LAS VEGAS — Behind a relentless early offensive assault led by an active jab, Mikaela Mayer was able to hold off a late charge by rival Sandy Ryan to win a unanimous decision and retain the women’s WBO welterweight title Saturday night.
It was a rematch of their September clash when Mayer won a controversial majority decision to win the title from Ryan. The rematch was arguably more entertaining, with a more definitive victory for Mayer. However, she had to fend off a late rally from Ryan to hang on to her championship.
Two judges saw the fight 97-92 and a third had it 98-92. But the scores didn’t exactly match the heated nature of the fight.
“I wanted to kick her ass and I did,” said Mayer, who improved to 21-2.
The 2016 Olympian started off fast, working behind the jab and pressing the action. Unlike their first meeting, Ryan (7-3-1) was more composed and patient, looking for opportunities to counter with her right hand. But Mayer’s persistence forced Ryan on her backfoot early and controlled the middle rounds. By the time Ryan opted to initiate the exchanges it was too late. But it delivered a crowd-pleasing battle of heated rivals who wanted nothing more than to end the fight by knockout.
The rivalry between Mayer and Ryan had grown vitriolic over the past year. Ahead of their first meeting, they were engaged in a heated war of words that saw tensions heighten when Ryan was the victim of a paint attack by an unknown assailant on her way to Madison Square Garden for her fight with Mayer. Britain’s Ryan blamed Mayer for the red paint attack, which the American vehemently denied being involved in.
The controversial nature of the decision further fanned the flames of their feud. The two also argued over Kay Koroma, Mayer’s former longtime coach, who trained Ryan for their first fight and was in the former champion’s corner in the rematch.
But with a more definitive ending, the rivalry has been put to rest and Mayer will look to challenge Lauren Price, who holds the other three major world titles at welterweight, to determine an undisputed champion.
Source: espn.com