If a coach is like household, Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer will quickly play boxing’s model of “Household Feud.”
Ryan will defend her WBO welterweight world title in opposition to Mayer on Friday, Sept. 27, at The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard. And she is going to accomplish that with a former Mayer confidant in her nook. Kay Koroma, who helped prepare Mayer from Olympic standout to skilled world champion, will assist prepare Ryan for this career-defining major occasion.
Within the undercard, Puerto Rican junior middleweight Xander Zayas and Brooklyn-born featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, will see motion in separate 10-round televised options. Zayas will face Mexican contender Damian Sosa, whereas Carrington appears to be like to show away the upset-minded Sulaiman Segawa.
Ryan-Mayer, Zayas-Sosa, and Carrington-Segawa shall be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs), a 2016 U.S. Olympian at present rated at No. 3 by The Ring at welterweight, jumped out to a 17-0 file to start her professional profession whereas successful a pair of junior light-weight world titles and changing into a pound-for-pound mainstay. The Los Angeles native returns to America after a four-fight run in England that included a debated 2022 cut up determination loss to Alycia Baumgardner in a bid for the undisputed junior light-weight title. Mayer received a pair of choices in 2023 as she moved up in weight to arrange for a welterweight world title alternative. In January, she misplaced a extremely disputed cut up determination to IBF champion Natasha Jonas. Whereas a Jonas rematch didn’t materialize, Mayer has one other likelihood to change into a two-weight world champion.
“After months of negotiations in each route, I’m thrilled that my staff has pulled by way of for me and gotten me this battle. As a number of dates fell by way of within the UK, the very last thing I anticipated was for my supervisor to name with a proposal that ticked each field,” Mayer stated. “My staff not solely secured me one other title battle in opposition to the opponent I requested for, however I’m coming again to the U.S. with my Prime Rank and ESPN household. I liked combating within the UK over the previous two years, however I’ve genuinely missed combating in America. I’m able to take Sandy Ryan’s WBO belt. AND NEW!”
Ryan (7-1-1, 3 KOs), from Derby, England and at present rated at No. 2 by The Ring at 147 kilos, turned professional in 2021 after an completed novice profession that included a 2018 Commonwealth Video games gold medal and a 2014 World Championships silver medal. Her lone defeat — a March 2022 cut up determination to Erica Farias — was avenged lower than 5 months later with a unanimous determination triumph. Ryan picked up the vacant WBO title in April 2023 with a unanimous determination over Marie-Pier Houle. Following a extremely controversial draw in opposition to Jessica McCaskill in a title unification tilt, Ryan notched her signature victory in March with a devastating fourth-round knockout over former two-division world champion Terri Harper.
Ryan stated, “I’m excited to be returning to America and notably combating at MSG. It’s the Mecca of Boxing and a venue that each champion desires of competing in. I really feel privileged to have been given this chance, and I need to thank Matchroom and Prime Rank for coming collectively to make the battle. It’s the right second in my profession, and I’m trying ahead to efficiently defending my world title. I can promise that on a degree taking part in discipline, no person is taking this belt from me.
“Mayer has had an terrible lot to say about me and this battle, and I’m positive she is going to proceed to take action, however I’m an athlete and knowledgeable. I’ll let my boxing do my speaking, and I’ll shine in that ring on September 27. Carry it on!”
Zayas (19-0, 12 KOs) signed a contract with Prime Rank as a 16-year-old prodigy in 2019. The five-year professional has lived as much as the billing up to now, as he’s captured a pair of regional titles whereas changing into a serious New York Metropolis attraction. Zayas is 5-0 at Madison Sq. Backyard, together with his major occasion debut in June, which noticed him beat former world champion Patrick Teixeira over 10 rounds. Sosa (25-2, 12 KOs), from Tijuana, Mexico, has received three in a row and is 3-0 when combating on American soil. He received a transparent factors verdict over Clay Collard in 2021, prevailed by way of a 10-round determination over former Zayas foe Ronald Cruz the next yr, and most not too long ago shocked undefeated prospect Marques Valle by a cut up determination in April.
Zayas stated, “In my final battle, I dominated a former world champion from begin to end, and now I’m able to placed on an excellent higher efficiency for my individuals in New York on September 27. I’m motivated by the problem of dealing with a Mexican warrior and excited to return to Madison Sq. Backyard after all of the love and nice vitality I acquired throughout Puerto Rican Day Parade Weekend.”
Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs) is 5-0 with 5 knockouts at The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard. He saved a few of his most highlight-worthy KOs for the hometown followers, together with February’s fourth-round demolition of Bernard Torres. He made it 5 for 5 at The Theater in June with an eighth-round TKO over Brayan De Gracia. Segawa (17-4-1, 6 KOs), a local of Uganda who resides in Maryland, is an 11-year professional. His defeats have all come in opposition to then-unbeaten opposition, together with a aggressive 2018 determination to Abraham Nova. Segawa authored a career-defining victory in July, gorgeous WBC. No. 1 featherweight contender and former world title challenger Ruben Villa by unanimous determination over 10 rounds.
Carrington stated, “I’m prepared for all of the champions in my division. Segawa is a pace bump, and he’s about to get run over in my hometown. The Shu Shu Period is simply getting began.”
A press launch by Prime Rank was used on this article.
