Mar 28, 2025, 07:36 AM ET
Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan meet once more on Saturday (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET, with prelims at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+) in a rematch of Mayer’s shut majority-decision victory in September. Mayer edged Ryan with scorecards of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95, however there was once some controversy outdoor of the hoop. Ryan was once hit with a can of pink paint whilst leaving the resort to go to Madison Sq. Lawn hours earlier than the battle. Ryan blamed Mayer’s group for the assault, one thing they’ve denied.
Upload to that the truth that Kay Koroma, who were coaching Mayer for many of her occupation, began to coach Ryan forward of the primary come across. The animosity was once visual when the opponents have been offered.
Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) began the battle slowly however landed her tough jab conveniently. Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs) suffered a small lower over her proper eye in an all-action fourth around. Two judges scored that around for Mayer, who landed 17 energy punches to twelve for Ryan. Mayer then completed the battle strongly, profitable the ultimate 3 rounds in two of the judges’ scorecards.
Frame punches have been a think about that first battle. Of Mayer’s 44 punches to the frame, 39 have been energy punches — 10 greater than Ryan. On the finish of the battle, Mayer had landed only one extra punch than Ryan (186 to 185), appearing how shut the battle was once.
Can the rematch be any other? Andres Ferrari spoke to Corridor of Famer boxing commentator Al Bernstein and previous junior light-weight and light-weight champion Erica Anabella Farias — who fought Ryan two times and Mayer as soon as — for his or her perception and predictions. ESPN making a bet skilled Ian Parker added his research at the primary tournament and at the light-weight bout between William Zepeda and Tevin Farmer, who battle in Cancun, Mexico, on Saturday, in a rematch of Zepeda’s split-decision win in November.
Editor’s notice: Content material has been edited for brevity and readability.
Al Bernstein, boxing commentator and member of the Global Boxing Corridor of Status
How the battle may play out
WBO welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer, left, will meet Sandy Ryan on Saturday, in a rematch of Mayer’s majority-decision win in September. Mikey Williams/Most sensible Rank
I believe it will be very similar to the primary battle. Ryan were given off to a little bit little bit of a gradual get started in that battle. After all, everyone knows that she will have been affected a little bit bit by means of the incident that came about that very day. Clearly, the theory of that being repeated [ahead of the rematch] turns out love it would not occur. She’ll move into the hoop unencumbered by means of that roughly emotion, and I believe [her team] will make a mindful effort for her to not have that very same roughly gradual get started.
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I believe Ryan will probably be a little bit bit extra competitive within the early rounds than she was once within the first battle. However this rematch actually boils right down to Mayer having the ability to be extra of a quantity puncher than Ryan, as she was once for parts of that ultimate battle. Stay regulate of the geography of the hoop and stay Ryan at the outdoor so she will reel off the ones combos. And I believe we are going to proceed to peer some motion from Mayer as we did within the first battle, the place she throws her combos, then strikes clear of hurt.
From Ryan’s point of view, I believe the trick is to make use of the jab a little bit bit extra, after which as soon as she’s there, she is going to crank up the ones left hooks to the frame and the top. And I believe she’s going to check out and get within the inside of and tough Mayer up if she will, and get off to a sooner get started. I will be able to’t see this battle being the rest rather than what the primary one was once. I believe it will be a detailed battle, and I believe it will move to a call once more.
How does Ryan win this battle?
I believe her undertaking on this battle is to get inside of Mayer’s jab and get in place the place she will throw the ones left hooks that she throws so smartly, to each the frame and the top, and double it up and be simply in that mid-range of punching, now not at the outdoor. From the outdoor, she’s were given an issue towards Mayer. She is going to need to get at the inside of the place she will paintings the frame. And I believe that is one thing she’s going to search for early within the battle — if she will. Some other factor she has to do is be certain she cuts off the hoop as a result of it isn’t that Mayer was once continuously transferring, however she was once transferring sufficient to make use of angles very successfully and stay Ryan from atmosphere herself as much as land. And the opposite factor she actually desires to do is put Mayer at the ropes. That is the giant factor for her. The extra she will do this, the it’s.
How does Mayer win this battle?
