It certainly divided opinion across the boxing world, but IBF welterweight world champion Natasha Jonas secured a career-best win via split decision against former unified super-featherweight titlist Mikaela Mayer in their Liverpool headliner. Billed as a 50-50 duel, they battled for 20 minutes and it flew by – relive my round-by-round coverage, and more from BOXXER’s latest show.
Mayer’s 147lb debut, how will she fare?
- Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KOs) with first defence of IBF welterweight world title won vs. Kandi Wyatt on Marshall-Crews Dezurn undercard last July
- Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs) suffered her first defeat on English soil against undisputed champion Alycia Baumgardner back in October 2022
- Both accepted must-win stakes at play during November’s inaugural presser – Jonas has a rematch clause as the defending champion
Good evening and welcome to a special from me, round-by-round commentary as Natasha Jonas defends her IBF welterweight world title against Mikaela Mayer. I’ve been working all day, undercard on in the background, and spontaneously decided this fight deserves something a little different – as I can’t be in Liverpool tonight.
A little bit of preamble before the two boxers gear up for their respective ringwalks… the co-main event has just finished between Zak Chelli and British champion Jack Cullen, a super-middleweight rematch more than three years in the making.
It’s been 1,245 days since Chelli felt robbed with a split draw result over ten rounds – most believed he did enough to win – by in the Brentwood HQ Garden during those early days post-lockdown under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom banner.
Well… the 26-year-old sounded determined to right those wrongs when we spoke in late November and with new tweaks to his coaching team, he’s emerged a clear unanimous decision winner tonight – 116-112, 116-113, 115-114 – in the rematch.
There’s at least two unimpressed viewers ringside and one is prospective opponent Callum Simpson (13-0, 9 KOs) – who the BBBofC have inserted as mandatory challenger for the domestic strap. He told me last month he’ll likely return in March.
“Well done, I almost feel bad for him – let him enjoy the holiday and those belts for now, I’m taking them this summer. Extremely confident fighting him and think I’d stop him, Cullen landed some good shots but couldn’t finish them off, it’s easy work for me.”
Long-reigning former WBO world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson was far more blunt in his assessment, mind. The Sky analyst began by saying he didn’t want to sound harsh given the celebratory moment, never a good sign..
“Zak Chelli won’t go up to European [level] unless he gets variation in his boxing, he’s probably regressed a bit. Very good offensively but no tightness, protection, method to the madness. It was a frustrating watch because I needed to see something different and I didn’t.” — anyway, there’ll be enough time for that in future because…
Main event time
Natasha Jonas (c) vs. Mikaela Mayer for IBF welterweight world title
Ten two-minute rounds in Liverpool headliner, BOXXER’s first 2024 show
Round one: A typically cagey-and-tentative start, Jonas’ camp – namely head coach Joe Gallagher – are confident about how things are going as she flashes the power punches more by comparison…
It’s unsurprising to hear Mayer weighed in heavier during the fight day check, per IBF rules, but can she manage the pacing and outwork the home hopeful?
Round two: More of the same, both having pockets of success but Jonas is boxing well… these two-minute rounds really are flying by.
Round three: Mayer lands a series of body shots in the latter stages of another competitive round.
Round four: Mayer connects on a whipping right hand in the early stages, and is doing a good job with forward pressure now. Moving her feet more, it’s naturally going to beckon Jonas into a firefight – neither are afraid of exchanging.
The right hasn’t missed! Clearest stanza of the fight, goes the American’s way.
Round five: Gallagher tells his charge to stay off the ropes – easier said than done – but she’s responded well after a strong Mayer round in fairness here. Still being outworked though and that has to change if she’s to successfully deter Mayer.
Round six: Another clear round for the visiting fighter, and you can tell when she’s having success by the almost hushed silence in large pockets of the naturally partisan crowd.
Sky cut away between rounds with Andy Scott asking some interested spectators ringside their thoughts – British welterweight champion and Olympic champion Lauren Price reiterates her desire to fight the winner, while former world middleweight titlist Savannah Marshall believes Tasha will do enough to prevail.
Round seven: Mayer walking down Jonas as they exchange big punches, the younger of the two is again applying sustained pressure and she’s starting to open up a lead here. Will be interesting to see how the three judges are scoring it, mind.
Round eight: Mayer digs to body and head, Jonas returns fire but the American isn’t just absorbing those punches, she’s firing back twice as often. Jonas has to tuck her chin in, because defensively she’s leaving herself susceptible to get caught…
Mayer’s head coach Al Mitchell can be heard saying: “She’s grabbing and holding you, don’t let her do that… she ducks down so not real high – sometimes bump her.”
