Natasha Jones Squeaks Past Mikaela Mayer With Split Decision Victory

By: Sean Crose

Natasha Jonas was capable of maintain on to the IBF welterweight title on Saturday when she gained a detailed and fairly controversial break up resolution over former American titlist Mikaela Mayer. “I believed I did sufficient to win,” Mayer said afterward. ” I outpunched her and outworked her, touchdown clear pictures and having her backed up towards the ropes.” Suffice to say Mayer felt a second battle was so as. “I believe that battle is value seeing once more. I didn’t have a rematch clause on my facet,” she mentioned, “however I hope we are able to get it on once more. It’s disappointing, however what am I going to do? I hope Natasha goes to be the standup champion and provides me a rematch. I consider I warranted the rematch.”

The battle was thrilling, to make sure. Certainly, each fighters had been prepared to confess as a lot. “I knew from the primary 10 seconds it was going to be a battle and midway via I believed that is battle of the 12 months,” Mayer mentioned. “She is within the top-two fighters I’ve confronted,” Jonas said of Mayer, “and she or he will probably be devastated with this defeat, however she ought to use it as motivation to change into a two-weight world champion,” Certain sufficient, Jonas claimed that solely the nice Katie Taylor proved to be a more durable foe. Certain sufficient, Taylor stays one of many solely fighters on this planet to formally hand the 15-2-1 Jonas a loss.

Saturday marked the second lack of Mayer’s 19-2 profession, the primary defeat coming from Alycia Baumgardner in 2022. Nonetheless, there was loads of good to be mentioned in regards to the American’s efficiency. Those that puzzled how the previous junior welterweight might compete at welterweight had their questions answered loudly and clearly. Throw in the truth that Mayer fought in addition to she did towards Jonas in Jonas’ house city of Liverpool, England, and it’s simple to see why her efficiency was spectacular. It’s additionally simple to see why some will really feel the thirty three 12 months outdated was robbed. That assertion could be hyperbolic, however the level is evident – many cheap individuals thought Mayer ought to have been the one strolling out of the ring with the IBF title in her possession on Saturday.

“We had a rematch clause on her facet, not on my facet,” Mayer mentioned, “however this can be a warranted rematch. I really feel like I deserve one other shot and I wish to go once more.”