Mikaela Mayer mixes with Sandy Ryan for 147 belt in New York

Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer, (19-2, 5 KOs), will meet on Friday, September 27, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

While fighting in the most famous arena in the world is always exciting, this will be business as usual for Mayer as this will be her 3rd time clocking into work in Gotham.

But Mayer has other things on her mind as she is trying to capture the WBO world welterweight title. No easy task facing Britain’s Ryan who will be in her 4th world title fight despite only having 9 fights total as a pro (7-1-1, 3 KOs). Ryan was last seen dominating former champion Terri Harper in London. The fight didn’t make it to round five. 

Mayer is more experienced having been in the ring 21 times and boasts an outstanding resume herself. 

Mayer turned pro in her native Los Angeles in 2017 and was an NABF champ by 2018. She was a world champion by 2020, just 3 years and 14 fights after her pro debut. Very impressive stuff. 

After winning the world WBO world super featherweight title in the fall of 2020, she made 1 title defense before adding the IBF super feather belt to her trophy case. She made a defense of those 2 belts and then lost a very questionable decision to Alycia Baumgardner for the undisputed world super feather titles in October 2022 in England.

She must have found a taste for “bangers and mash” because her next 3 fights were in England. In that run, she picked up the WBO lightweight title but again lost a frustrating SD 10 to Natashia Jonas for the IBF world welterweight title. Tip of the cap to both fighters who delivered in a ‘fight of the year’ slugfest… but Mayer won that fight.

Now, refreshed and raring to go, Mayer returns to New York for a shot at the world welter title in what should be a good fight, her 2nd in 2024.

One unique subplot is that Mayer’s former, long-time trainer, Kay Koroma, won’t be in her corner and will be in the corner of Ryan. 

In pre-fight interviews, Mayer seemed thrilled to get the title shot.  

“I am thrilled that my team has pulled through for me and gotten me this fight. The last thing I expected was for my manager to call with an offer that ticked every box,” Mayer said. “My team not only secured me another title fight against the opponent I asked for, but I’m coming back to the U.S. with my Top Rank and ESPN family. I loved fighting in the UK over the past two years, but I have genuinely missed fighting in America. I’m ready to take Sandy Ryan’s WBO belt”, she said.

To say Mayer sounds pumped to wrap another world title belt around her waist would be an understatement. In a career that has seen her only drop 2 bouts (very questionable to say the least, she could easily sport an undefeated record), Mayer is looking to leave no doubt in Manhattan in adding her 4th world title to her resume.