Sandy Ryan (born 16 September 1993) is an English

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...

who is a former

WBO The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is an organization which sanctions professional boxing bouts. It is recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) as one of the four major world championship groups, alongside the World Boxin ...

female

welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term ''welterweight'' was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...

title holder.

Amateur career

On her senior championship debut in 2014, she won a

World Championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

silver medal. Representing England, Ryan won a gold medal at the

2018 Commonwealth Games The 2018 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXI Commonwealth Games and also known as Gold Coast 2018, were an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth that was held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, bet ...

in Australia beating Rosie Eccles from Wales by split decision (3:2) in the welterweight final. In 2019 Ryan was selected to compete at the

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...

Ulan-Ude Ulan-Ude (; , ; , ) is the capital city of Buryatia, Russia, located about southeast of Lake Baikal on the Uda River, Buryatia, Uda River at its confluence with the Selenga River, Selenga. According to the Russian Census (2021), 2021 Census, 43 ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

, where she lost by split decision (4:1) to Christina Desmond in the round of 32.

Professional career

In 2021 it was confirmed that Ryan has agreed terms to turn professional with

Matchroom Sport Matchroom Sport is a UK-based sporting event promotions company founded by Barry Hearn and run by him and his son Eddie Hearn. It first came to attention in the sports of snooker and boxing and is also involved in pool (cue sports), pool, bowl ...

. She made her pro-debut on 31 July 2021 defeating Kirstie Bavington on points in a six-round contest held at Matchroom HQ Garden in Brentwood, England.

Ryan vs Pier Houle

On April 22, 2023 at Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales, Ryan defeated Marie Pier Houle by unanimous decision and earned the vacant WBO welterweight title.

Ryan vs McCaskill

On September 23, 2023 at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, Ryan faced Jessica McCaskill in the welterweight championship unification. The fight ended in a split draw.

Ryan vs Harper

On 23 March 2024 in Sheffield, England, Ryan defeated

Terri Harper Terri Harper (born 2 November 1996) is a British professional boxer and current WBO female lightweight champion. She is also a former WBA and IBO Super-Welterweight champion and former super-featherweight world champion, having held the IB ...

via fourth-round RTD and retained her WBO welterweight title.

Ryan vs Mayer

Ryan was scheduled to defend her WBO welterweight title against

Mikaela Mayer Mikaela Joslin Mayer (born July 4, 1990) is an American professional boxer, who has held WBO welterweight title since September 2024. She is also a former unified female super-featherweight world champion, having held the WBO and the IBF title ...

in New York on 27 September 2024. She lost the fight by majority decision. On the day of the fight, while leaving to the event, she was hit by a tin of paint at her hotel. Two days after the fight Ryan demanded an immediate rematch in light of the paint incident and alleged threats against her and her support team.

Ryan vs. Mayer 2

Ryan faced Mikaela Mayer in a rematch for the WBO welterweight title at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas on 29 March 2025. She lost by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

Honours

She was awarded the Freedom of the City of

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

on 25 March 2024.

References

External links

*
Sandy Ryan - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings
a
Box.Live
at Women Boxing Archive Network * , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Sandy 1993 births Living people English women boxers Boxers from Derby AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships medalists Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England Boxers at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games European Games gold medalists for Great Britain European Games medalists in boxing Boxers at the 2015 European Games World welterweight boxing champions World Boxing Organization champions 21st-century English sportswomen Commonwealth Games gold medallists in boxing