Ryan overhauled her entire team following the controversial draw with American McCaskill, a fight most observers had her winning.
She relocated to Las Vegas, linking up with trainer Emanuel ‘Flick’ Savoy and enlisting the services of manager Brian Peters – who has guided the career of pound-for-pound star Katie Taylor.
“It’s made me mentally stronger, [living] away from home and everyone I knew,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I couldn’t even go out at the weekends because I had no one to go for a coffee with. I was seriously locked in and it just pays off.”
Ryan has expressed a desire to become a multi-weight champion but there is unfinished business with McCaskill. First, though, the Chicago fighter has a tough defence against Welshwoman Lauren Price in May.
A unification fight between Ryan and IBF champion Natasha Jonas is another huge domestic affair, although both Liverpool’s Jonas and Price are signed to rival promotional outfit Boxxer.
Ryan has options, but she was reluctant to make any call-outs when asked who she wants next.
“Any big fight. He [promoter Eddie Hearn] knows I’ll be willing to take any big fight.”
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