Mikaela Mayer has been agonizingly close to coveting glory, yet she hasn’t been able to keep hold of it. After multiple adjustments and weight changes, she is again ready to push for the top prize. This time at 147. However, Sandy Ryan stands before her, whose calming demeanor swiftly changes to a storm whenever she enters the ring. It’s a contest for supremacy at welterweight, with both fighters ready to showcase their technical prowess and their zeal to claim the throne. But who will come on top whenever they exchange punches?

Fans will find it out when they witness the two go toe-to-toe on September 27 at the Madison Square Garden Theater. The fight promises them a technical encounter, which will surely please pure boxing fans. The stakes are also higher with the WBO title on the line, with the winner potentially surging ahead in her career and setting up bigger fights. So, before that happens, let’s see how the two fighters stack up.

Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer: Tale of the Tape

Ryan has impressed every fan and pundit with her well-rounded skill set ever since she made her professional debut. At 31, she has already exhibited her exceptional boxing prowess and her resume backs her credentials. The British boxer boasts a record of 7-1-1 with 3 KOs, which suggests her late but impactful entry to the pro world.

She has racked up splendid wins over the likes of former world champion Anahi Sanchez, which then helped her earn the title shot at 147 after she moved up in pursuit of gold. In addition, Ryan’s KO power, hinted by her KO ratio of 42.86%, adds to her allure.

What’s more? The Derby native fights aggressively and utilizes her tall stature of 5′ 8½” (174 cm) to impose her will on her opponents. She has also settled comfortably at 147 which might spell trouble for Mayer, who is relatively new to the division. But the challenger, at 34, is more experienced than the two and also has more fights under her belt. The American boxer has a stacked resume with a long dominance streak in the super featherweight division.

But when Mayer endeavored against Alycia Baumgardner for undisputed glory, she couldn’t keep up with her and dropped the fight and her gold straps. The Colorado Springs native then moved up and, after a brief successful stint at lightweight, again decided to switch up the divisions and now finds herself at welterweight. This juggling between divisions hasn’t dented her resume, but after two close contests, Mayer finds herself at 19-2 with 5 KOs. Besides, her KO ratio of 26.32% shows her dependence on breaking down her foes throughout 12 rounds and capitalizing on her long reach of 66.5″ (169 cm) to exploit the distance.

Mayer’s height of 5’9″ (175 cm) also gives her a marginal advantage when it comes to size, as her frame allows her to accommodate the vagaries of the 147-pound division. She also carries a weight advantage, as the weighing scales tipped at 146.5 lbs (66.5 kg) when she last fought, compared to Ryan’s 146.3 lbs (66.3 kg). However, the question is whether the former world champion is back to her former devastating self.

Prediction: Where will the fight be won?

What separates Ryan from the rest is her deep and long amateur experience, which prepared her to ease into the pro world. Her list of achievements runs long, such as a World Championship silver medal and a Commonwealth Games gold medal. She is also coming off a 5-win streak, including a special performance against Terri Harper, where her punches and blows forced her foe’s corner to throw the towel. Many onlookers continue to believe that she should have her hand raised against Jessica McCaskill, collecting all but the IBF titles for herself. But you can point out the orthodox boxer’s exceptional footwork, her ability to land sharp and effective counters, along with power, which makes her a formidable champion.

Meanwhile, things aren’t looking good for Mayer, who is coming off a loss to Natasha Jonas. Not only does she have a size and weight advantage, but she also has a good ring acumen. You add into the mix her technical ability and the contributions of Al Mitchell to her technical development. While Mayer doesn’t carry one-punch knockout power, she can land heavy shots with her right hand. You can also point out her experience, which could strengthen her case. But with a mixed result of 2-2 in her last 4 fights, her confidence will be in question. Her fate will depend on how well she fends off Ryan’s powerful punches and how well she negates her technical skill set. Based on the recent form and the power difference, Ryan is the logical pick to emerge as the winner.

What do you make of this coming fight between Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer? Who do you think will leave the arena as a victor? Let us know in the comments below.