Tag: Mikaela Mayer

Natasha Jonas retained her 147-pound title against Mikaela Mayer on Saturday in Liverpool, England. Barely.

Jonas defeated her American counterpart by a split decision in front of her hometown fans at Echo Arena. One judge had Mayer winning, 97-93, but the other two scored it for Jonas, 96-94 and 96-95.

Jonas (15-2-1, 9 KOs) has now won six consecutive fights since she lost a close decision to 135-pound champ Katie Taylor in 2021.

“I know Mikaela Mayer will be gutted,” Jonas said immediately after her victory. “She is in the top two people who I have fought. Please use this as motivation to get the title you deserve and become a two-weight world champion.”

The bout was the firefight many observers expected, with both boxers landing their share of hard punches.

Mayer was the busier fighter, throwing 181 more punches than Jonas. However, Jonas was more accurate. Mayer outlanded her only 149 to 125. That made it difficult to separate the two on the scorecards.

Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs) hopes that Jonas will give her a rematch.

“It’s disappointing, but what am I going to do?” she said. “I just hope that Tasha will be the stand-up champ that she is and give me another shot.”

Jonas, 39, evidently doesn’t plan to take part in two many more fights. She alluded to retirement in her post-bout comments.

“Unfortunately, I can’t be around forever,” she said. “… This is probably my last year in boxing.”

Natasha Jonas retained her 147-pound title against Mikaela Mayer on Saturday in Liverpool, England. Barely.

Jonas defeated her American counterpart by a split decision in front of her hometown fans at Echo Arena. One judge had Mayer winning, 97-93, but the other two scored it for Jonas, 96-94 and 96-95.

Jonas (15-2-1, 9 KOs) has now won six consecutive fights since she lost a close decision to 135-pound champ Katie Taylor in 2021.

“I know Mikaela Mayer will be gutted,” Jonas said immediately after her victory. “She is in the top two people who I have fought. Please use this as motivation to get the title you deserve and become a two-weight world champion.”

The bout was the firefight many observers expected, with both boxers landing their share of hard punches.

Mayer was the busier fighter, throwing 181 more punches than Jonas. However, Jonas was more accurate. Mayer outlanded her only 149 to 125. That made it difficult to separate the two on the scorecards.

Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs) hopes that Jonas will give her a rematch.

“It’s disappointing, but what am I going to do?” she said. “I just hope that Tasha will be the stand-up champ that she is and give me another shot.”

Jonas, 39, evidently doesn’t plan to take part in two many more fights. She alluded to retirement in her post-bout comments.

“Unfortunately, I can’t be around forever,” she said. “… This is probably my last year in boxing.”

Natasha Jonas has become a two-division titleholder and established herself as one of the biggest stars in women’s boxing.

Now her goal is to build her legacy.

The 147-pounder is scheduled to defend her 147-pound belt against former unified 130-pound champ Mikaela Mayer on Saturday in Liverpool, England, Jonas’ hometown (ESPN+).

Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs) also is considered one of the best in the business.

“For me to class myself as one of the best in this era, I have to fight the best,” Jonas said at a news conference Thursday, per Sky Sports. “I look at some of the boxers on the list, the Katie Taylors, the Chantelle Camerons. They’ve beaten people in that Top 10 pound-for-pound list and for me to be able to solidify a legacy for myself, I have to do the same.”

Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KOs) hit a roadblock in 2021, when she lost a close decision to lightweight champion and superstar Katie Taylor.

However, she has won five consecutive fights since the setback, including world title fights at junior middleweight and then welterweight. She won her 147-title by stopping Kandi Wyatt in eight rounds last July.

Jonas, 39, seems to be hitting her stride as a fighter when most of her peers have already retired.

“Natasha isn’t just your normal fighter, she’s something special,” said her trainer, Joe Gallagher. “Everything she touches, she turns to gold. She’s right up there with the best I’ve ever trained.”

Mayer’s longtime trainer, At Mitchell, praised both boxers for agreeing to accept a difficult assignment, which he believes will produce an epic battle.

“I think this is the Tommy Hearns and Hagler fight, only it’s two women,” Mitchell said. … “We should get more boxers like this. They’re not throwing anything at each other, they’re just focusing on this fight.

“We need more men like these two ladies. They’re stepping up. They don’t care who they fight.”

[lawrence-related id=40471]

Natasha Jonas has become a two-division titleholder and established herself as one of the biggest stars in women’s boxing.

Now her goal is to build her legacy.

The 147-pounder is scheduled to defend her 147-pound belt against former unified 130-pound champ Mikaela Mayer on Saturday in Liverpool, England, Jonas’ hometown (ESPN+).

Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs) also is considered one of the best in the business.

“For me to class myself as one of the best in this era, I have to fight the best,” Jonas said at a news conference Thursday, per Sky Sports. “I look at some of the boxers on the list, the Katie Taylors, the Chantelle Camerons. They’ve beaten people in that Top 10 pound-for-pound list and for me to be able to solidify a legacy for myself, I have to do the same.”

Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KOs) hit a roadblock in 2021, when she lost a close decision to lightweight champion and superstar Katie Taylor.

However, she has won five consecutive fights since the setback, including world title fights at junior middleweight and then welterweight. She won her 147-title by stopping Kandi Wyatt in eight rounds last July.

Jonas, 39, seems to be hitting her stride as a fighter when most of her peers have already retired.

“Natasha isn’t just your normal fighter, she’s something special,” said her trainer, Joe Gallagher. “Everything she touches, she turns to gold. She’s right up there with the best I’ve ever trained.”

Mayer’s longtime trainer, At Mitchell, praised both boxers for agreeing to accept a difficult assignment, which he believes will produce an epic battle.

“I think this is the Tommy Hearns and Hagler fight, only it’s two women,” Mitchell said. … “We should get more boxers like this. They’re not throwing anything at each other, they’re just focusing on this fight.

“We need more men like these two ladies. They’re stepping up. They don’t care who they fight.”

[lawrence-related id=40471]

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)

[lawrence-related id=19862,36747,33413]

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)

[lawrence-related id=19862,36747,33413]