IBF world welterweight champion Natasha Jonas intended to rematch Mikaela Mayer after their entertaining 10-round Liverpool headliner, but factors outside her control meant the American ventured elsewhere – beating a Brit in the process – to become a two-division world titleholder last month. Now, their paths may align next year as the Scouser eyes 2-3 more fights before retiring.
BOXXER’s limited dates mean Jonas’ 2024 may be over
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — After an active 2022 which saw her win, then unify titles at light-middleweight, IBF world welterweight champion Natasha Jonas is on the verge of only boxing once in consecutive years for the first time, amateur or pro.
Considering the fanfare and buzz surrounding her immediately after the Mikaela Mayer fight on January 20, it’s a surprising development for a fighter who turned 40 in June and was rumoured to be featuring on the Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe 2 undercard that month. Retirement plans have also been altered.
On the topic of Mayer, who won a razor-close decision of her own against now-former WBO titleholder Sandy Ryan last month, the Scouser told me she still hadn’t seen their Sept. 27 bout as she was away on holiday.
“I can’t tell you anything! Haven’t managed to fully catch up on it — seen clips, the paint thing — from what people are saying on social media, it was a great close fight that could’ve gone either way and Mikaela got the nod.”
Mayer has been vocal about wanting to run it back with Jonas, righting the wrong she suffered in Merseyside and avenging one of her two pro defeats. The other, which came on a historic card in London two years ago against now-undisputed super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner, feels like wishful thinking.
“I definitely want to fight again before the end of the year, we strived to make it [a rematch] happen all year and for whatever reason it didn’t. She won her title, I expect to retain mine in [another defence], that leads to an even bigger fight so maybe the stars will align in the new year.”
I asked about how her plans have changed, as she’ll prolong her career into the new year and she was reflective about what’s in store after a frustrating period.
“It’s not the year I wanted or envisaged, I had an idea for what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go with my path out of boxing, it hasn’t worked but I know that I have 2-3 fights left in me. If it means I have to stay around longer to make those fights happen, I will do.”
Elsewhere…
Fresh from his 12-round decision win over Zak Chelli to win British honours, new super-middleweight champion Callum Simpson hoped to get a title defence under his belt by year’s end but multiple reports suggest no BOXXER dates fit the Barnsley man’s timeline after CBS-Zurdo takes place on Saudi shores in November.
18-0 unbeaten Lancashire resident Mark Jeffers won English honours against Chelli last summer, then defended it against Germaine Brown on the Jonas-Mayer undercard before vacating the title – won last weekend via split decision by Reece Farnhill against Polish-born Mancunian Ryszard Lewicki.
I’ve been told there are plans for a December date TBC but if that doesn’t materialise, the 27-year-old could instead be out again in early 2025 – like Jonas.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes procured by me
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