Mayer retains title with points win over Briton Ryan
World champion Mikaela Mayer outpointed Briton Sandy Ryan for the second time to defend her WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas.American Mayer, 34, was the deserved winner in an entertaining rematch between the two bitter rivals.After some close early rounds, she dominated the middle of the fight with her higher punch output, shot selection and body work.Ryan, 31, came back strong towards the end, landing some hurtful punches as blood streamed down Mayer's face following a clash of heads at the Fontainebleau.But with scores of 97-93, 97-93 and 98-92, the Californian won by a unanimous decision over 10 rounds."I thought it was close. I thought I was doing well into the start and then I got into a fight," she said. Mayer dethroned Ryan on points in September, a result which was marred by the Englishwoman being hit by a can of red paint before leaving for the venue in New York."The women are getting better and better - me and Sandy just set the new bar on what competitive fights should look like," said Mayer, who extends her record to 21 wins from 23 bouts.She called for an undisputed fight against Welshwoman Lauren Price, who holds the three other welterweight world titles, next.
Mayer settles bitter feud
Derby fighter Ryan - who said she fought with too much emotion and anger following the "hit and run" paint attack in the first encounter – cut a relaxed figure for the rematch as she casually strutted to the ring to One Love by Bob Marley and the Wailers.The defending champion was equally composed as both boxers made a quick start. Mayer doubled up on her jab and controlled the distance but was countered by Ryan's efficient timing and hooks.Mayer connected with a right and left in the fourth, before landed flashy combinations and hurtful uppercuts to dominate the fifth and sixth as world champions Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson watched from ringside. Her former trainer Kay Koroma was in Ryan's corner. "Come on, wake up," he told his fighter.A dispute over the training team, with Mayer claiming her opponent "stole" her coach, is what first sparked a feud between the two boxers.With Mayer in complete control, it appeared Ryan - who had just three stoppage wins to her name - needed a knockout heading towards the end of the bout. Ryan landed a thudding right and uppercut on Mayer's injured eye, but she replied with some clean power punches, in a terrific, all-action ninth. As expected, there was no easing of animosity or embrace at the final bell. Ryan shrugged at the result as an exuberant Mayer celebrated the victory.
'It's time for undisputed'
Mayer made her intentions clear in the post-fight interview. "Now it's time for me to move on and go for undisputed," she said.WBA, WBC and IBF champion Price staked her claim as the world's best welterweight by beating Natasha Jonas to unify the division earlier this month.Mayer is well known in the UK, having competed in Britain in four consecutive bouts between October 2022 and January 2024.An undisputed bout against Price could take place either Stateside or at a UK arena, potentially in Cardiff.While Ryan was left licking her wounds once more, there are still big fights in prospect for a fighter who has proven she belongs at boxing's top level.In her past four fights, Ryan has drawn a unification bout against Jessica McCaskill, beaten three-weight champion Terri Harper and lost two close encounters against Mayer."I'm going to sit down with my team and we'll have a talk," she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Boxer Jin Sasaki suffers six-week memory loss after brutal KO and cannot remember fight
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAPANESE boxer Jin Sasaki has lost the last SIX WEEKS of his memory following his brutal loss to Brian Norman Jr. Sasaki locked horns with the American for the WBO welterweight title in a Tokyo tussle on Thursday afternoon. 4 Jin Sasaki locked horns with Brian Norman Jr for the WBO welterweight title this week Credit: Alamy 4 The 23-year-old suffered a brutal fifth-round KO loss to the American 4 Sasaki has lost the last six weeks of his memory as a result of the brutal KO But his bid to claim the 147lbs strap in what was the stiffest test of his career ended in a brutal fifth-round knockout. A beautiful counter left hook from Norman Jr connected flush on the 23-year-old's jaw and sent him hurtling towards the canvas. The back of Sasaki's head smacked off the canvas and medical staff promptly tended to him after the referee issued the most pointless of counts. He was worryingly motionless for over a minute before being stretchered out of the arena and rushed to the hospital, where he underwent a slew of neurological tests. Thankfully, the scans showed he had no serious injury to his brain and he was released the same day. But the knockout, according to the president of his gym, Issei Nakaya, wiped his memory of the last few weeks. According to Nakaya, Sasaki told him: "I don't even remember that this title match was decided." A