Boxer Sandy Ryan hit with red paint in bizarre incident before losing title fight

English boxer Sandy Ryan was splashed with red paint hours before facing Mikaela Mayer in a fight for the WBO welterweight championship.

Matchroom Boxing posted on X that Ryan was hit with a can of paint on her way to the MSG Theater on Friday night.

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England’s Sandy Ryan, right, punches Mikaela Mayer during a women’s boxing bout for the WBO welterweight title, Saturday, September 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

“We left the hotel to go to the arena and someone threw a can of paint at Sandy Ryan. He literally ran out of the hotel. It must have been, I don’t know, a member of the team on the other side who threw a can of paint. She had to go change. Not a good start,” a Matchroom employee said in a video.

Ryan continued to fight Mayer, but lost the fight by unanimous decision. Ryan said in a statement that she knew she shouldn’t have gotten in the ring.

“I’m still trying to come to terms with what happened last night. I know I shouldn’t have fought after being attacked on my way out of my hotel, but I couldn’t let them win like that.” , Ryan said in a statement. “I was fighting on empty and I still felt like I won the fight.

“We have obtained surveillance video and are in contact with the NYPD. It’s pretty obvious what happened and the truth will come out soon. You tried to ruin my career but trust me, it’s only just begun .”

Mikaela Mayer, left, salutes after the WBO women’s welterweight title boxing bout against England’s Sandy Ryan, center, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Mikaela Mayer, left, punches Sandy Ryan during their fight on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Ryan and his team told ESPN they believe someone on Mayer’s team was responsible for the incident.

“Mikaela Mayer is going to get it,” Ryan said. “It was definitely a set-up by his team. What else would it be?”

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Mayer has denied the accusation.

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