Sandy Ryan was never shy about diving into the deep end of the talent pool.

Three straight showdowns with former titleholders has prepared the 29-year-old Derby native for her first career title challenge in just her seventh pro fight. Ryan will face Canada’s unbeaten Marie Piere Houle for the vacant WBO welterweight title as part of a DAZN show this Saturday from Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales.

“This is my dream and it’s going to become reality on Saturday,” Ryan said during Thursday’s final pre-fight press conference. “[Houle] said in her interviews that she’s bringing the pressure. I like the pressure. Bring the pressure.

“It’s a must-win fight. I’m used to that from my early fights. I know what’s on the line. I’m ready for it.”

Ryan-Houle serves as the co-main event to the Shavkat Rakhimov-Joe Cordina IBF junior lightweight title fight.

Ryan (5-1, 2KOs) only turned pro in July 2021 and didn’t waste any time racing to the contender level. A learning lesson was dealt in a ten-round, split decision defeat to former titlist Erica Farias last May 12 in Nottingham, England. Ryan—who was just four fights and eight months into her pro journey—wasn’t at all interested in moving backwards. She demanded a rematch, which came last August and resulted in a competitive points win which was followed by a more dominant showing versus Anahi Sanchez last November 26 at OVO Arena Wembley in London.

This weekend’s challenge provides Ryan with her first unbeaten opponent in Houle (8-0-1, 2KOs), a 32-year-old contender from Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada who boasts a more traditional resume befitting a boxer entering just her tenth pro fight.

That fact is not at all lost on Ryan, who knows her own capabilities and questions if her opponent is cut from the same cloth.

“This is world level and I’m going to show that on Saturday,” vowed Ryan. “You know I can fight. Can she fight? I’ve been chin-checked. Has she been chin-checked? I’ll fight however she wants to fight. Bring it.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox