\n<\/p>\n
Ryan started slowly against Mayer, who used her trademark speed and ability off the jab to build an early lead.<\/p>\n
The defending champion came back in the sixth round, landing a big left hand soon after.<\/p>\n
Ryan had another big round in the eighth, but Mayer was up to the challenge of her biggest shots and stood firm.<\/p>\n
Derby’s Ryan, who now has two defeats and seven wins, said the paint incident “threw me a bit off my gameplan”.<\/p>\n
“You saw at the start of the fight, I was handling her quite well on the jab,” she added. <\/p>\n
“I was boxing her and then I started to pick it up. But then, I was obviously pushing it too hard.”<\/p>\n
Mayer became a two-weight world champion with the victory, having previously been world champion at super-featherweight.<\/a><\/p>\n The American’s move to welterweight has been questioned because of the 17lb weight jump, but Mayer, who suffered a controversial defeat by Natasha Jonas<\/a> in January, has now beaten one of the best welterweights in the division.<\/p>\n \u201c[Ryan] just couldn\u2019t handle my timing, so, I felt like I won the fight, and I\u2019m just glad I got the right decision this time,” she said, referencing the Jonas bout.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to finish what I started and go undisputed. I came very close at [super-featherweight].<\/p>\n “But my body outgrew that weight. I\u2019m comfortable now. I feel like I\u2019m stronger than ever. I\u2019m still in my prime, as you can see.<\/p>\n “So I\u2019m coming for the other champions.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n