Sandy Ryan was hit with a can of purple paint en path to Madison Sq. Gardens, earlier than shedding her WBO welterweight world title to Mikaela Mayer.
Regardless of being suggested by her coach to drag out of the bout, Ryan proceeded to the venue and took the ring as scheduled.
The Briton misplaced a good match on a majority choice, leaving Mayer because the world champion.
Mikaela Mayer beat bitter rival Sandy Ryan through majority choice to seize the WBO welterweight world title. Pic: High Rank
Tensions had been excessive previous to the battle, with Mayer accusing Ryan of poaching her long-standing teaching workforce, which Ryan denied.
After the battle, Ryan mentioned: “Before coming to the venue, I had a hit and run [with paint outside the hotel]. And that was definitely set up. I’m not taking nothing away from the win, but it unsettled me.”
Sandy Ryan was hit with paint
“Walking to the venue, I was shook up. And then it threw me off a bit of my game plan because I just wanted to fight. And you saw at the start of the fight, I was handling her quite well on the jab. I was boxing her and then I started to pick it up. But then, I was obviously pushing it too hard.”
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Mayer reacts to her WBO welterweight title victory over Ryan who believes the pre-fight paint-throwing incident ‘unsettled her’
Mayer had the higher hand in tense exchanges within the ring, clinching the victory with scores of 97-93 and 96-94, overruling one choose’s 95-95 draw.
After the match, Mayer instructed Sky Sports activities Information: “I used to be simply as shocked as everybody else. I used to be nonetheless upstairs, ready for the decision that my automobile was there.
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Mayer denied being concerned within the incident that noticed paint thrown at Ryan forward of their conflict
“I heard that paint had been thrown on Sandy. I had no idea. I was shocked. I thought it was horrible. I would never go that far.
“Then I heard that she thought it had one thing to do with me and my workforce, which is disappointing. Clearly Sandy is my rival and my opponent however I might by no means go that far.”
