FIGHT WEEK
Natasha Jonas is set to defend her 147-pound title against former 130-pound beltholder Mikaela Mayer on Saturday in Liverpool, England, Jonas’ hometown.
NATASHA JONAS (14-2-1, 9 KOs)
VS. MIKAELA MAYER (19-1, 5 KOs)
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 20
- Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
- TV/Stream: ESPN+
- Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
- At stake: Jonas’ IBF title
- Odds: Jonas 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Jack Cullen vs. Zak Chelli, super middleweights; Mark Jeffers vs. Germaine Brown, super middleweights; Aaron McKenna vs. Linus Udofia, middleweights; Mark Jeffers vs. Germaine Brown, super middleweights
- Prediction: Jonas SD
- Background: Jonas is at the top of her game at 39. The native of Liverpool became a two-division beltholder when she went down from 154 pounds to 147 and stopped Kandi Wyatt in eight rounds in July, giving her a vacant title. Jonas has won five consecutive fights since she lost a close decision to 135-pound champ Katie Taylor in 2021. Mayer might be her best opponent since Taylor. The slick 33-year-old from Southern California, who is significantly taller than Jonas, is a former 130-pound titleholder who lost her belts to Alycia Baumgardner by a disputed decision in 2022. She moved up to 135 for her next fight and then 140 (actually 141¼) for her most recent bout, a shutout decision over Silvia Bortot last September. Now she’s making her debut as a full-fledged 147-pounder in front of her opponent’s hometown fans, which should be a significant challenge for the 2016 U.S. Olympian.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
- Luis Feliciano vs. Mykquan Williams, junior welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
FRIDAY
- Cris Cyborg vs. Kelsey Wickstrum, junior middleweights, Temecula, California (Spectation Sports)
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