Mikaela Mayer feels like a brand-new fighter, physically and emotionally.

Mayer, the two-division and reigning WBO welterweight titleholder, is feeling like a new fighter entering Saturday’s anticipated rematch with Sandy Ryan. It will mark Mayer’s second straight fight with Kofi Jantuah in her corner alongside career-long trainer Al Mitchell.

This time, it came with the benefit of a full camp for a second run at Ryan. Mayer added Jantuah, a former title challenger, to her team during training for the first Ryan fight, only after her bitter split with Kay Koroma, who now trains Ryan along with her brother, former pro junior welterweight Dave “Rocky” Ryan.

“I’ve been building that connection with Kofi,” Mayer told BoxingScene. “I’m so grateful that everything happened with Kay. It worked in my favor so much. I immediately upgraded my team with Kofi. I’m continuing to grow and learning, even at 34.

“Plus, I’m also still growing into this welterweight body, finally being able to put on that muscle. I was fluctuating so much, cutting at the lower weights. My hormones were out of whack. I feel so much better.” 

Mayer and Ryan meet atop an ESPN tripleheader Saturday from BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

The fight comes six months after their terrific first meeting, won by Mayer, 20-2 (5 KOs), via majority decision. It was a bitter defeat for England’s Ryan, 7-2-1 (3 KOs), whose title reign came to an end after 10 thrilling rounds, which followed a contentious pre-fight buildup.

The main point of contention was Mayer’s insistence that she was betrayed by Koroma’s decision to take on Ryan as a client. The move was indeed concerning given the strong possibility – and eventual reality – that the fighters would one day meet in the ring.

It was a bitter pillow to swallow at the time, though it put Mayer on a better path. 

“Ultimately, I moved on. I’m fine,” Mayer noted during Thursday’s press conference at Fontainebleau, where she and Ryan will meet again at Friday’s weigh-in before clashing on fight night. “I’m happy for Sandy – you guys are perfect for each other.

“I think that I’ve leveled up 100 per cent with Kofi in my corner. I couldn’t be happier with my decision. It was literally a blessing in disguise.”

Ryan doesn’t necessarily have any regrets, either. 

She felt the need to improve her corner after a disputed draw with Jessica McCaskill in their September 2023 lineal, WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight championship unification bout. Most observers thought that Ryan deserved the nod, though she was no longer interested in leaving things to chance.

Ryan moved her training camp to Las Vegas, where she linked up with Koroma and Flick Savoy shortly after the McCaskill fight. Mayer – a 2016 US Olympian – tried to work around the conflict of interests, but it became moot once Koroma left her team altogether just as training camp was taking off for the first Ryan fight.

It was a bitter pill to swallow at the time, particularly since Mayer made the point to relocate to Vegas two years prior specifically to train full time with Koroma.

Fast-forward to present day, where a stronger Mayer is set to enter the ring this weekend.

“I haven’t left the gym. I’ve been training, working on stuff,” Mayer said. “Anyone who knows Kofi Jantuah, his workouts are long and mentally draining. It’s not like we were working at full speed the entire time because you don’t want to peak too soon. But the sessions are long. 

“It was worth it. I’m genuinely feeling so much better this time around.”