Brit boxer victim of ‘hit and run’ PAINT attack before losing fight as she accuses rival of setting up stunt
BRITISH boxer Sandy Ryan was hit with a can of PAINT before losing her WBO welterweight world title on Friday.
Ryan has now claimed that the stunt was an obvious “set up” from American rival Mikaela Mayer’s team.
MatchroomSandy Ryan was targeted with red paint before he lost her world title in New York[/caption]
GettyAmerican boxer Mikaela Mayer beat Ryan shortly after the incident[/caption]
Tensions had been high prior to the fight, with Mayer accusing Ryan of poaching her long-standing coaching team, which the Brit denied.
But the rivalry escalated when Ryan was splashed with red paint before leaving her hotel ahead of the fight.
The paint left a huge trail on her hip and sport leggings.
Ryan took the ring at Madison Square Garden as scheduled, despite being advised by her trainer to pull out of the bout.
But the Derby-born boxer subsequently lost her world title on a majority decision.
Ryan, who was defending her title for the third time, said the paint incident “unsettled” her and believes it contributed to her narrow loss.
She said: “I’m obviously disappointed, and I’m not taking anything away from the decision.
“But before coming to the venue, I had a hit and run with paint. And that was definitely set up.”
THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND 👊#RyanMayer | TUNE IN TO @ESPN pic.twitter.com/dtqBiPmK97
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Mayer, 34, said she was “shocked” to hear about the incident and that it had nothing to do with her or her team.
Two scorecards read 97-93 and 96-94 for Mayer, while a third judge saw it a 95-95 draw.
It leaves Ryan to pick up the pieces of her second defeat and yet another miserable title defence in the United States.
Ryan fought in Florida last September and a split decision draw with Jessica McCaskill prevented her becoming a unified champ.
‘Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator’ – What Dubois and Joshua said after brutal fight
DANIEL DUBOIS annihilated Anthony Joshua’s dream of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, writes Wally Downes Jr.
Joshua was floored FOUR times as Dubois landed an astonishing fifth-round knockout in front of a record 96,000 Wembley crowd and millions of TV viewers to retain his IBF belt.
AJ, 34, never recovered after being downed in the first round of last night’s Battle of Britain showdown as a huge Dubois right-hand haymaker caught him flush on the chin.
Here’s what they said after the fight:
DANIEL DUBOIS
“Are you not entertained? I’m a gladiator, a warrior to the bitter end. This is the biggest win of my career. I couldn’t let this opportunity go and now I want to go to the top level of this game.
“I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride and this is my time. I’m not gonna stop until I reach my full potential.”
ANTHONY JOSHUA
“As p***ed off as I am, it is what it is.
“I had a sharp, fast opponent and there were a lot of mistakes from me. Credit to my opponent and his team.
“We rolled the dice and came up short. You know I’m p***ed but I’m going to keep cool and give respect to my opponent.”
FRANK WARREN (DUBOIS’ PROMOTER)
“It was a phenomenal fight, like Hagler v Hearns.
“A brilliant fight and everybody has seen a champion’s performance tonight.
“Daniel has shown his courage, his skills.
“AJ caught him with a shot towards the end and I was worried, but what a fabulous, fantastic fight.”
EDDIE HEARN (AJ’S PROMOTER)
“AJ shipped a huge right hand in the first round and was fighting on heart.
“He hurt Daniel at the end of the fourth and then again in the fifth, but got greedy and walked on to a right hand and that’s all she wrote.
“I’m sure Anthony will exercise the rematch clause.”
