A Boxing Memory: Natasha Jonas vs. Chris Namus

A Boxing Memory: Natasha Jonas vs. Chris Namus

In early 2022, Natasha Jonas was facing her latest moment of truth. The headlines of ‘Third Time Lucky’ did the rounds. Jonas knew if she failed to claim a world title at the third attempt, there wouldn’t be a fourth. This was it. A simple case of now or never.

Jonas had come desperately close on two previous occasions. Written off before her fight with Terri Harper in 2020. Jonas was deemed more than a touch unlucky when the Denaby unified world super-featherweight champion clung onto her titles courtesy of a controversial draw. Many thought Jonas had won. But plaudits couldn’t change anything.

A year later, Jonas tried to wrest the undisputed world lightweight titles away from Katie Taylor in Manchester. Again, it was close, but Taylor edged it on the cards. There was no controversy this time, but Jonas would regret the slow start that probably cost her a famous victory. Wafer-thin margins again. But Jonas again, went home empty-handed.

The fight with Namus at the Manchester Arena was her final try. The last throw of the dice. Jonas knew that. We all did. ‘Miss GB’ saw an opportunity at super-welterweight. The vacant WBO bauble was on the line. Namus came in late. Ewa Piatkowska was originally drafted in to fight Jonas. But the Polish fighter caught Covid, and the Uruguayan took her place. It wasn’t ideal for Namus, but pre-fight, her natural physical advantages was a constant narrative. Jonas had the skills. But would they count for anything against a naturally bigger fighter?

If Jonas had any nerves, she certainly didn’t show any. She knew a slow start had cost her the previous year against Katie Taylor. The Liverpool fighter was in no mood to make the same mistake again. Jonas started fast and dropped Namus towards the end of the opening round. The bell saved the Uruguayan. But not for long.

Jonas wasted little time as the fight restarted. When Namus found herself on the floor again, her challenge was terminated before it had even got started. Jonas had blasted her way to that ever-so-precious first-world title. Jonas celebrated with joy and no little relief.

“It takes a weight off my shoulders. It’s relief. I feel I can enjoy the boxing now. At times, I felt as though I was losing my sanity chasing world titles.”

Post-fight, I wrote:

‘Back in the fighters’ hotel last night, when Jonas walked in sometime past midnight with her world title in hand, the warm and loud applause was a special moment. She was greeted by a never-ending round of hugs, handshakes, after the initial heartfelt round of applause. It was special and says plenty about the love for a fighter who is as classy outside of the ring as she is inside it.’

The win over Namus isn’t the best win on Natasha Jonas’s resume. The win over Mikaela Mayer in early 2024 covers that base. But it was certainly the most significant win on her record. The most important night of her career. Without it, Jonas would have been done. It’s as brutally as simple as that. More world titles followed that win over Namus. In unification bouts against Patricia Berghult and Marie-Eve Dicaire, Jonas added the WBC and IBF baubles to her collection to round off a truly glorious 2022. The exploits of that year earned Jonas the British Boxing Board of Control’s 2022 British Boxer of the Year award. The first female fighter to ever win that coveted award. It all started with that pivotal victory over Namus.

At 37, Jonas woke up on that Saturday morning in that Manchester fight hotel, thinking her career could be all over by the end of the day. In truth, it was just a new beginning for her. A story of sacrifice, perseverance, and finally, her reward.

Photo Credit: Boxxer