Newly crowned WBO women's welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer has distanced herself from Sandy Ryan being covered in red paint ahead of their world title fight in New York.
Ryan was making the third defence of her WBO welterweight title at the Madison Square Garden Theater, but her journey to the arena was not a smooth one after she got covered in red paint ahead of the opening bell.
With increased tensions between Ryan and Mayer during fight week, accusations were immediately made towards the American and her team, with Ryan claiming that she had been 'set up'.
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Ryan went on to lose the fight by majority decision in what was a thrilling contest, and speaking to Sky Sports following her victory, Mayer was quick to deny that she was involved in the paint incident.
"I was just as surprised as everyone else. I was still upstairs, waiting for the call that my car was there," Mayer said.
"I heard that paint had been thrown on Sandy. I had no idea. I was shocked. I thought it was horrible. I would never go that far.
"Then I heard that she thought it had something to do with me and my team, which is disappointing. Obviously Sandy is my rival and my opponent but I would never go that far.
"She was very adamant that someone on my team had set her up and done that, which is completely false, but in my eyes it pumped her up. She was even more aggressive, trying to take my head off.
"I don't know how it affected her. Obviously it was not cool at all and I wish it didn't happen but when that bell rings, all the build-up goes out of the window and you zone in.
"I heard after the fight that they were almost going to call it off and back out. That hits me hard. I'm so glad they didn't. I'm really sorry that happened to her, especially being a guest in my country. It's unacceptable."
Mayer's success on Friday night saw her win a world title in a second weight class after winning the WBO and IBF world titles at super featherweight.
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