'I did not steal her coach' – Ryan set for Mayer grudge match

The bitter feud betwixt WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer – who conflict astatine New York's Madison Square Garden Theatre connected Thursday – centres astir a conflict complete a trainer.

It began erstwhile Briton Ryan, 31, relocated to Mayer's gym successful nan United States, prompting nan challenger – who was readying to move up to welterweight - to alteration her training team.

Mayer, 34, described Ryan's move arsenic "shady" but nan Derby combatant denies immoderate proposal that she stole nan Californian's caput coach.

"Ever since I came complete present she's been sulking astatine maine training here," Ryan told BBC Radio Derby.

Ryan says Kay Koroma is not her main trainer and that Flick Savoy, Koroma's assistant, will beryllium starring her corner.

Mayer took her telephone retired astatine Friday's fiery news convention and publication a connection wherever – she says – Ryan apologised for not speaking to her earlier joining nan gym.

"Don't effort and backtrack now, conscionable beryllium consecutive up. Just ain it," Mayer told Ryan.

The brace person known each different since their amateur days but Ryan says location is now a "genuine dislike".

"The measurement she talks, she's a grown women. The measurement she talks and handles herself, I conscionable deliberation she's trash," Ryan – who will locomotion to nan ringing aft 02:00 BST connected Friday - added.

Ryan has won 7 pro fights, having avenged her only profession nonaccomplishment to Erica Anabella Faris successful 2022.

She retained her WBO welterweight crown successful Sheffield successful March pinch an awesome fourth-round stoppage triumph against chap Briton Terri Harper.

But nan past clip Ryan fought successful nan USA she was denied nan chance to unify nan section successful a arguable tie pinch Jessica McCaskill.

"I'm putting myself into a business wherever immoderate group mightiness deliberation it's crazy. But to beryllium great, you've sewage to beryllium crazy," she said.

Mayer is simply a erstwhile unified world champion astatine super-featherweight but has had mixed fortunes since moving up successful weight.

Her past outing was a arguable points nonaccomplishment to IBF welterweight champion Natasha Jonas successful Liverpool successful January.

Mayer has conscionable 2 defeats connected her grounds - to Jonas and American rival Alycia Baumgardner, and insists she is till has plentifulness near successful nan athletics sloppy of nan consequence against Ryan.

"I've ne'er been whooped, not for a azygous round. Boxing needs much of group for illustration me," Mayer said.

"Keep going retired there, challenging yourself and putting fights connected that everyone is excited to see.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll bent up nan gloves erstwhile I bent up nan gloves."