Sandy Ryan believes she is stronger than ever after coming through the darkest moment in her career to establish herself as one of the best female fighters on the planet.

Ryan is set to light up Madison Square Garden when she makes the third defence of her WBO welterweight title against America’s Mikaela Mayer on Friday night.

But it has not been a smooth path to the top for the 31-year-old from Derby. Ryan lost her fourth professional fight to unfancied Argentine Erica Farias in March 2022, and admits her mental health spiralled in the aftermath of that defeat.

Despite gaining revenge five months later, Ryan revealed she hit rock-bottom, but is now adamant that ultimate low has made her a better person and fighter.

‘I went through a real rough moment after I took the first loss in my career against Farias,’ Ryan explained to Mail Sport.

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Sandy Ryan (pictured) is the current WBO welterweight champion and is due to defend her title on Friday

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But she has had to battle back from some dark moments to make it to the top of the sport

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Ryan has come out the other side and now believes she is stronger than ever

‘I had got the rematch straight away and I got the win and changed a lot of things in my life that broke me, but I was on the verge of not even wanting to be here.

‘And then after a few fights I lose people, and it’s personal but those life things have made me stronger, and I feel like that’s made me who I am today.

‘My character, how I’ve changed as a person and how I deal with things, coming into certain fights – it’s how I’ve dealt with this fight – so I feel like I’m very strong in that department.’

Ryan has not been hesitant in accepting challenges in the wake of that setback against Farias. She won a world title in just her seventh fight, and followed that up by immediately going after a unification bout with Jessica McCaskill in Florida.

Many observers felt Ryan should have won that fight but it was scored a draw. She swiftly put that behind her by returning to the ring in March and dispatching fellow Brit Terri Harper inside four rounds in a career-best performance.

Now, her 10th professional contest will be against another former world champion in Mayer, and Ryan has explained why she refuses to be daunted by taking on the best, fight after fight.

‘I’ve been through a lot growing up and throughout my life that would have ruined certain people, and I’ve bounced back from it,’ she said.

‘I’ve got a massive story behind me and I feel that’s what makes me strong. The obstacles that come my way, this is why I don’t shy away from any fight.

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Ryan is due to face Mikaela Mayer (pictured) on Friday and admitted there is no love lost between the pair

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Ryan has vowed to ‘break’ Mayer and send her into retirement after Friday’s fight

‘All of the tough fights that have been put towards me, I’ve said yes because harder things have happened to me in life, so these things, they can’t break me. That’s why I’m ready to break someone on September 27.’

Ryan is chomping at the bit to get her hands on Mayer, and admitted there is no love lost between the pair after a feisty build-up to Friday’s clash.

‘I respect her highly as a fighter, of what she’s achieved in the sport, but I will put it out there that as a human being, as a person, I don’t respect her at all,’ Ryan revealed.

‘The way she’s gone about this fight, the talk that she’s done. She’s talking a load of BS and not even relatable to the fight, just not professional at all. I just don’t respect that so I’ll just handle the business come September 27.

‘She’s thinking that I’m not mentally there so I’m really in her head and she’s really not been in my head this camp. I’ve just made sure I’ve physically and mentally prepared myself to beat her up.’

Mayer has only lost twice before, dropping two controversial decisions against Alycia Baumgardner and Natasha Jonas.

She promises to be the toughest test of Ryan’s career, but the Brit is adamant she will defend her belt in style and send Mayer into retirement.

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Mayer (right) has only lost two controversial decisions in her career, but Ryan is adamant she will shut the American up once and for all

‘I’m coming back to the UK with my belt and that’s all I can visualise,’ Ryan insisted.

‘Me beating up Mikaela Mayer, finishing her, retiring her. That will be the end of Mikaela Mayer’s mouth. We don’t have to hear from her again.’