Starting fresh, Mikaela Mayer looks to hold more gold as she challenges Sandy Ryan for the WBO welterweight title on Friday, Sept. 27. The fight in Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater airs on ESPN+ in the U.S.
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.
A U.S. Olympic competitor, 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 in January for the IBF welterweight title. It is her first fight in the U.S. since 2022.
There is some tension between both fighters outside of competing for a title. Mayer left her gym after it was revealed Kay Koroma would help train Ryan for the fight. The two respect the other’s talents, and Mayer will put personal issues aside and focus on Ryan’s overall skills.
WATCH: Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer, exclusively on ESPN+
“I knew that at 147 pounds, I was going to be going after the champs, and Sandy’s one of those champs. … If I thought Sandy was a chump, I wouldn’t be chasing her down, I wouldn’t be calling her out, I wouldn’t put the effort in to make this fight. I definitely rate her. She’s talented, she’s at the top of her game right now,” Mayer told Sky Sports.
“I’m no [Jessica] McCaskill, and I’m no Terri Harper. I know 100 percent, and she knows this too, I’m her toughest fight to date.”
Top prospects look to impress and move closer to title contention on the Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer undercard.
Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Ryan vs. Mayer card.
Xander Zayas vs. Damian Sosa
- Division/Weight: Super Welterweight
- Zayas record: 19-0
- Sosa record: 25-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
The co-feature will see Xander Zayas vs. Damian Sosa.
Zayas (19-0) signed with Top Rank when he was 16, and the now-22-year-old recently headlined his first fight card, beating former world champion Patrick Teixeira. The Puerto Rican fighter is a two-time U.S. National Championships gold medalist and has held the NABF super welterweight title since 2022.
He is 5-0 at Madison Square Garden and looks for his sixth win against a veteran.
“Damian Sosa is a Mexican warrior who brings that work ethic, hunger, and drive to snatch this win from me. He’s coming off a solid victory in his last fight against another Puerto Rican. I know he’ll come well-prepared, and that’s exactly what we want. We want the best version of Damian Sosa that night, and I think we’ll get it,” Zayas said.
MORE: 25 Under 25: Ranking the best boxing prospects and champions in 2024
“We are adjusting for a fighter who applies a lot of pressure and throws lots of punches. It’s all about being smart, sticking to the game plan and listening to my corner.”
Sosa (25-2) is on a three-fight win streak. “Samurai” has 12 wins via knockout.
Bruce Carrington vs. Sulaiman Segawa
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Carrington record: 12-0
- Segawa record: 17-4-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Bruce Carrington faces Sulaiman Segawa.
Carrington (12-0) has eight wins via knockout. “Shu Shu” is a 2017 Golden Gloves winner and NABF featherweight champion who looks to go 3-0 in 2024, with all those wins coming in Madison Square Garden.
Segawa (17-4-1) has fought for NABF gold multiple times. The Ugandan is 2-1 in his last four fights and 1-1 in 2024.
Rohan Polanco vs. Marcelino Lopez
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Polanco record: 13-0
- Lopez record: 37-4-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Rohan Polanco faces Marcelino Lopez.
A 2020 Olympian for the Dominican Republic, Polanco (13-0) has won eight fights via knockout, including his most recent win against Luis Ramos.
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Lopez (37-4-1) is 2-2 in his last four fights.
Elvis Rodriguez vs. Kendo Castaneda
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Rodriguez record: 16-1-1
- Castaneda record: 21-6
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card is Elvis Rodriguez vs. Kendo Castaneda.
Rodriguez (16-1-1) lost for the first time in 2021 to Kenneth Sims Jr. and has won five straight since. The 28-year-old, known as “The Dominican Kid,” took down former world champion Viktor Postol in his most significant win to date. He looks to go 2-0 in 2024.
A National Golden Gloves semifinalist, Castaneda (21-6) is 2-1 in his last three fights and 4-1 in his previous five. The 30-year-old has nine wins via knockout.
Floyd Diaz vs. Mario Hernandez
- Division/Weight: Bantamweight
- Diaz record: 12-0
- Hernandez record: 12-4-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Floyd Diaz faces Mario Hernandez.
Diaz (12-0) has three wins via knockout. A former protege of Floyd Mayweather, “Cashflow” is being fast-tracked and told ProBox that he’d like to take on undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue in the next two or three years. He looks to go 3-0 in 2024.
Hernandez (12-4-1) is 2-3 in his last five fights and on a two-fight win streak.
Ali Feliz vs. Rashad Coulter
- Division/Weight: Heavyweight
- Feliz record: 3-0
- Coulter record: 5-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Ali Feliz faces Rashad Coulter.
Feliz (3-0) is a top heavyweight prospect. The former Olympic hopeful looks to go 4-0 in 2024. The 2022 USA National Championships winner has won two fights via knockout.
Coulter (5-4) is a former MMA fighter with a 9-5 record while with Legacy Fighting, Fury FC, and the UFC. Also competing in bare-knuckle fighting, Coulter is on a four-fight losing streak in the boxing ring.
Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer tune-in info
- Date: Friday, Sept. 27
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET | 7:30 p.m. PT
- Main event start time (approx.): Midnight ET | 9 p.m. PT
- Location: Hulu Theater — New York, New York
- How to watch: ESPN+
Fight fans can watch Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer on ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ for $10.99 on a monthly subscription and $109.99 on an annual subscription.
Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer tickets
Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer is in the Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York. The arena can hold up to 5,600 people.
Tickets are available via StubHub.
BUY NOW: Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer tickets on StubHub
Prices start at $73.
Prices then range from $80, $90, $100, $200, $300, $400, $500, $600, $700, $800 and $1,841.
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