Round nine: Straight to the point and pocket punching to the body by Mayer, as Jonas fires back with a few counters.
Jonas lands a sneaky right hook with little over a minute left, Mayer imposing her physicality on the inside and pressing forward with more output.
Jonas has a good sequence but gets caught twice in the final 30 seconds – a right uppercut in the pocket, then a left – this is at a gruelling pace.
Round ten: “Be cute, as she’s coming to you, hold her and stop her from working… keep your chin down, hands tight, she’s going to come with hell in this last round,” are the instructions from an animated Gallagher.
Mayer connects on a nice left, Jonas retreats and gets caught for her troubles as they exchange in the centre again while the crowd noise swells.
Final minute now, Mayer pressing her into the ropes and lands a left to back the Liverpudlian up, damaged left eye and all, they clinch and it’s over!
Fun fight, exactly the type women’s boxing needs more of. Mutual respect between the pair, and now a few minutes until we get the decision… Sky commentary team aren’t too sure. Here we go then.
AND STILL: 96-94 Jonas, 97-93 Mayer, 96-95 Jonas by split decision
Post-fight comments after Jonas edges firefight
- “Unfortunately I can’t be around forever, this is probably my last year so we’ll see,” Jonas reiterates assertion 2024 will likely be her final year as a boxer, so while Mayer rematch would be nice to see, it’s unlikely
- Visiting American feels a rematch is justified, believes she’ll request three-minute rounds going forward for the rest of her career
- Mayer tells Sky: “I thought I did enough, [lost the] first two rounds but I outpunched and landed the cleaner shots, hopefully we can do it again if the fans want it. Rematches should happen if they are warranted.”
Natasha Jonas produced an impromptu passionate post-fight speech, addressing the travelling fans who came out to support and more in her ringside interview.
“Me and Ben [Shalom] know how hard this year has been, us as boxers are very grateful for those who spent their hard-earned money. All the young ones in here tonight, every single person on this card appreciates everyone who spent their hard-earned cash.”
- Jonas after her sixth BOXXER show, this the biggest
On Mayer and her abilities:
“It takes two to tango, I know this girl here [Mayer] will be absolutely devastated with the result, feels like the world is ending… she’s in the top two I’ve ever fought, please use it as motivation to become a two-weight world champion that you deserve.”
“That little bit of fear factor [brought the best out of me], no disrespect to Kandi Wyatt but I knew I was supposed to win, nobody knew the odds here.”
Thanking the oft-criticised Shalom:
“I’d like to thank Ben because without him, we never knew where my career was going, took a big leap of faith to join BOXXER… made me promises and delivered, stood behind and provided me with the opportunities, most successful in Liverpool.”
Jonas thanked some of her sparring partners – male and female – including former British title challenger Marcus Morrison and light-middleweight Macaulay McGowan. If you didn’t know, it just highlights how much behind-the-scenes work goes into fight camps like these especially around the festive period.
“It was a really exciting fight, I was having fun in there, pushed her back and snapped the head back too… felt like I won every round besides the first two.”
- Mayer assesses another competitive fight she lost
“If the fans want it, I’m happy to oblige – three minutes suits me better but wanna be paid for the privilege.”
- Jonas on whether they’ll have a rematch, and the three-minute round debate
There are multiple options for both and that’s exciting, at a time where the top tier of women’s boxing has continued getting the coverage it deserves. Jonas will have other names to target besides Mayer, so we wait patiently for what’s next.
BOXXER Liverpool: Rest of the card’s results
Super-middleweight: Mark Jeffers scored a UD10 win (98-93, 98-93, 99-92) over Germaine Brown, making his maiden English title defence.
Women’s featherweight: Olympic bronze medallist Karriss Artingstall improves to 6-0 as a pro, after edging past Lila dos Santos Furtado 77-75 in an eight-rounder.
Super-middle: Aaron McKenna bt. Mickey Ellison via R6 TKO, 2:21 — Ellison’s corner threw in the towel after short-notice opponent displayed spirited effort.
Original opponent Linus Udofia (illness) withdrew during fight week, and naturally wants the fight to be rescheduled at a later date:
Cruiserweight: Jack Massey bt. Steve Eloundou Ntere via R1 TKO, 1:57
Flyweight: Mikie Tallon bt. Adam Yahaya in four-rounder, 40-36
Middleweight: Pro debutant Stephen Clarke bt. Vasif Mamedov via R3 TKO, 1:53
Picture source: Getty Images, any quotes via Sky’s live TV broadcast
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