Natasha Jonas was pushed to the limit but retained her IBF welterweight crown with a razor-skinny split determination victory more than the American Mikaela Mayer in a thriller at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
Jonas commenced strongly in the 1st defence of the earth title she won by defeating Kandi Wyatt previous July but Mayer steadily grew into the bout and was the busier of the two in a number of riveting exchanges.
It was an all-motion affair but, despite getting still left with a slice beneath her remaining eye, Jonas, who lifted her arm aloft at the ultimate bell, was given the nod 96-94 and 96-95 as a 3rd decide sided with Mayer 97-93.
The final result divided impression on social media but, just after Jonas prolonged her record to 15 wins and two defeats with one particular draw in her home town, she indicated 2024 will be her ultimate yr in the activity.
The 39-yr-old has won six fights in succession due to the fact losing on points to her lengthy-time rival Katie Taylor in May perhaps 2021, getting a unified planet light-weight-middleweight winner ahead of stepping down to reign at 147lb.
She informed Sky Sports activities: “Unfortunately I cannot be close to for ever, this is in all probability my final 12 months in boxing and we want to make it the best chapter of the reserve.”
A rematch versus an opponent 6 several years her junior, a former unified planet tremendous-featherweight winner who was battling at welterweight for the initial time on Saturday night, would definitely be welcomed. Jonas claimed: “She’s in the major two individuals I’ve fought, she’s a quite, quite competent operator and her time will appear once more. She beats a lot of the champions that are now below.
“That very little bit of anxiety factor brings out the best in me, I require opponents like her to tango. With no disrespect to the likes of Kandi Wyatt, I realized I would dominate and I was meant to earn.”
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Mayer, who slipped to her 2nd defeat in 21 fights, would like a likelihood at getting revenge above Jonas. She mentioned: “I thought I did ample to get. I would have offered her the 1st spherical or two but just after that, I really feel like I out-punched her and landed the cleaner shots. I think that struggle is well worth seeing all over again.
“I just hope Natasha will be the stand-up champ that she is and give me yet another shot at the belt – I feel like I have earned it.”