Ryan says a member of Mayer's camp hit her with a paint can before the fight

English boxer Sandy Ryan has accused Mikaela Mayer, who she is scheduled to face in New York later on Friday, of staging a stunt that saw her hit with a paint can as she left her hotel this evening.

Ryan (7-1-1, 3 KOs) looks to defend her WBO welterweight title against Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs) at Madison Square Garden. Preparing for the fight was very personal for both of them, as Ryan worked with Mayer's former long-time trainer Kay Koroma. Mayer broke up with Koroma when he decided to work with Ryan, which she saw as a betrayal.

As Ryan left her hotel on Friday to drive to the venue, an unknown man hit her with an open paint can. She said she felt something hit her stomach and then she saw a man in a hoodie run into a car and drive away. Ryan was uninjured in the incident and made her way to the venue after changing in her hotel room.

She and her team told ESPN they believe it was a member of Mayer's camp, an accusation Mayer has denied.

“Mikaela Mayer will do it,” Ryan said. “It was definitely a ploy by their team. What else could it be? It must be. I am from the UK. Who knew when I would come out of my hotel to go to the venue?”

Ryan is aiming for her second win this year. Mayer, of Colorado Springs, is looking to bounce back from a split decision loss to Natasha Jones in January.