Natasha Jonas vs. Mikaela Mayer Moves A Step Closer
It was her her third fight on the bounce in the UK, but the win over Silvia Bortot in Manchester on Saturday night will almost certainly lead to a fourth visit and Mikaela Mayer challenging Natasha Jonas for her IBF world welterweight title in her next fight.
Mayer was dominant in outpointing the tough Bortot at the Manchester Arena, and immediately after the fight, her thoughts turned to Jonas. Mayer told Sky Sports:
“I don’t want easy fights, I’ve got some big fights ahead of me. One of them is sitting right there! I’m ready for that fight. I’m preparing my body for that fight. I’m prepared to go to 147lbs and take on Tasha Jonas straight away.”
The fight makes perfect sense for both fighters. Jonas, the two-weight world champion, is at the stage of her career where she only wants the big fights. Mayer, the former unified world super-featherweight champion ticks that box.
Mayer wants to start another world title run, and with all doors down below currently closed, welterweight and Jonas is her most immediate and obvious route back into the world title picture. Money aside, there are no other obvious complications to stop the fight from becoming a reality. The only issue might be where the fight actually takes place. Liverpool and Manchester seem the most obvious candidates. But Tanzania, where Jonas is an Ambassador, has been mentioned as a possibility. But another trip to UK soil for Mayer, appears far more likely.
The undefeated prospect Caroline Dubois has understandably been pushing for a fight with Mayer. The Olympic Champion Lauren Price has made no secret of her desire to fight Jonas. But both are likely to be disappointed, at least in the short term. Mayer has no interest in facing Dubois, Jonas is lukewarm to facing Price. Jonas and Mayer are seemingly on the same page for who they will fight next. Each other.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
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