def. Mario Hernandez via unanimous decision (78-73, 78-73, 77-74)
- Elvis Rodriguez def. Kendo Castaneda via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 99-91)
- Delante "Tiger" Johnson def. Yomar Alamo via unanimous decision (78-74, 78-74, 77-75)
- Rohan Polanco def. Marcelino Lopez via TKO (round six)
