British boxer Sandy Ryan was hit with a paint can before losing the WBO welterweight world title On Friday.
Ryan has now claimed the stunt was an apparent “setup” on the part of American rival Mikaela Mayer’s team.
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Tensions were high before the fight, with Meyer accusing Ryan of poaching his long-standing coaching team, which the Briton denied.
But the rivalry escalated when Ryan was sprayed with red paint before leaving the hotel before the fight.
The paint left a large mark on her hip and sport leggings.
Despite being advised by his trainer to withdraw from the bout, Ryan entered the ring at Madison Square Garden as scheduled.
But the Derby-born boxer later lost her world title on a majority decision.
Ryan, who was defending her title for the third time, said that the paint incident “unsettled” her and she believed it caused her to lose by a narrow margin.
She said: “I am obviously disappointed, and I am not taking anything back from this decision.
“But before I got to the venue, I was hit with paint. And that was definitely set up.”
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The 34-year-old mayor 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 Meyer, while the third judge saw it as a 95–95 draw.
This leaves Ryan suffering his second loss and another miserable title defense in the United States.
Ryan fought in Florida last September and a split decision draw with Jessica McCaskill kept her from becoming unified champion.
‘are you not entertained? ‘I’m a gladiator’ – what Dubois and Joshua said after the brutal fight
Daniel Dubois destroyed Anthony Joshua’s dream of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, writes Wally Downs Jr.
Joshua got angry Four Dubois scored a surprise 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 from his defeat in the first round of the Battle of Britain last night as he was struck on the chin by a heavy mower right hand from Dubois.
Here’s what he said after the fight:
Daniel Dubois
“Aren’t you amused? I am a gladiator, a fighter till the end. This is the biggest victory of my career.” I couldn’t let this opportunity go and now I want to move to the top level of this sport.
“I have been on a roller-coaster ride and this is my time. “I’m not going to stop until I reach my full potential.”
anthony joshua
“I am the way I am.
“I had a fast, sharp opponent and I made a lot of mistakes. Credit to my opponent and his team.
“We rolled the dice and failed. You know I am drunk but I will remain sober and respect my opponent.
Frank Warren (promoter of Dubois)
“It was a phenomenal fight like Hagler vs. Hearns.
“A great fight and everyone saw a performance from a champion tonight.
“Daniel has shown his courage, his skill.
“AJ caught him with a shot at the end and I was worried, but what a great, great fight.”
Eddie Hearn (AJ’s promoter)
“AJ landed a huge right hand in the first round and was fighting with his heart.
“He hurt Daniel at the end of the fourth and then again in the fifth, but he got greedy and went to the right hand and that’s all he wrote.
“I’m sure Anthony will invoke the rematch clause.”
