The bitter feud between WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer – who fight at New York’s Madison Square Garden Theatre on Thursday – centres around a dispute over a trainer.
It began when Briton Ryan, 31, relocated to Mayer’s gym in the United States, prompting the challenger – who was planning to move up to welterweight – to change her training team.
Mayer, 34, described Ryan’s move as “shady” but the Derby fighter denies any suggestion that she stole the Californian’s head coach.
“Ever since I came over here she’s been sulking at me training here,” Ryan told BBC Radio Derby.
Ryan says Kay Koroma is not her main trainer and that Flick Savoy, Koroma’s assistant, will be leading her corner.
Mayer took her phone out at Friday’s fiery news conference and read a message where – she says – Ryan apologised for not speaking to her before joining the gym.
“Don’t try and backtrack now, just be straight up. Just own it,” Mayer told Ryan.
The pair have known each other since their amateur days but Ryan says there is now a “genuine dislike”.
“The way she talks, she’s a grown women. The way she talks and handles herself, I just think she’s trash,” Ryan – who will walk to the ring after 02:00 BST on Friday – added.
