Mikaela Mayer secured a majority decision win over Sandy Ryan, capturing the WBO welterweight world title. The event was marked by an unusual incident involving paint.
- As Sandy Ryan was heading to Madison Square Gardens, she was hit with a can of red paint, leaving her visibly unsettled.
- Despite her trainer’s advice to pull out, Ryan decided to proceed with the fight, showing commendable determination.
- The bout was tense, with Mayer ultimately winning by majority decision, although one judge scored it as a draw.
- Mayer denied any involvement in the paint-throwing incident, expressing her own shock and disappointment over the act.
On her way to Madison Square Gardens for her WBO welterweight title defence, Sandy Ryan was struck by a can of red paint. This incident left a noticeable trail of crimson on her hip and leg, visibly affecting her composure.
Ryan’s trainer advised her to withdraw from the match following the unsettling incident. However, demonstrating significant resolve, Ryan chose to continue with the bout as planned. Despite the incident, the match proceeded, and Ryan delivered a strong performance.
The match culminated in a majority decision, with Mayer emerging victorious. The judges’ scores were close, registering at 97-93 and 96-94 in favour of Mayer, while one judge scored it 95-95. This tight margin underscored the competitive nature of the fight.
Leading up to the bout, tensions were already high, with Mayer accusing Ryan of attempting to poach her long-standing coaching staff, an accusation that Ryan contested. This backdrop added an extra layer of intensity to the match.
Post-fight, Ryan expressed her belief that the paint-throwing incident was orchestrated. She acknowledged not wanting to take away from Mayer’s victory but admitted the event had unsettled her. Ryan stated, ‘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.’
In contrast, Mayer denied any involvement in the paint attack, saying she was surprised and shocked by the incident. Mayer stated, ‘I had no idea. I was shocked. I thought it was horrible. I would never go that far.’ Mayer also expressed disappointment that Ryan suspected her team might be involved.
The fight concluded with Mayer’s victory amid controversy, highlighting both athletes’ resilience and the charged atmosphere surrounding the event.