She wins by means of the usage of the jab successfully and including sufficient motion to make use of angles on this battle and be the busier fighter, which she was once throughout numerous the primary battle. She’s a actually just right mixture puncher, and the extra she will do this and stay Ryan outdoor and regulate the hoop, that is the place she desires it. And he or she’s were given to stick off the ropes. I do not believe that both fighter goes to knock out the opposite fighter. I do not see that going down. So profitable rounds on this battle, and guy, as Ryan would attest to, the primary around is as essential because the Tenth, so each and every around on this battle is a jewel that you need to assemble. I assumed the ultimate battle, whilst you’ll be able to make a powerful case for Mayer profitable, I assumed one of the crucial playing cards was once too broad. There was once one broad one. Each the 95-95 and 96-94 Mayer one, to me, have been extra suitable than the 97-93. I simply do not know the way you’ll be able to give Ryan handiest 3 rounds in that battle. That does not appear suitable to me.
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Sandy Ryan accuses any person from Mikaela Mayer’s group of paint assault
Sandy Ryan explains why she thinks any person from opponent Mikaela Mayer’s group threw pink paint on her.
I believe one of the crucial explanation why this fit is a superb one to have a rematch is, primary, it was once so shut within the first battle and so entertaining. And quantity two, we are going to see it now with out the query of whether or not Ryan’s going into the battle with a unfavorable as she did the ultimate battle. Whilst that isn’t even what makes this battle essentially the most attention-grabbing, you’ll be able to’t bargain the truth that Ryan will have had a subject matter as a result of what came about that day. Now, that does not remove from Mayer’s win in any approach to me, however this is a issue that you just should imagine. In order that’s why this rematch is attention-grabbing. Those are two completely calmly matched opponents, and they are going in on with a bit of luck a fair enjoying box this time. And we are going to see what occurs. After which there is the instructor factor — there is such a lot of layers to this main as much as this battle.
Who wins?
I believe it will be similar to the primary battle and I believe it will move to a call, and I believe it will be shut once more. It is a easiest matchup stylistically, and that’s the reason why, to me, that was once one of the crucial highest fights of the 12 months ultimate 12 months. I have no idea if I also have a prediction in this. I truthfully assume that it might move both method. To me, it is a utterly pick-’em battle. I truthfully would not even lean to 1 or the opposite as a result of I believe although Mayer received the primary one, it was once this kind of razor skinny battle, and I may simply see Mayer proceeding what she did and feature or not it’s simply sufficient to edge it. However I may no doubt see Ryan doing higher in one of the most early rounds and having the ability to financial institution extra rounds than she did earlier than after which having sufficient to win.
I am certain Ryan is mentally difficult not to let [the incident] trouble her, and I am certain there will probably be no recurrence. So, I believe that is going to be made up our minds within the ring between two just right opponents — regardless of the entire different theatrics surrounding this. This one’s going to come back right down to X’s and O’s and the power of the opponents. I believe it will be an ideal battle.
Erica Anabella Farias, two-division champion
How does Mayer win this battle?
Erica Anabella Farias, proper, defeated Sandy Ryan by means of cut up resolution in Nottingham, England, again in March 2022. Photograph by means of Nigel Roddis/Getty Pictures
Mayer is now the present champion and Ryan turns into the challenger. Mayer goes to must shield her championship by means of being very environment friendly and dealing around by means of around. Mayer is a boxer who begins running from the fourth around onwards; in all probability she shall we her opponent settle in or in all probability she is the one that is settling in in order that she will paintings higher within the later rounds. She is an excessively timing-based boxer, and she or he works arduous for the judges. As a result of she is rapid and has the standard to attach giant punches, I believe that in all probability within the last phases of each and every around, the scales will tip extra in Mayer’s want, being the champion. Ryan is an excessively temperamental boxer who now and then will get a little bit over excited in sure eventualities, and that’s the place she makes errors, which I believe Mayer will take complete benefit of.
Mayer is superb along with her timing, and she or he labored arduous on her jab. That was once one thing that made it very tough for me to get to her after we fought. My battle along with her was once additionally shut and it was once a battle that still had numerous depth. She’s a boxer who forces you to be intense as a result of she’s very energetic within the ring, she’s very clever, she is aware of how one can organize the hoop. I believe that if Mayer controls the space and the timing from the beginning, she is going to win very easily, even supposing Ryan tries to use power, as a result of that is the place she makes errors. I believe that Ryan should be unemotional to win the battle, which I believe will probably be very tough for her, particularly figuring out that she is the challenger. Mayer has numerous enjoy, she is aware of how one can organize the hoop really well, she is aware of what she’s doing and she or he’s had fights the place she’s been crushed by means of her combatants — it is even came about to her with me — and she or he by no means let herself be crushed by means of it. That is why I believe Mayer can simply take the victory.
How does Ryan win this battle?
