Jonas vs Dicaire Big Fight Preview & Prediction

Jonas vs Dicaire Big Fight Preview & Prediction

At the beginning of February, Natasha Jonas had no world titles to her name. Now she has two, and when November 12th fades into history, she may have three. And the coveted and prestigious Ring Magazine belt thrown in for luck.

On Saturday night in Manchester, Jonas is on the hunt for more. The Canadian Marie-Eve Dicaire is here to defend her IBF super-welterweight world title and wants to add the WBC and WBO titles that Jonas currently holds, to her own collection.

The former karate star has only lost once in nineteen fights, a night she found Claressa Shields several levels above her in 2021. But she is bigger than Jonas and is coming off a stoppage victory that gave her the IBF title last December. Make no mistake, Dicaire is not here to make up the numbers. Dicaire is confident and firmly believes nothing will stop her. The odds are wide, but also, they might be a little wide of the mark. She is now in the position where Jonas once found herself. A live underdog.

But Jonas is riding the crest of one enormous wave. Back from the brink, a stunning upset stoppage loss in Cardiff to Viviane Obenauf in 2018 threatened to end the Natasha Jonas story incredibly prematurely. Jonas thought it was over. In truth, we all did.

It has been an unlikely story in many ways. Handpicked to lose to Terri Harper back in 2020, and again with Katie Taylor the following year. The story has been told a million times. A disputed draw to Harper, and a wafer-thin defeat to Taylor, left Jonas frustrated and more. But a change in scenery brought Jonas new life. She didn’t waste it. Once the bridesmaid, now very much the bride. Her divorce from the sport was very much exaggerated.

The quick win over late replacement Chris Namus left questions, but the points win over the previously unbeaten Patricia Berghult in September answered them. But Dicaire will pose many more problems for Jonas to overcome. Dicaire will look to keep it long, Jonas will look to get close, and if she does, she may well find an opponent that is not that difficult to catch. The stoppage win over the Mexican Cynthia Lozano in her last fight looks good on paper, but Lozano was in over her head. In her very next fight, Lozano was stopped inside a round by the danger women of the division Mary Spencer. It was a division 12 months ago that lacked depth and interest. That is not the case now, with Jonas and Harper now holding world titles and the GWOAT also looking to add her skills to the 154 ranks. Add Spencer to the list and all of a sudden you have one of the deepest divisions in women’s boxing.

Fighting a fellow southpaw has lit a fire under Jonas. Something different, something new to overcome. Talk of an enjoyable camp is encouraging, especially when she has been in constant fight mode for the last eighteen months or so. Jonas is enjoying her boxing again, she has found her peace, happiness and belief.

Dicaire 36, brings size, but Jonas will bring speed, power and the greater top-flight experience. Sparring reports have been more than encouraging, her third camp at the weight, growing in many different ways. Jonas despite her impressive hometown win in September, wants to improve, show more and give more. This could be best the version we have ever seen of ‘Miss GB.’ It might need to be.

Jonas 38, can’t afford the slow start that cost her against Taylor in 2021 and let Dicaire find her rhythm without payback. The Liverpool fighter is an excellent inside fighter, and that is likely to be her route to victory. I just feel Jonas is the fighter with more ways to win. I wouldn’t totally rule out a late stoppage, but a points win for Jonas looks the more likely outcome.

There might be a multitude of baubles on the line on Saturday, but for Jonas, it carries a little more importance. Fights with the likes of Terri Harper, Jessica McCaskill and Claressa Shields are more than realistic options for Jonas in 2023. Beating Dicaire will sign out the year in some style, but it could be blown out of the water by what lies ahead next year.

Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer