The women’s welterweight division is once again in motion as former undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill puts her remaining two titles on the line against Sandy Ryan’s recently-acquired WBO title. The two fighters are set to collide in Orlando on September 23 in a bout that is likely to define an era.
American WBA and WBC women’s welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill (12-3, 5 KO’s) etched her name in history by dethroning former undisputed champion Cecilia Brækhus (37-2, 9 KO’s) in 2020, ending Brækhus’ undisputed reign of over half a decade. McCaskill’s rematch with Brækhus solidified her status as undisputed champion and earned her recognition in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Her brief move down to super lightweight in November 2022 resulted in the loss of her IBF title after being defeated by Chantelle Cameron (18-0, 8 KO’s). The IBF title was subsequently secured by unified super welterweight champion Natasha Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KO’s), thus concluding McCaskill’s undisputed run. However, holding onto the WBA and WBC welterweight titles, Jessica McCaskill retains her unified champion status.
British WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan (6-1, 2 KO’s) is the third titleholder in the division. In April, Ryan claimed the world championship in only her seventh professional bout, delivering a convincing unanimous decision victory over Marie-Pier Houle (8-1-1, 2 KO’s). The September 23rd clash with Jessica McCaskill provides Ryan with the chance to unify titles for the first time in her budding career.
The victor of this showdown is highly likely to face Natasha Jonas. It’s worth noting that Jonas’s champion status remains uncertain due to her holding world titles in two different weight classes, a situation typically not permitted by sanctioning bodies. Holding the WBC and IBF titles at super welterweight, Jonas recently vacated her WBO title, indicating that her remaining titles in that weight class may also be relinquished in the near future.
This matchup adds an intriguing dynamic between two fighters with distinct goals to accomplish. At 29 years old, Sandy Ryan aims to solidify her reputation as a legitimate champion, considering her relatively brief tenure as a professional since her debut in 2021. In contrast, 39-year-old Jessica McCaskill boasts significant experience as a pro boxer spanning eight years. The American unified welterweight champion seeks to demonstrate that she still has much to offer and is far from the end of her career.
