Sandy Ryan admits she almost retired after defeats to Mikaela Mayer, but eyes a comeback fight in August

Sandy Ryan has admitted she came close to walking away from boxing altogether after suffering back-to-back defeats to American star Mikaela Mayer. The 31-year-old Derby fighter, who once held the WBO welterweight title, revealed the emotional and mental toll those losses took on her career and psyche.

Ryan lost her world title to Mayer under controversial circumstances last September before falling short again in their March rematch. Both fights took place in the United States, where Ryan faced intense pressure both in and out of the ring. Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, she opened up on her struggles during the rematch.

“Mid-fight I fell asleep — as in, I stopped reacting, stopped doing what I normally do,” Ryan confessed. “I remember being in the corner and my brother and Kay [her coach] were like, ‘What’s wrong?’ I was in my own world. I just can’t explain it. It’s not the best place to be in one of the biggest fights of your career.”

The back-to-back losses left Ryan devastated. She admitted that, immediately after the second defeat, she seriously considered retiring from the sport she had dedicated her life to. “After the fight, I thought I was done. I was finished boxing,” she said.

But with some time away and reflection, Ryan found the fire within her reignite. “After a few weeks, the fight was still in me. I still have so much to give,” she said, signalling her intention to continue her boxing journey.

Her first clash with Mayer was overshadowed by bizarre circumstances when an unknown individual threw paint over her as she left her hotel on fight night. Ryan described the judging in that fight as “questionable” but accepted the outcome of the rematch, which Mayer won via unanimous decision.

The mental strain of their first encounter lingered into the rematch, Ryan admitted. “I tried not to bring it with me, but in the back of my head it was always there,” she said. “I tried to be too relaxed and not be as aggressive or have that fire. Maybe I was too calm and not reacting to certain things which made me a bit more subdued. In the fight game, it’s good to be calm, but I am an aggressive fighter and I needed that.”

Determined to recapture her edge, Ryan vowed to strike a balance between composure and aggression. “I need to get that fight and anger back in me, balance it out,” she said.

Now preparing for her return, Ryan expects to fight again in August in the UK. While her team searches for an opponent, one intriguing name has emerged: Cris Cyborg. The Brazilian, a former UFC and PFL MMA champion, boasts a 5-0 professional boxing record and recently fought in May.

“Her profile is big,” Ryan said of Cyborg. “I saw she was calling out Claressa Shields, which is just crazy. It would be great — I’d be happy if they made that fight. She seems very confident, but it’s boxing, she wouldn’t beat me.”

However, Ryan remains realistic about her immediate future. She acknowledged that her next bout is more likely to be a tune-up fight as she rebuilds momentum. “I know potentially my next fight won’t be a big fight. I am coming off a loss so I have to build myself up,” she explained.

Despite the setbacks, Ryan’s passion for boxing remains intact. The desire to compete, improve, and reclaim her place among the elite has reignited her career, setting the stage for a highly anticipated return.