Sandy Ryan to Defend WBO Title Against Mikaela Mayer in New York

Britain's Sandy Ryan is set to defend her WBO welterweight title against American Mikaela Mayer at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York on September 27. This is prepared by SSP.

This headline bout, part of the Top Rank card, will mark Ryan's third title defense and her second defense on US soil. Ryan, originally from Derby, boasts a record of eight wins from nine fights, with her only loss being a controversial draw with Jessica McCaskill in Florida last September. Her most recent victory was against Terri Harper in Sheffield in March.

Ryan expressed her readiness for the challenge ahead, stating, "It's the perfect moment in my career, and I'm looking forward to successfully defending my world title. I promise that on a level playing field, nobody is taking this belt from me." Acknowledging Mayer's pre-fight comments, Ryan added, "Mayer has had an awful lot to say about me and this fight, and I'm sure she will continue to do so, but I'm an athlete and a professional."

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum highlighted the significance of the matchup, noting, "Mikaela Mayer always wants to fight the best, and Sandy Ryan is an elite welterweight. These are two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and the winner will stake her claim as the pre-eminent 147-pounder."

Mayer, a former unified world champion at super-featherweight, has faced mixed fortunes since moving up in weight. Her last fight resulted in a controversial points loss to IBF welterweight champion Natasha Jonas in Liverpool in January. Despite this setback, Mayer remains a formidable opponent with only two defeats in her career, coming from Jonas and American rival Alycia Baumgardner. The 34-year-old will be fighting on home soil for the first time since 2022 after a series of bouts in the UK.