Women on the Nottingham Card: Progress and Performance
On a night defined by rivalry and veteran redux between Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington, tonight’s fight card in Nottingham also offered a window into the evolving careers of several female boxers, from rising contenders to crossover names already building name value. The undercard showcased three women’s fights.
Sandy Ryan vs. Karla Ramos Zamora — WBC Super Lightweight Title
The most consequential women’s fight on the Nottingham card was the vacant WBC super lightweight world title bout between Sandy Ryan and Karla Ramos Zamora. With belts vacant and opportunity at stake, the two met over ten rounds in a competitive fight that ultimately went Ryan’s way via majority decision with scorecards of 97-93 (2x) and 95-95.
Ryan’s record now stands at 9-3-1 (3 KOs); Ramos Zamora’s is 12-10-2 (4 KOs). Although we got the feed late, if the commentators were accurate in their assessment of the three early rounds, the judges may have gotten the wrong winner. It’s evident Sandy Ryan can fight and she has quality technique. However, possessing it and actually implementing it is what makes the difference. The rugged Zamora was aggressive and, in our opinion, she outworked Ryan throughout the fight. The judges scorecards may be a case of hometown cooking.
Ryan becomes a two-weight world champion, adding the WBC belt to her previous junior welterweight credentials. Post-fight commentary from Ryan acknowledged a hard night’s work and the quality of her Mexican opponent, who pushed her into defensive adjustments and mid-range exchanges.
Tiah-Mai Ayton vs. Catherine Tacone Ramos — Bantamweight
Ayton took a points victory over Ramos over eight rounds at bantamweight. Ayton’s record now sits at 5-0 (4 KOs); Ramos stands at 9-4-1 (2 KOs).
Ayton’s early rounds suggested the speed and power that made her a standout prospect, but Ramos, smaller in stature and quick with her hands, gave Ayton problems with unorthodox angles and frequent counters. The fight shifted in Ayton’s favor mid-bout, as she asserted her jab and began landing power shots more consistently. By the championship rounds, her physicality and disciplined pressure secured the verdict.
Molly McCann vs. Beata Dudek — Super Bantamweight
Former UFC standout Molly McCann scored a dominant unanimous decision (60-55) in her six-round outing at super bantamweight. Her professional record advances to 3-0 (1 KO); Dudek falls to 7-9 (4 KOs).
McCann used her physicality and forward pressure to keep Dudek on the back foot, landing clean shots throughout while avoiding sustained damage. One telling sequence came in the third round when McCann rocked Dudek, but ultimately her work rate is what carried the night. Post-fight, McCann referenced plans to move toward 118 lbs competition, seeking more evenly matched opposition as her boxing skill set develops.