Persuade the judges and now not be so hot-tempered. Paintings for the judges. This can be a battle that can most likely move the whole distance. They’re two athletes of an excessively top caliber, and I am certain they’re skilled arduous for this battle, for the instance, and it’ll be tough for there to be a cut up resolution right here. So, if it is a battle that is going to be made up our minds at the playing cards, Ryan goes to must persuade the judges and now not be led by means of her temperament, which is every now and then the place she will get disorganized and makes errors, which I believe is the place Mayer’s merit goes to be.
Ryan is explosive to the frame. But when you’ll be able to take it — as a result of I do not imagine her a knockout fighter, however one that can damage her combatants aside with frame punches — and you might be bodily have compatibility, as I believe Mayer is, she is going to be capable of counter that. I do not believe Ryan can have issues proceeding to let move at the frame, and Mayer cannot permit that to occur at all times as a result of that accumulates issues on the finish of each and every around. For me, Mayer’s velocity — arms and legs — goes to be essential, now not letting herself be crushed by means of Ryan and having her lower her off, as a result of this is going to be considered one of Ryan’s benefits that may make the variation after all.
Who wins?
It is going to be a detailed battle once more. Ryan should get a hold of every other technique as a result of I believe that what they used within the first battle did not paintings that smartly for her. So, they will have to exchange the plan this time. As a result of she threw the entirety she needed to throw, what extra harm can she do? So, she should search for every other variant in an effort to hassle Mayer, now not pop out with the similar variant that got here out ultimate time. If she does not do this, it will be every other loss. I’m going to move with Mayer by means of resolution.
Ian Parker’s highest bets
Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan
| Mikaela Mayer | Sandy Ryan | |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Age | 31 |
| 20-2 | Document | 7-2-1 |
| 5 | KOs | 3 |
| 5-foot-9 | Peak | 5-foot-8½ |
| 66½ inches | Succeed in | 67½ inches |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
| Wooded area Hills, California | Birthplace | Derby, England |
After a from side to side battle the primary time round, the percentages recently take a seat at -115 for Ryan and Mayer at -105, which is a bit of unexpected to me. I anticipated Mayer to be no less than a -145 favourite being that she did win the primary battle by means of majority resolution regardless of it being shut all the way through. At those present odds, I imagine the worth sits with the champ, Mayer. Regardless of Ryan having the threshold in energy, Mayer’s velocity and footwork will have to assist her to get every other resolution victory. If Mayer will get competitive early on and extends her output within the previous rounds, she is going to be capable of separate herself at the scorecards and retain her name.
Prediction: Mayer to win by means of resolution
William Zepeda vs Tevin Farmer
That is every other rematch, however the distinction here’s that Zepeda, the protecting champion, is a -750 favourite. Taking -750 at the moneyline isn’t one thing I might ever counsel, but when you wish to have a parlay piece to get you into plus cash, the moneyline right here can doubtlessly get you there, as I do not see Zepeda shedding this battle. Of their ultimate battle, outdoor of 1 frightening second the place Farmer tagged him within the later rounds, the remainder of the battle was once all Zepeda, and I be expecting the similar right here. If you do not need to take a possibility on -750 because the anchor of a parlay — understandably so — I might take the over 10.5 rounds at -170 as Farmer’s aerobic and sturdiness proved to be very forged ultimate day out. In case you are feeling a bit of grasping, take Zepeda to win by means of resolution at +125.
Prediction: Zepeda vs. Farmer over 10.5 rounds, and/or Zepeda by means of resolution at +125
Brian Norman Jr. vs. Derrieck Cuevas
Some other giant favourite is the champion Norman, who’s sitting at a -600 for his WBO welterweight name protection towards Cuevas. If you do not need to take the -750 on Zepeda in a parlay, you’ll be able to change him out for Norman. Ability for ability, this battle will have to be nearer than the percentages say. Alternatively, Norman regarded implausible in his most up-to-date battle, a Tenth-round KO of Giovani Santillan in Would possibly 2024, appearing nice sturdiness and gear. Referring to Cuevas, who hasn’t fought since December 2023, I imagine in ring rust and feature observed such a lot of occasions that without reference to how just right you might be, an excessive amount of time clear of the hoop may cause a fighter to query their very own talents and be gun shy when throwing punches. As professional and robust as Cuevas is, I imagine that stylistically it is a difficult matchup to come back again to off of the lengthy layoff. Search for Norman to place his energy on show and in finding Cuevas’ chin earlier than the general bell.
Prediction: Norman to win by means of TKO/KO
