This weekend women’s boxing takes over the sport, Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer headline a Friday fight night on September 27.
The fight in Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater is for Ryan’s WBO welterweight title. The Top Rank-produced fight airs on ESPN+.
The Sporting News gives you the pre-fight odds and predicts the outcome of the main event.
Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer betting odds
Per the DraftKings Sportsbook, Ryan is the -125 favorite, while Mayer is the -105 underdog.
Ryan (7-1-1) beat Marie Pier Houle in April 2023 for the WBO title. Following a controversial draw against Jessica McCaskill to determine the undisputed champion, one where Ryan appeared to be the clear winner, she rebounded by beating down Terri Harper.
Mayer (19-2) is a former IBF and WBO super featherweight champion, losing the belts against rival Alycia Baumgardner. After a run at lightweight, Mayer lost against Natasha Jonas for the IBF welterweight title in another controversial scoring affair. It is her first fight without trainer Kay Koroma, who is now working with Ryan.
In a new weight class with a new trainer in Kofi Jantuah, Mayer enters unfamiliar territory. A force for Top Rank, Mayer looks to thrive under the circumstances and hold gold once again.
“[Ryan] came and she forced me to make this decision and to find a different option, and I landed a better option,” Mayer told The New York Post. “100 times better. That doesn’t normally happen. I’m in a great situation. Now, she’s in the f——up situation.
“After the two years that I’ve been through, this is going to mean so much more,” Mayer said. “For the longest time, everyone is like ‘everything happens for a reason.’ I’m sitting here the last two years like ‘what is the reason? Why is this happening to me?’ I really thought I was unlucky, like ‘there is nothing good coming from this, this can’t be good in any way.’ But now I’m sort of seeing it all come together.”
Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer prediction
Ryan and Mayer are workhorses, and their strength ranks at the top in women’s boxing.
Mayer is fourth among active fighters in +/- at 12.2. She ranks fifth in average total punches landed per round with 42.8 and lands an average of 18.7 (35.4% connect rate, ranked first).
Ryan ranks seventh in +/- at 8.8. She ranks tenth in average total punches landed per round with 3.8 and lands an average of 12.7 (31.9% connect rate).
MORE: Top 12 best pound-for-pound fighters in women’s boxing
Mayer has a warrior’s spirit. Fight fans saw this when she refused to back down against Maiva Hamadouche in a 2021 war. Mayer also rallied against Alycia Baumgardner and looked somewhat poised with a loss. The one thing she has never done has gotten knocked down.
Thanks to her wicked jab, Mayer has excellent fundamentals and is accustomed to setting a frenetic pace. The one thing against her is damage taken. Her opponents rank the third-most punches per round (10.5). Hamadouche landed 233 shots, with 211 of them being for power.
Often, Mayer has her hands down and looks for the attack, which can be detrimental, especially against Ryan. The Derby-born Ryan has slick footwork, gliding past an opponent and using their momentum against them. When not pressured, Ryan can reach her desired distance with ease.
Like Mayer, she can be susceptible to damage, as her opponents land the fourth-most punches per round (10.2). Both are about even regarding their opponent’s total connect rate (23.2% for Mayer and 23.1% for Ryan).
Ryan is more in tune with the welterweight division, whereas Mayer has moved multiple weight classes over the years. She may be comfortable at 147, but this is Ryan’s home.
Both won’t give an inch in this expected firefight. Ryan should get the win, making it competitive, but will pull away by the end. It may be the toughest fight the two have competed in. Hopefully, the Hulu Theater will give them a deserving standing ovation by the end of the night.
Sporting News prediction: Ryan via unanimous decision
Read the full article here