Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan look to settle their differences in the ring when Mayer defends the WBO welterweight title in a rematch on March 29. The fight in Las Vegas airs on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Ryan (7-2-1) lost the belt following a Fight of the Year contender. The Derby-born fighter was attacked outside her hotel, getting red paint thrown on her before the fight. Despite the drama, Ryan continued on, impressing in a losing effort.
Mayer (20-2) is a former IBF and WBO super featherweight champion. After cutting ties with Kay Koroma, who would train Ryan for this fight, the Golden Gloves champion won welterweight gold in her second attempt. She has denied taking part in the paint incident.
These two women do not like one another and are ready to use that animosity as motivation in the ring. After months of back and forth, the time for talk is over.
WATCH: Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan 2, exclusively on ESPN+
“She thinks she’s so tricky. We know that’s how she is. We know she’s going to say that because she doesn’t like to engage anyway, and neither does her coach,” Mayer said. “Her coach wants to hide and stay in the shadows, and he’s probably telling her, ‘Don’t engage.’
“I’m just doing what I have to do. I don’t do anything but speak the facts, and I’m doing my part to sell this fight. Everyone is coming together and working hard to give her the rematch that she wanted. The least she can do is show up and help the promotion of this fight.”
“You can see she loves the attention, the talk. When you don’t give her that, it triggers her,” Ryan said. “So, she’s saying, ‘Oh, she’s scared.’ I’m not scared. We just did a face-off. This is for the media. This is what’s in the contract, and we’re here. She loves to talk and loves the media. When you don’t give her that, it makes her talk all kinds of nonsense.”
The Sporting News will provide results from the entire Mayer vs. Ryan 2 fight card.
Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan 2 full card results
- Mikaela Mayer (c) vs. Sandy Ryan 2 for the WBO welterweight title
- Brian Norman Jr. (c) vs. Derrieck Cuevas for the WBO welterweight title
- Bruce Carrington vs. Enrique Vivas; Featherweights
- Emiliano Vargas vs. Giovannie Gonzalez; Super Lightweights
- Troy Isley vs. Etoundi Michel William; Middleweights
- Delante Johnson vs. Kendo Castaneda; Welterweights
- Dedrick Crocklem vs. Dionne Ruvalcaba; Super Featherweight
Where to watch Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan 2
- Channel/live stream: ESPN+
Fight fans can watch Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan 2 via ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ for $11.99 on a monthly subscription and $119.99 on an annual subscription.
Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan 2 start time
- Date: Saturday, March 29
- Time: 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT | 3 a.m. BST | 1 p.m. AEDT (March 30)
- Main event start time (approx.): 12 a.m. ET | 9 p.m. PT | 5 a.m. BST | 3 p.m. AEDT
- Location: BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
The Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan 2 main card airs at 10 p.m. ET. Mayer and Ryan should make their way to the ring around midnight ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
