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

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.

Ryan has won seven pro fights, having avenged her only career loss to Erica Anabella Faris in 2022.

She retained her WBO welterweight crown in Sheffield in March with an impressive fourth-round stoppage win against fellow Briton Terri Harper.

But the last time Ryan fought in the USA she was denied the chance to unify the division in a controversial draw with Jessica McCaskill.

"I'm putting myself into a situation where some people might think it's crazy. But to be great, you've got to be crazy," she said.

Mayer is a former unified world champion at super-featherweight but has had mixed fortunes since moving up in weight.

Her last outing was a controversial points loss to IBF welterweight champion Natasha Jonas in Liverpool in January.

Mayer has just two defeats on her record - to Jonas and American rival Alycia Baumgardner, and insists she is till has plenty left in the sport regardless of the result against Ryan.

"I've never been whooped, not for a single round. Boxing needs more of people like me," Mayer said.

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

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll hang up the gloves when I hang up the gloves."