Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan 2, for the WBO women’s welterweight world title, is just around the corner. The highly anticipated rematch will take place tomorrow night at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas, USA. The first fight was highly entertaining and thrilling but not without controversy. Just before heading to the arena, Sandy Ryan was attacked by an unknown person who poured red paint on her, destabilizing her psychologically just hours before the fight. Further controversy arose due to the judges’ scorecards, as not everyone agreed with the Majority Decision in favor of Mikaela Mayer.
Possibly overwhelmed by the tension of the big event and enraged by the attack she suffered, Ryan adopted a reckless tactical strategy, charging forward without paying much attention to defense.
Mayer took advantage of this by landing a significant number of counterpunches and often edged the early moments of each round with her greater precision. However, Ryan’s relentless pressure, combined with her outstanding athleticism, allowed the English fighter to finish most rounds strongly, making the judges’ task even more difficult.
The final statistics provided by Compubox further highlighted the extreme balance seen in the ring. According to the data released after the fight, Mikaela Mayer landed 186 punches over the ten rounds, while Sandy Ryan connected with 185.
On one hand, the American stood out for her footwork, work rate, and excellent use of pivots and quick combinations. On the other hand, the English warrior brought more to the table in terms of aggression, power, and stamina.
It’s not surprising, then, that after such a close contest, the home advantage played a role in the final verdict. And since the rematch will again take place in the United States, Sandy Ryan is well aware that she must win convincingly and indisputably if she hopes to take the belt from her opponent.
The two fighters have never stopped taking verbal jabs at each other in public statements and seem more determined than ever. Now, we just have to watch their showdown to see who will come out on top. One thing is for sure—they will deliver another spectacular fight!