Boxing world champion accuses rival of planning attack after being covered in red paint just hours before losing title

Sandy Ryan faced a cruel paint attack just hours before losing her world title to Mikaela Mayer.

British star Ryan was defending her WBO welterweight title in New York at Madison Square Garden against Mayer, but faced turmoil before the first bell even rang.

Ryan was left covered after a pot of paint crashed into her stomach

The Derby native was leaving her hotel just a few hours before she was due to step in the ring in the headline act.

And as she left the lobby and walked towards her car, Ryan was astonishingly attacked by an unidentified assailant who threw an open tin of red paint all over her.

Ryan was left covered and sporting a huge red stain on the side of her fighting gear, but she was luckily not in her shorts ready to step in the ring.

Footage has shown the aftermath of the attack, with the tin of red paint found while being splattered all over the floor.

Matchroom’s Frank Smith was also seen in the video looking stunned with the turn of events, which justifiably left Ryan shaken up.

Ultimately it was a huge distraction as she prepared for her date with destiny, and unfortunately her bad luck continued.

In a tight affair for the strap, Ryan was unfortunate to have been edged on the judges’ scorecards losing by majority decision after the ten-round distance.

Before the fight she relayed the incident on the broadcast and even accused her rival of playing a part in the attack.

‘I left my hotel room to meet my team downstairs, there were two cars there waiting for my team, I was ready to get in,” she said.

“I was turning around to get into the car next to me and something smashed me in my stomach, I looked down and it was a tin of paint.

“Looked up and there was a guy with a hood running to a car, then they drove off. It was a hit and run.

“We’ve got pictures and videos. It is definitely a set up from her team, what else would it be? It has got to be, who else is going to hit and run me?”

It had already been a spicy build-up between the pair with Ryan having began work with Mayer’s coach Kay Koroma, which lead to their eventual split.

Ryan’s misfortunes continued as she went on to lose her title

The American star later denied all involvement in the incident, and was shocked to hear it.

“I was just as surprised as everyone else. I was still upstairs, waiting for the call that my car was there,’ Mayer added.

“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.

“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.”