Mikaela Mayer vs Sandy Ryan 2 betting tips: The rematch of the rivalry that keeps on rising

'Trainer-gate’, ‘Paint-gate’, ‘No-show-gate’… this intense rivalry just keeps on escalating.

Briton Sandy Ryan relocated to Mikaela Mayer’s gym in the States, which prompted the American to change teams, accusing the visitor of stealing her trainer, Kay Koroma.

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That is where their bitter rivalry first began, and the flames just keep roaring higher.

Just hours before their first fight, in September 2024, when the defending WBO world welterweight champion, Sandy Ryan, was leaving her hotel to make her way to the Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater venue, someone ran up to her on the streets, threw red paint all over the unsuspecting pedestrian, then immediately jumped into a passing car, in what was clearly a well-timed, orchestrated attack, designed to unsettle the champion.

Ryan shared photos of the paint splashed all over her body, which she had to take time to remove before making her journey to the arena once again.

Her opponent was quick to condemn the attack, but Ryan was in an unforgiving mood, adamant that her rival was behind it, “Who else would it be? Who knew what time I was coming down from my hotel to the venue? They knew what time,” she openly accused.

And so, to highlight just how fierce the animosity is between them, there was no glove-touch to start their fight.

Ryan was a little slow starting, perhaps due to the effects of the disturbing events earlier, and she copped a huge right cross from Mayer in the first round that rocked her head around.

Mayer was sticking and moving, flicking out her fast jab while persistently pivoting to her left. Ryan was loading up on every punch with bad intent, but she was visibly slower than the sharper Mayer, who was also producing great inside work as the challenger.

Read: FIRST’s 13 key facts and stats about boxing betting

The American not only boxed beautifully from range, but she also reeled of better combinations within the many hectic exchanges.

Mayer was able to slip Ryan’s jabs, but the stationary Ryan wasn’t able to do the same, barely moving her head at all, providing a constant target for the challenger.

Their frantic exchanges typified their relationship – fiery, furious and violent. The enemies constantly stood toe-to-toe, especially as Ryan came on strong in the second half, having her best round in the ninth, really increasing the pressure with a Herculean effort to finish the thrilling fire-fight. However, Mayer took some big shots and was not only still standing, but still firing back.

The crowd audibly told the story, the atmosphere inside the 5,000-capacity arena was electrifying.

The scores were read as 95-95 even, and 97-93, 96-94 to Mayer, who was rightfully bestowed with the WBO world welterweight title.

Now that their rematch is upon us, the hostility between the fighters is higher than ever.

Mayer has voiced her indignant opinion on Ryan being “weak-minded” for being flustered so easily by a bit of paint. She also believes her counterpart is too scared to go face-to-face with her after she declined to participate in interviews together.

So, the hatred is real, the loathing legitimate, the enmity elevated to astronomical altitudes… and the fight is on!

Tale of the tape

Mikaela Mayer: “Skill beats strength” 

After the end of 10 close, action-packed rounds, Mayer praised her rival Ryan for being the strongest opponent yet, but also declared that “skill beats strength”, which she certainly proved with the win.

It was well deserved after being the victim of some dubious scoring against Natasha Jonas in her previous fight in January 2024. ‘Miss GB’ won via mixed decision in her home city of Liverpool despite many spectators believing Mayer had done enough, which the CompuBox stats showing she landed 24 punches more.

The LA fighter is a former unified super-featherweight world champion, and now a two-weight world champion.

Aged 34, the Californian has only lost twice, both times via razor-thin decisions that could have gone either way. Firstly, she suffered a split decision defeat to the undisputed super-featherweight champion, Alycia Baumgardner, in 2022 in London. Then came the questionable outcome of her clash with Jonas, also occurring in the UK.

So, England hasn’t been the scene of success or happiness for her, but she is unbeaten in the States and plans to resume that role in this rematch with Ryan.

Sandy Ryan: Can the Brit even the score in this extreme rivalry?

31-years-old from Derby, England, Sandy Ryan was a standout amateur, winning a European bronze, a silver at the 2014 World Championships, and a gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. She represented Team GB for many years, as did Mayer for Team USA, taking part in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Ryan was heartbroken when Covid-19 restrictions thwarted her chance to become an Olympian herself. Missing out on the 2020 Tokyo Games spelled the end of her amateur spell and the beginning of her professional career.

Despite a brief hiccup in her fourth fight, losing in her first 10-rounder just eight months into her pro journey, she came back five months on to right the wrong over the same opponent, Erica Farias.

She became a world champion in just fight number seven, then immediately attempted to unify her WBO title with Jessica McCaskill’s WBC, WBA, IBO and Ring Magazine belts in September 2023. However, the close contest ended in a draw.

Ryan defended her WBO title to domestic rival, Terri Harper, in March last year. The pair live just 20 miles apart, but that didn’t stop Ryan from unneighbourly bullying and battering Harper to a fourth-round finish.

The former world champion is aggressive and advancing when she fights, clearly blessed with heavy hands and strength. Those formidable attributes, however, weren’t able to outdo the speed and skill of Mayer, so the British boxer will have to make changes if she aims to win this rerun.

Mikaela Mayer vs Sandy Ryan: The key factors 

In this return match, it’s all up to Sandy Ryan to deliver an improved performance. What Mikaela Mayer did in their first fight was perfection, following her game plan assiduously.

The opening rounds could determine who wins the fight. Ryan started slowly and came on stronger with each passing round. The ninth round was her best, as she piled on the pressure prodigiously, but Mayer absorbed it all and kept coming back.

For Ryan, if she could sustain that pace and pressure she displayed in that penultimate round, then she will give Mayer a torrid time that could drain and deplete her ability to be so effective again.

However, to keep up that kind of energy and force takes a superhuman effort, and that will be very difficult to maintain for a full 10-rounds.

Mayer showed that she is faster than Ryan, and can outbox her on the outside with her superior speed, skill and movement. She also proved that she can match and even better Ryan in exchanges too.

Even though there are 10 rounds of research to draw upon, this rematch is so incredibly hard to call.

The odds at the bookies reveal that the champion, Mayer, is ever so slightly the favourite. I believe that accurately reflects the fight – with Mayer just marginally having the edge over the vengeful challenger.

FIRST’s top tip for Mikaela Mayer vs Sandy Ryan

Mikaela Mayer to box just as well as she did in the first fight, sticking and moving and winning the frenzied exchanges, against the inevitably increased pressure to win on points, which is currently 19/20 with Spreadex.

Pick: Mikaela Mayer to win on points - 19/20 (Spreadex)

Extra tips 

With this grudge match so close to call, an uncommon result of a stalemate could be more possible than usual, and the odds are always attractive for a draw. At the time of writing, Ladbrokes are offering 12/1 for a draw.

Pick: Fight to end in a draw - 12/1 (Ladbrokes) 

Odds correct at the time of writing.