By: Sean Crose
“The battle was a banger.” So wrote Boxing Insider after Mikaela Mayer gained the WBO welterweight title off Sandy Ryan. The 2024 battle, nevertheless, got here with a big diploma of controversy. Ryan was attacked by having paint tossed on her mere hours earlier than the opening bell. The fighter was subsequently and understandably rattled, a reality which has led to the argument that Ryan wasn’t herself within the bout. Such a critique is sufficient to increase eyebrows when one realizes Ryan solely misplaced to Mayer that evening by by majority determination.
A rematch was clearly so as. And that rematch went down Saturday evening in Los Vegas. Suffice to say, there was a substantial amount of animosity between the 2 combatants beforehand. “I’m going to place her within the hospital, just like the final time.” Mayer hissed within the lead as much as the battle. The query Saturday was not solely who would win, however would the rematch be as thrilling as the primary battle had been? The bout was set for 10 two minutes rounds and was the principle occasion of a Prime Rank Promotions’ card broadcast stay on ESPN.
The primary spherical was an in depth and pretty thrilling chapter that noticed Mayer land successfully. Ryan, nevertheless, landed nicely within the second. Mayer dominated the third with mixtures. Ryan landed strong pictures to make sure, however she was significantly outworked by the defending champion. Mayer went on to easily management the fourth. Ryan clearly wanted to be extra lively. Mayer chopped away with strong pictures within the fifth spherical. By the midway level of the battle, it was apparent that Mayer was on the verge of pulling away from the sport Ryan.
The sixth spherical noticed Ryan start to work the physique. Would the technique find yourself paying off? If the seventh was any indication it simply would possibly. For the challenger dug deep and landed onerous throughout the course of the spherical. Mayer was lower within the gruelling eighth spherical courtesy of an unintentional head butt. Ryan thudded away at Mayer within the ninth, although it needed to be stated that Mayer bought in good pictures of her personal.
What’s extra, Mayer rocked Ryan in the beginning of the tenth and ultimate spherical. Each girls proceeded to slog it out for the remainder of the chapter. It had been an in depth battle, however not so shut that folks may say Ryan bought robbed when the judges gave the win to Mayer through unanimous determination.
