Mikaela Mayer vs Sandy Ryan Tale of the Tape, Fight Day & Breakdown

Sandy Ryan defends her WBO world welterweight title against former champion Mikaela Mayer on Friday at Madison Square Garden, headlining a card full of up-and-coming Top Rank stars. The apparent bad blood between the two top-notch athletes adds a personal touch to the already fascinating stylistic clash inherent in the match up.

The pride of Derby, UK, Sandy Ryan is coming off of a stoppage win over former multiple-time, multiple-weight, champion and fellow countrywoman, Terri Harper. Ryan has been on a tear as of late. Not only did she overpower Harper, but she outboxed the highly skilled Jessica McCaskill one fight before, though the judges called it a draw, just about everyone who saw the fight had it comfortably for Ryan. Sandy took the disappointment of the decision very well and proved that she didn’t just have the skill, the will, and power, but also the grace, humility, and desire to bounce back, one would want from their champion.

Mikaela Mayer returns to the ring with a plan to become a world champion once again, and prove that her move to welterweight was a good one. Unable to secure a rematch with Natasha Jonas after their nip-and-tuck affair in January, the pivot to the WBO title by way of Sandy Ryan presented itself and Mayer is not one to say no to a challenge on the world stage. Throughout Mayer’s career she has been dominant over anyone less than elite. There are two losses on her record, to Jonas and Baumgardner. Both matches were highly skilled, highly contested, very entertaining championship performances in which all parties involved could hold their heads high afterwards. That said, the past is the past and Mayer marches forward with a steadfast desire to prove that she is indeed the best the sport has to offer. 

The fact that they are headlining in Madison Square Garden and on ESPN is a testament to both women, and what they have accomplished. It’s not as simple as saying this will be Mayer’s skill vs Ryan’s power. Ryan is indeed a very hard puncher, but she also has an abundance of skill of her own and has proven as much in only 9 pro fights. As for Mayer, her skill and ring IQ are indeed unquestionable and have been proven time and time again. Not only that but she looked more powerful than ever in her welterweight debut and seems to have only gotten stronger since. Both have what they need to win this fight and we know neither will hold anything back in the ring. The 10 rounds at 2 minutes each is almost certainly going to fly by and leave the world wanting more by the time the final bell rings. Which one will have their hand raised is to be determined, what is certain is that the champion, Sandy Ryan, and the challenger, Mikaela Mayer are exactly where they need to be.

The Owens Opinion: I love them both and have gone back and forth about 100 times as to who I think will go home with the belt. It would be nice to have a definitive winner for both of their sakes, but I think a knockout is less than likely, and a split decision either way or a draw is absolutely on the table. The preceding card is full of young boxers on the come up with whom the sky appears to be the limit. Their desire to separate themselves from the pack and show out on national television is likely to result in some A+ performances, so make sure to tune in early.