Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer: Full video highlights

The Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer showdown headlined a boxing event on Friday, Sept. 27, at The Theater inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. The 10-round contest featured Ryan putting her WBO welterweight title on the line against Mayer.

Mayer delivered a stunning upset, capturing a world title in a second weight division after a hard-fought battle, where she outclassed Ryan to claim the WBO welterweight crown with a majority decision victory.

Emotions were at a boiling point in the lead-up to this fight, fueled by Mayer’s former longtime coach, Kay Koroma, switching camps to train Ryan for the bout. Mayer saw Koroma’s decision to coach her opponent as a serious betrayal.

Even before the fighters stepped into the ring, a major controversy erupted when Ryan was doused with red paint while leaving her hotel for the venue on fight night. The Brit quickly pointed fingers at Mayer's team, accusing them of orchestrating the attack. Her claims stemmed from Mayer's fiery reaction to her former coach siding with Ryan.

The two boxers' heated rivalry spilled into the ring when Ryan refused to touch gloves with Mayer before the bout began.

Check out the in-ring face-off between Sandy Ryan and Mikhaela Mayer below:

From the opening bell, they started exchanging fierce jabs. Mayer gained the upper hand early, landing a powerful right hand that momentarily staggered Ryan. The defending champion, however, responded with her own flurry of rights and sharp hooks.

Ryan and Mayer each had their moments of success in the opening rounds, but by the fourth, the intensity escalated. The action heated up as the two rivals began trading heavy, potent shots in close quarters.

As the fight progressed, Ryan pushed the pace, landing some powerful shots of her own. However, the Californian's superior speed, sharp counters, and punishing body shots kept her firmly in command.

In the 10th and final round, Ryan found her second wind, unleashing a barrage of heavy combinations. Mayer, however, skillfully circled the ring to evade some of the oncoming fire.

Despite Ryan's valiant late efforts, her performance fell short of convincing all three judges. Two scored the bout 97-93 and 96-94 in favor of the challenger, while one judge called it an even draw at 95-95, allowing Mayer to secure the 147-pound title with a majority decision victory.