Natasha Jonas vs. Mikaela Mayer Set For January In Liverpool

Natasha Jonas vs. Mikaela Mayer Set For January In Liverpool

When Mikaela Mayer set her sights on Natasha Jonas and her IBF welterweight title and the Liverpool fighter quickly expressed her desire to fight the American, it always seemed inevitable that both Jonas and Mayer would very soon get their wishes granted. With no political obstacles in the way and two willing fighters, it always looked like a case of when the fight would be announced and not if. That day is fast approaching.

FightPost is of the understanding that Jonas will defend her IBF welterweight bauble against Mayer early in the new year with the defending IBF champion getting a main event hometown gig on January 20th for the first defence of the title that she claimed by virtue of an 8th-round stoppage victory over the tough Canadian Kandi Wyatt in July. The fight will be officially announced in the not-too-distant future.

Mayer brings worldwide recognition and the big name that satisfies the ambitions of Jonas. ‘Miss GB’ is at the stage of her career where she only wants the big fights. Mayer more than ticks that box. Last month Jonas told me:

“It will be a good fight. I say it all the time. There are certain fights that the fans want, what Sky wants, and what Boxxer wants. And what I want. There are not many fights that please everyone, but Mikaela Mayer does that. Everyone thinks it is a good fight. She is internationally known and respected. It is a fight that the fans want to see, and it is a fight that I want. I think everyone is happy with that fight.”

Jonas has something the former unified world super-featherweight champion wants. Mayer has seen her road back to becoming a world champion again blocked by many things in the short term, but Jonas offered her a much quicker route back into the world title picture. Mayer knew the doors at lightweight and super-lightweight were firmly shut, and with Jonas willing and available, the American targeted Jonas and her IBF title.

“I don’t have a grudge against Natasha Jonas. She just has something that I want,” Mayer told me in October.

Talks have been ongoing since Mayer beat Silvia Bortot in Manchester in early September, with Jonas ringside working for Sky Sports, and the last remaining issues have now been resolved with a formal announcement imminent.