Mikaela Mayer defeats Sandy Ryan by unanimous decision

LAS VEGAS — Behind a relentless early offensive assault led by an active jab, Mikaela Mayer was able to hold off a late charge by rival Sandy Ryan to win a unanimous decision and retain the women’s WBO welterweight title Saturday night,

It was a rematch of their September clash when Mayer won a controversial majority decision to win the title from Ryan. The rematch was arguably more entertaining, with a more definitive victory for Mayer. However, she had to fend off a late rally from Ryan to hang on to her championship.

Two judges saw the fight 97-92 and a third had it 98-92. But the scores didn’t exactly match the fight’s heated nature.

“I wanted to kick her ass, and I did,” said Mayer, who improved to 21-2.

The 2016 Olympian started fast, working behind the jab and pressing the action. Unlike their first meeting, Ryan (7-3-1) was more composed and patient, looking for opportunities to counter with her right hand. But Mayer’s persistence forced Ryan on her backfoot early and controlled the middle rounds. By the time Ryan opted to initiate the exchanges, it was too late.

“I wanted to give Sandy the rematch because it was a great fight,” Mayer said. “I believe a rematch should happen when the fans want it. We did that, but I beat Sandy twice. Now it’s time for me to move on and go for undisputed, which is against (WBA, WBC and IBF champion) Lauren Price.”

The feud between Mayer and Ryan had grown vitriolic over the past year. Ahead of their first meeting, they were engaged in a war of words that saw tensions heighten when Ryan was the victim of a paint attack by an unknown assailant on her way to Madison Square Garden for their fight. Britain’s Ryan blamed Mayer for the red paint attack, which the American vehemently denied.

The controversial nature of the first decision further fanned the flames of their feud. The two also argued over Kay Koroma, Mayer’s former longtime coach, who trained Ryan for their first fight and was in the former champion’s corner in the rematch.

With tensions high, the women delivered a high-octane war that entertained throughout at Fontainebleau.

In their first meeting, Mayer landed 186 punches to Ryan’s 185. The difference was in activity; Mayer threw 131 more punches.

The rematch followed the same blueprint. Mayer outlanded Ryan 178 to 146 and threw 516 punches to Ryan’s 377. Mayer found success working the body with 55 punches below the neck.

Mayer’s game plan was to overwhelm her rival with activity, and she was in control by Round 5. Mayer lifted her foot off the accelerator ever so slightly in Round 6, opting for punch placement, which gave Ryan a window of opportunity to become the aggressor. Ryan fought with a sense of urgency in the eighth round and plowed forward, cutting loose heavy right hands. The constant aggression opened a cut over Mayer’s right eye from a clash of heads.

The final two rounds were filled with furious exchanges. Ryan buckled Mayer’s legs with a right hand, but Mayer refused to back down as the crowd rose to its feet in the final seconds.

“I’ve been needing to move to welterweight for a long time,” Mayer said. “So, when I finally did just, it took a good solid year and a half of hard work and this is where I’m comfortable. This is where I should have been.”

And now with the feud put to rest, Mayer can see if she can become an undisputed champion.