In a highly anticipated rematch, Mikaela Mayer showcased her superior boxing skills to decisively defeat Sandy Ryan, retaining her WBO women's welterweight title in Las Vegas. The American fighter dominated the bout with her hand speed and punch volume, earning a unanimous decision victory. This encounter not only erased any lingering controversy from their previous clash but also set the stage for Mayer's aspirations of becoming an undisputed champion. Meanwhile, other notable fights on the card featured Brian Norman Jr.'s successful title defense and Bruce Carrington's impressive knockout win.
On Saturday night at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas, the atmosphere was electric as fans gathered to witness the rematch between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan. From the opening bell, Mayer displayed her tactical prowess, consistently outworking Ryan throughout the rounds. Her ability to maintain a high volume of punches overwhelmed Ryan, who struggled to keep pace. The judges scored the match unanimously in favor of Mayer, with scores of 97-93, 97-93, and 98-92.
This victory marked a significant moment for Mayer, who had previously faced controversy surrounding their initial bout in September. During that fight, an incident involving Ryan being attacked with red paint added layers of tension. Despite such distractions, Mayer focused on her performance this time around, leaving no room for doubt. Following her triumph, she expressed ambitions to challenge Lauren Price, the current holder of the WBA, WBC, and IBF welterweight titles, aiming to unify all belts.
Elsewhere on the card, Brian Norman Jr. demonstrated his dominance by securing a third-round TKO over Derrieck Cuevas. Initially starting slow, Norman quickly adjusted his strategy, exploiting Cuevas' vulnerabilities with powerful counterpunches. Another standout performance came from Bruce Carrington, who stopped Jose Enrique Vivas in the third round during a WBC featherweight title eliminator. Carrington boldly called out all four featherweight world champions after his victory, signaling his readiness to ascend further in the rankings.
The evening concluded with several thrilling bouts, highlighting the depth of talent across various weight classes. With each fighter showcasing their unique abilities, the event reinforced the growing prominence of female boxers like Mayer while introducing new stars to the scene. As Mayer sets her sights on achieving undisputed champion status, the boxing world eagerly anticipates what lies ahead in future matchups, promising even more excitement for fans worldwide.