Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan Set for Tense Rematch This Saturday

LAS VEGAS — WBO women’s welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer will face off against Sandy Ryan in a highly anticipated rematch on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The fight is set to begin at 10 p.m. ET, with preliminaries starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.

Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs) narrowly defeated Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) in their first encounter at the same venue last September, winning via majority decision with scorecards reading 97-93, 96-94, and 95-95. The contest was rife with controversy, notably stemming from an incident earlier the same day where Ryan was reportedly hit with red paint while leaving her hotel—a claim she attributes to Mayer’s team, which they have denied.

The tension between the fighters escalated further due to Ryan’s trainer, Kay Koroma, who had previously trained Mayer before switching to coach Ryan. Mayer had left Koroma for Kofi Jantuah after a split-decision loss to Natasha Jonas in January 2024, intensifying the rivalry ahead of their first bout.

The inaugural fight saw Mayer landing 186 punches compared to Ryan’s 185, with Mayer edging Ryan in power punches (132-128), but Ryan landed more jabs (57 to Mayer’s 54). The match highlighted both fighters’ skills and established a close competitive dynamic, raising expectations for their rematch.

William Zepeda, the WBC interim lightweight champion, will also fight Tevin Farmer in Cancun, Mexico, in a sequel to their previous match. Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) won their last encounter last November, overcoming a knockdown to win by split decision with scorecards of 95-94 for Farmer and 95-94 twice for Zepeda.

The odds favor Zepeda at -750, while Farmer stands as the underdog at +475. Zepeda’s average of 31.9 punches landed per round and 23.8 power punches in his last 10 fights places him at a strategic advantage, although Farmer’s experience and combination punching could prove critical.

Both fights promise a blend of skill and strategy with crucial implications for the contenders. Al Bernstein, a Hall of Fame boxing commentator, highlighted the importance of effective jabbing and ring control for both Ryan and Mayer. “For Ryan, using her jab effectively and creating inside opportunities will be the key,” Bernstein said. “Mayer needs to maintain distance and volume to succeed in defending her title.”

As anticipation builds, boxing analysts predict a similar closely-contested match, with the potential for intensity in both rematches. “Each round is crucial; the stakes couldn’t be higher for either fighter,” Bernstein emphasized.