Sandy Ryan v Mikaela Mayer - Tale of the Tape: Weight, height, reach, trainer & professional boxing records

We analyse the credentials and statistics of Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer as the pair get set to contest a hugely-anticipated WBO welterweight world title showdown in New York in the early hours of Sunday 28th September.

What women’s boxing lacks in knockouts, it makes up for in fights being fought at a frenetic pace, and the best trading blows in the ring rather than insults on social media - somewhat unlike their male counterparts.

In the early hours of next Sunday, fight fans are in for a treat as Sandy Ryan puts her prized WBO welterweight title on the line against Mikaela Mayer, at the iconic Madison Square Garden.

The last time Ryan fought in America, she had to settle for a controversial draw, and will be determined to leave no doubt in the minds of the judges this time around.

Home favourite Mayer will have a similar mentality, having been certain she had done enough against Natasha Jonas back in January - a bout in which the American controversially suffered a dubious split decision defeat in.

New York City has produced fireworks time and time again from a boxing perspective, and it could do once again in late September.

Who will prevail?

It's time to take a look at the 'Tale of the Tape'...

Sandy Ryan v Mikaela Mayer
Tale of the Tape

	Sandy Ryan	Mikaela Mayer
Age:	31	33
Nickname:	N/A	N/A
Height:	5ft 8.5ins	5ft 9ins
Reach:	67ins	66.5ins
Weight:	Welterweight	Welterweight
Trainer:	Kay Koroma	Kofi Jantuah
Record:	7-1-1 (3 KOs)	19-2 (5 KOs)
Last Fight:	Won - (RTD) v Terri Harper (March 2024)	Lost - (SD) v Natasha Jonas (January 2024)

Sandy Ryan
In Profile

As an amateur, Sandy Ryan was good, very good, in fact; talented enough to win Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. However, greatness eluded her in the unpaid ranks.

She had to settle for silver at the 2014 World Championships and missed out on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

For a while, it appeared the Derby boxer’s professional career would pan out in similar fashion. It wasn’t for a lack of trying.

Ryan clearly had aspirations of reaching the pinnacle of the sport and was matched aggressively as a result.

The ambitious match-making backfired as she suffered a shock defeat to, former world champion, Erica Annabell Farias, in her fourth fight. To her credit, she avenged the loss in an immediate rematch.

She claimed the WBO welterweight strap two bouts later as she comprehensively out-boxed Marie Pier Houle.

A unification with, former undisputed 147lbs queen, Jessica McCaskill followed. It was an opportunity for the 31-year-old surpass the level she reached as an amateur.

Ryan had appeared to do enough, but the judges disagreed, deeming the fight to be a draw.

Afterwards, Ryan knew something had to change if she was to fulfil her lofty aspirations.

Having been trained by Clifton Mitchell for almost 18 years, she made the difficult decision to part company with her coach. Ryan relocated to Las Vegas, far from the distractions of her Midlands home. It is a sacrifice which reaped instant rewards.

Last time out, Ryan systematically took apart, two-weight, world champion, Terri Harper, forcing her rival to retire on her stool, in the fifth round.

It was a performance that hinted to the Englishwoman potentially establishing herself as the best in the division.

Fighting on the other side of the Atlantic, on a show staged by her rival’s promoter, the deck is stacked against her.

If she is successful, Ryan will put herself firmly in the pound-for-pound top 10. She will finally have achieved greatness.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Jab	Stays in range too long
Body shots	Lack of head movement
Combination punching	Can be dragged into a war
Applies pressure	Occasionally neglects jab

Mikaela Mayer
In Profile

In the mind of Mikaela Mayer, she is undefeated. This isn’t delusion.

The American had a strong case to have her hand raised against both Alycia Baumgardner and Natasha Jonas, given that on both occasions, judges scored in favour of her rivals by a single point.

The Rio 2016 Olympian has twice fallen short by the finest of margins.

Both of the American’s losses came on British soil, each was a fight of the year contender.

The former unified super-featherweight champion will be determined to right those perceived wrongs by becoming a world champion once more.

If extra motivation was needed, she split from long-term trainer Kay Koroma due to his working relationship with Ryan.

Despite being the underdog, the 33-year-old has a real chance of achieving glory.

The Englishwoman struggled with the relentless volume thrown by Erica Annabel Farias in her fourth fight and Mayer has one of the best engines in women’s boxing.

Mayer will be confident she can upset the odds. For her, another defeat is not an option.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Applies pressure	Over-reaches with punches
Work rate	Keeps her head on centre line
Jab to the body	Smothers her own work
Throws in combination	Stays in range too long