Mayer retains title with points win over Briton Ryan
World champion Mikaela Mayer outpointed Briton Sandy Ryan for the second time to defend her WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas.
American Mayer, 34, was the deserved winner in an entertaining rematch between the two bitter rivals.
After some close early rounds, she dominated the middle of the fight with her higher punch output, shot selection and body work.
Ryan, 31, came back strong towards the end, landing some hurtful punches as blood streamed down Mayer's face following a clash of heads at the Fontainebleau.
But with scores of 97-93, 97-93 and 98-92, the Californian won by a unanimous decision over 10 rounds.
"I thought it was close. I thought I was doing well into the start and then I got into a fight," she said.
Mayer dethroned Ryan on points in September, a result which was marred by the Englishwoman being hit by a can of red paint before leaving for the venue in New York.
"The women are getting better and better – me and Sandy just set the new bar on what competitive fights should look like," said Mayer, who extends her record to 21 wins from 23 bouts.
She called for an undisputed fight against Welshwoman Lauren Price, who holds the three other welterweight world titles, next.
Mayer settles bitter feud
Derby fighter Ryan – who said she fought with too much emotion and anger following the "hit and run" paint attack in the first encounter – cut a relaxed figure for the rematch as she casually strutted to the ring to One Love by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
The defending champion was equally composed as both boxers made a quick start. Mayer doubled up on her jab and controlled the distance but was countered by Ryan's efficient timing and hooks.
Mayer connected with a right and left in the fourth, before landed flashy combinations and hurtful uppercuts to dominate the fifth and sixth as world champions Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson watched from ringside.
Her former trainer Kay Koroma was in Ryan's corner. "Come on, wake up," he told his fighter.
A dispute over the training team, with Mayer claiming her opponent "stole" her coach, is what first sparked a feud between the two boxers.
With Mayer in complete control, it appeared Ryan – who had just three stoppage wins to her name – needed a knockout heading towards the end of the bout.
Ryan landed a thudding right and uppercut on Mayer's injured eye, but she replied with some clean power punches, in a terrific, all-action ninth.
As expected, there was no easing of animosity or embrace at the final bell. Ryan shrugged at the result as an exuberant Mayer celebrated the victory.
'It's time for undisputed'
Mayer made her intentions clear in the post-fight interview. "Now it's time for me to move on and go for undisputed," she said.
WBA, WBC and IBF champion Price staked her claim as the world's best welterweight by beating Natasha Jonas to unify the division earlier this month.
Mayer is well known in the UK, having competed in Britain in four consecutive bouts between October 2022 and January 2024.
An undisputed bout against Price could take place either Stateside or at a UK arena, potentially in Cardiff.
While Ryan was left licking her wounds once more, there are still big fights in prospect for a fighter who has proven she belongs at boxing's top level.
In her past four fights, Ryan has drawn a unification bout against Jessica McCaskill, beaten three-weight champion Terri Harper and lost two close encounters against Mayer.
"I'm going to sit down with my team and we'll have a talk," she said.
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