LAS VEGAS (Jan. 30, 2025) — The paint isn’t dry, and the rivalry isn’t over.
Two-weight queen Mikaela Mayer will defend her WBO welterweight world title in a rematch against former champion Sandy Ryan on Saturday, March 29, at Bleaulive Theater, the fully-customizable, 90,000-square-foot theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The tension between the two intensified before their first encounter last September. Mayer claimed Ryan had stolen her trainer, while Ryan accused Team Mayer of orchestrating a pre-fight stunt that saw Ryan doused with paint outside of the New York City fight hotel. Mayer dethroned Ryan via majority decision, but the brushwork on this feud is far from finished.
In the co-feature, Brian Norman Jr. will make the inaugural defense of his WBO welterweight world championship against Puerto Rican challenger Derrieck Cuevas.
Rising featherweight phenom Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington will square off against Jose Enrique Vivas in a 10-round WBC final eliminator as the featured bout on the ESPN+-streamed undercard.
Mayer-Ryan II and Norman-Cuevas will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. PT via https://www.fontainebleaulasvegas.com/entertainment/top-rank-boxing/.
“The rivalry between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan is one of the fiercest we’ve seen in recent years, and both are determined to put it to rest once and for all,” says Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Brian Norman Jr. faces a tough first defense, but I’m confident he’ll rise to the occasion and prove he belongs at the top. Bruce Carrington is close to a world title shot, and this fight is his chance to cement his place in line.”
“I’m delighted that Sandy has a second chance in Las Vegas,” says Matchroom Chairman Eddie Hearn. “The rivalry between the pair spilled over in New York, and there’s certainly no love lost between them. But when they got in the ring at Madison Square Garden, they delivered one of the fights of the year for 2024.
“Although Mikaela got the nod last time, it was a pick’em fight with only a coat of paint to separate them. I’m confident that it will be revenge, not repeat, on March 29, and Sandy will be crowned a two-time world champion.”
“We are thrilled to welcome back Top Rank for what is set to be one of the most anticipated matches of 2025,” says Fontainebleau Las Vegas Senior Vice President of Entertainment, Fedor Banuchi. “The Mayer-Ryan title rematch brings a level of excitement and anticipation to the resort and further highlights the resort’s commitment to delivering can’t-miss experiences.”
Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs), a 2016 Olympian, debuted in 2017 and tore through the junior lightweight ranks before capturing the IBF and WBO world titles. She came up short in a disputed October 2022 split decision against WBC champion Alycia Baumgardner but moved up to lightweight the following April to claim the WBC interim crown with a win over Lucy Wildheart. After outpointing Silvia Bortot that September, Mayer returned four months later to challenge Natasha Jonas for the IBF strap, losing a close split decision in a toe-to-toe classic. Undeterred, Mayer set her sights on Ryan for the WBO belt and became a two-division ruler.
“I’ve never been one to shy away from challenges. I could have taken my belt and moved on, but it was a highly entertaining fight, and if this is what the fans want, then that’s what I’ll give them,” Mayer said. “I have stayed in the gym and am getting better every day. It will be worse for Sandy this time, but regardless, expect another action-packed fight.”
Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs), the fighting pride of Derby, England, turned pro in 2021 after capturing gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2014 World Championships. She avenged her first pro loss to Erica Farias with a decisive unanimous verdict and claimed the vacant WBO welterweight title in April 2023 by outpointing Marie-Pier Houle. A contentious draw with former undisputed champion Jessica McCaskill stalled her hopes at unifying the division, but Ryan rebounded last March with a career-best knockout of Terri Harper. Her championship reign came to a halt last September against Mayer in a Fight of The Year candidate.
“As crazy as this sounds after what happened last time in New York, I am actually looking forward to returning to the U.S.,” Ryan said. “I’ve had some remarkable, history-making fights here already, so the opportunity to come back and showcase my talent while headlining in the fight capital of the world is amazing.
“This time, I will be fully prepared for whatever comes my way. I’m not making any excuses, but after what happened before the fight last time, I did fight in anger, and it clearly affected my performance. But it was a great fight and did great numbers for ESPN, so that’s why Mayer had to take this rematch. It’s the biggest fight for both of us, and everyone wants to see it again. On March 29, the world will see a focused, determined, and talented fighter in the shape of her life, and I will reclaim my world title.
“I want to thank my promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, my manager Brian Peters, and Bob Arum for getting the rematch done. It will be another amazing fight for women’s boxing and boxing in general, and I look forward to reclaiming my title.”
Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) turned pro in January 2018 and went 11-0 in his first year. He garnered national attention in 2020 with a gritty technical decision over Flavio Rodriguez. He followed it up with a dominant 2021 campaign that saw him register four brutal stoppages. After a year-long layoff, Norman signed a promotional contract with Top Rank and went 3-0 in 2023 with decisions over Rodrigo Coria, Jesus Perez, and Quinton Randall. He secured the WBO interim welterweight title with a 10th-round knockout of previously undefeated Giovani Santillan last May. Norman became the organization’s full champion after Terence Crawford vacated the belt later that year.
Norman said, “Fighting for a championship belt is every fighter’s dream, so I know Cuevas is training as hard as possible for this fight. He is a tough competitor who brings everything he has to win this fight. That said, as the WBO champion, I can guarantee a spectacular performance come March 29.”
Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs) enters his first world title opportunity riding a four-fight knockout streak that began in December 2022 with a second-round demolition of Esneiker Correa. In 2023, he fought three times in Panama, closing out the year with a sixth-round TKO against once-beaten Marlon Aguas in December. The 30-year-old standout will make his eighth appearance on U.S. soil.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight in Las Vegas for a world title,” Cuevas said, “That’s the dream of every fighter. I respect Norman, but on March 29, a new champion will be crowned.”
Carrington (14-0, 8 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, rose swiftly to claim the WBO’s number one contender spot after turning pro in October 2021. The 27-year-old native of Brownsville, Brooklyn, secured four victories in 2024, starting with a highlight-reel fourth-round knockout of Bernard Torres in February, a finish that went viral and was featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10. In May, he stopped Brayan De Gracia in the eighth round and returned in September to overcome a stern challenge from Sulaiman Segawa and a majority decision. He capped the year in November with a one-sided unanimous decision over Dana Coolwell on the undercard of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson event in Arlington, Texas.
Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs), a rugged 30-year-old from Mexico, began his career with a sensational 17-0 run before suffering his first defeat to Ruben Villa in September 2019. He rebounded with four straight wins, highlighted by a 10-round decision over unbeaten Carlos Jackson in July 2020 and an eight-round victory against Louie Coria in May 2021. Although he dropped a close decision to eventual world title challenger Eduardo Baez the following March and lost a unanimous decision to Joet Gonzalez in April 2023, Vivas regained his momentum last February with a first-round TKO over Jonathan Aguilar.
