Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan`s boxing rivalry has become incredibly intense in a short time, perhaps the most heated in women`s boxing. Their first fight last September was full of trash talk and ended in a controversial decision, setting the stage for their rematch in Las Vegas.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ryan was attacked with red paint on her way to their first fight in New York. Ryan accused Mayer`s team, which they deny.
Another layer to the rivalry is their coaches. Kay Koroma, who coached Mayer for years, is now training Ryan for this fight and was in her corner for the first one.
Mayer, 34, from America, enters as the WBO welterweight champion after defeating Ryan, 31, from England, by majority decision in their first match. Let`s look at how this feud developed.
Jan. 24, 2024: Mayer moved up to welterweight and lost a close decision to Natasha Jonas in England. Mayer wanted a rematch immediately.
Mayer, a former junior lightweight champion, didn`t get the Jonas rematch, but her performance made her a contender in the welterweight division.
March 24, 2024: Ryan defended her WBO welterweight title by stopping Terri Harper. This win solidified Ryan`s position as a top welterweight.
Ryan called out Jonas and Chantelle Cameron afterward, but then a rivalry with Mayer started to emerge.
June 26, 2024: Mayer claimed Ryan declined a fight offer. Ryan responded online, saying the offer was unfair for a title defense and her team advised against it.
The tension increased because Ryan began training with Mayer`s former coaches, Kay Koroma and Flick Savoy, after a draw in September 2023. Mayer felt it was a conflict of interest as she was moving to welterweight. Mayer then switched to coach Kofi Jantuah. Shortly after their online exchange, the Mayer vs. Ryan fight was announced for September.
Sept. 26, 2024: Coach Koroma became a point of contention during media events.
Mayer questioned why Ryan would train with her former team knowing Mayer was moving to welterweight.
Ryan called Mayer names after a faceoff where Mayer made an offensive gesture.
Sept. 27, 2024: Before the first fight, Ryan was attacked with paint as she left her hotel in New York.
Ryan, upset, told about the attack, saying someone threw a can of paint at her stomach and ran off.
Ryan believes Mayer`s team was responsible, thinking they knew her hotel departure time and were trying to disrupt her mindset.
The fight was closely contested. Mayer landed more power punches, according to statistics, and won a majority decision. However, the prefight drama overshadowed the actual boxing.
Sept. 30, 2024: Ryan stated that the paint attack wasn`t the only issue, claiming defamatory leaflets were spread around her hotel and Madison Square Garden.
Ryan felt she deserved the win based on her performance and called for an immediate rematch.
Mayer`s agent denied any involvement in the paint attack or leaflets.
Dec. 28, 2024: Ryan released security camera footage of the paint attack online.
The video showed someone throwing an object at Ryan and fleeing in a car.
Jan. 30, 2025: The rematch was announced. Ryan said she fought with anger in the first fight, affecting her performance, and this time would be different.
Feb. 5, 2025: The online arguments continued. Mayer accused Ryan of being opportunistic and contacting her former team. Ryan reiterated that the prefight attack impacted her performance.
Ryan believes Mayer thinks she is mentally weak, but Ryan aims to win decisively in the rematch, promising to land her punches cleanly.
Feb. 16, 2025: Mayer suggested a fan could have been behind the paint attack.
Mayer mentioned rumors of Ryan being disliked in her hometown, suggesting a disgruntled fan could be responsible.
March 9, 2025: Despite the controversy with Ryan, Mayer was recognized as the British Boxing Board of Control`s Overseas Boxer of the Year.