Junior bantamweight contender Shannon Ryan is just a couple of weeks removed from her final fight of 2025 – and Ryan’s team is eyeing her first outing for 2026.
A member of Ryan’s team, lobbying for a higher ranking for her at the WBO’s annual convention, said she could return as soon as February or March.
Ryan, 10-1 (1 KO), is coming off an injury-shortened technical decision victory against Chloe Watson on October 17 on the undercard of George Liddard’s victory over Kieron Conway. It was Watson who got hurt from a clash of heads. The fight was stopped in the fourth round. Ryan was awarded the round and swept all three scorecards, 40-36.
That made three straight wins for Ryan since her split decision defeat to Emma Dolan in June 2024. Dolan is currently ranked ninth by the WBO. Ryan is presently in the seventh spot. Her team member asked for Ryan to be ranked within the WBO’s top two, which is where LeAnna Cruz, 11-0 (1 KO), and Gloria Gallardo, 16-3-3 (7 KOs), currently reside.
The WBO junior bantamweight titleholder is Mizuki Hiruta, 9-0 (2 KOs), who is scheduled to defend against Gallardo on November 22 on UFC Fight Pass.
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
