Sandy Ryan was the target of a shocking incident just before her highly anticipated bout with Mikaela Mayer on Friday. Ryan, en route to the fight at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, was doused with red paint in what is being described as a "coordinated attack." Though the incident left a streak of crimson down her hip and leg, Ryan was unharmed, but the visual effect was striking.
The broadcaster’s commentator Bernardo Osuna framed the incident as both a physical and psychological assault, adding fuel to the already tense pre-fight atmosphere between the two fighters. Mayer, from Colorado Springs, has accused Ryan, who hails from Derby, England, of joining her gym and contributing to Mayer’s eventual departure. The rivalry grew more personal when Ryan began working with Kay Koroma, Mayer’s former trainer.
In the locker room after the attack, Koroma, visibly angry, urged Ryan not to fight. He had trained Mayer for eight years, and his shift to Ryan’s corner had already added layers of drama to the fight. Mayer has been vocal about her frustration with Koroma, accusing him of playing both sides and lacking transparency, saying, "Coach Kay has lost a handful of fighters, and I see why."
Both fighters addressed the incident during the ESPN broadcast. Ryan labeled the attack a setup, but reaffirmed her readiness for the fight, while Mayer insisted she had no involvement, saying, "That’s crossing the line." Despite the chaos, both fighters seemed focused on the bout.
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Image Credit: ESPN