statement on Sasaki's condition read: "Sasaki Tsutomu was taken to the hospital after the match and underwent a CT scan. 4 Jin Sasaki was transported to the hospital but discharged the same day after scans found he had no neurological issues or brain injuries Credit: GETTY "There were no injuries such as bleeding. However, he hit the back of his head hard and is currently losing his memory. "There were no visible physical injuries, but we will be keeping an eye on him and he will be going back to the hospital tomorrow for another checkup." Canelo Alvarez reveals why Terence Crawford is BETTER than Floyd Mayweather... but vows to learn from infamous loss Defeat to Norman Jr was only the second of Sasaki's career. Norman Jr, meanwhile, now boasts a perfect 28-0 record and can set his sights on unifying the division.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Boxer Jin Sasaki suffers six-week memory loss after brutal KO and cannot remember fight
JAPANESE boxer Jin Sasaki has lost the last SIX WEEKS of his memory following his brutal loss to Brian Norman Jr. Sasaki locked horns with the American for the WBO welterweight title in a Tokyo tussle on Thursday afternoon. 4 4 4 But his bid to claim the 147lbs strap in what was the stiffest test of his career ended in a brutal fifth-round knockout. A beautiful counter left hook from Norman Jr connected flush on the 23-year-old's jaw and sent him hurtling towards the canvas. The back of Sasaki's head smacked off the canvas and medical staff promptly tended to him after the referee issued the most pointless of counts. He was worryingly motionless for over a minute before being stretchered out of the arena and rushed to the hospital, where he underwent a slew of neurological tests. Thankfully, the scans showed he had no serious injury to his brain and he was released the same day. But the knockout, according to the president of his gym, Issei Nakaya, wiped his memory of the last few weeks. According to Nakaya, Sasaki told him: "I don't even remember that this title match was decided." A statement on Sasaki's condition read: "Sasaki Tsutomu was taken to the hospital after the match and underwent a CT scan. 4 "There were no injuries such as bleeding. However, he hit the back of his head hard and is currently losing his memory. "There were no visible physical injuries, but we will be keeping an eye on him and he will be going back to the hospital tomorrow for another checkup." Defeat to Norman Jr was only the second of Sasaki's career. Norman Jr, meanwhile, now boasts a perfect 28-0 record and can set his sights on unifying the division.
Powys County Times
4 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Ruling Court to step up in trip after Ascot defeat
A belated step up in trip is likely for Ruling Court following his Royal Ascot reversal, with both the Coral-Eclipse and the Grand Prix de Paris under consideration. Charlie Appleby's 2000 Guineas hero was slated for an immediate leap up to a mile and a half for the Derby before being withdrawn on the day at Epsom and subsequently remained at a mile for an all-star rematch with Newmarket runner-up Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace Stakes. However, after seeing his Rowley Mile rival turn around the Guineas form in style, Appleby is now relishing the next stage of his career up in distance, despite also being eager to see how the cards fall into place before playing his hand. 'We're very much letting the dust settle but the signs are he has very much come out of the race well,' said Appleby. 'We'll see where respective winners from the whole meeting go in respects to where we may head. Ombudsman was of course very impressive in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and it will be interesting to see where John and Thady (Gosden) steer him towards. 'We've mooted an Eclipse with our fellow but I'm not afraid of going straight up to a mile and a half which we were going to do in the Derby and we have got the option of the Grand Prix de Paris. 'It's your last option against three-year-olds so that could be a nice race to take a look at, but we'll let a bit more dust settle before we confirm a plan.' While Ruling Court may be heading up in distance, it appears likely Appleby's other Classic scorer Desert Flower will be dropping back in trip after her third at Epsom in the Oaks. Sent off the 11-10 favourite after a sublime performance on her return in the 1000 Guineas, the challenge of Epsom on rain-softened ground ultimately proved too much, with the Moulton Paddocks handler happy to give her as much time as necessary to recover from her Oaks exertions. 'You know she's had a race at Epsom for sure and as I've said previously the ground and the track were the undoing of us,' added Appleby. 'It might have looked like she stayed but I don't think she did being brutally honest, or didn't stay well enough for that level. 'I'm going to give her a little bit of time and there's plenty of options for her at a mile and a mile and a quarter. She's a filly who owes us nothing and for now we will give her plenty of time.'
