Natasha Jonas and Lauren Value each win in Liverpool to arrange unification combat in 2025
Historical past-making British boxers Natasha Jonas and Lauren Value each efficiently retained their welterweight world titles with wins in Liverpool on December 14 to arrange an all-British unification combat in 2025.
Wales’ first-ever feminine world champion Value defended her WBA title by stopping unbeaten Colombian Bexcy Mateus in devastating style earlier than Jonas outclassed Ivana Habazin over 10 rounds.
Britain’s first-ever feminine Olympic boxer, Jonas, 40, added the Ivana Habazin’s WBC title to her assortment to turn out to be a two-weight unified champion.
The combat is being slated for March in London and the 2 girls got here head to head within the ring as soon as Jonas’ large factors victory was confirmed.
After some pretty respectful preliminary responses to questions on a future combat, Jonas riled Value by saying: “Watch out what you want for, watch out what you ask for.”
Value, 30, replied: “Too younger, too fast, too good,” earlier than Jonas in contrast Value’s confidence to Terri Harper’s earlier than they fought in 2020.
That combat was a cut up resolution draw and Jonas stated Value was “not a lot better” than Harper.
Value replied she was an Olympic champion, to which Jonas stated: “When all the nice folks had left.”
On the combat, the undefeated Value stated it might be “huge” for the British public.
“After I turned over as Olympic champion I needed to be concerned in huge fights,” she stated.
“It’s one hell of a combat for British followers and boxing on the whole.”
In simply her seventh skilled combat, Value picked up a world title to turn out to be the primary ever feminine boxing world champion from Wales.
Her newest victory continues a outstanding sporting profession which additionally contains 4 senior world kickboxing titles and representing Wales in soccer at worldwide stage.
As for Jonas, she has gained her fifth world title in simply six bouts over three years and continues to take pleasure in a purple patch of type regardless of being within the closing chapter of her profession.
Round 4,000 folks had been in attendance on the Exhibition Centre to witness what could also be Jonas’ closing outing in Liverpool as knowledgeable boxer.
It was Value who fought first on the night time, dropping Mateus 3 times, all by her left hand, earlier than the referee stopped the competition within the third spherical.
The bout was primarily a mismatch, as Value outclassed her undefeated Colombian opponent and despatched a message to Jonas about her knockout energy.
The stoppage was simply Value’s second of her eight-fight profession.
“With velocity comes energy, I loved myself in there tonight,” she stated.
“I needed to make a little bit of a press release.”
With that assertion recent in Jonas’ thoughts, the hometown hero introduced her followers to their ft for her ringwalk.
The gang voiced their help with each shot Jonas landed, however there was not a lot between the 2 champions within the opening rounds.
Nevertheless, within the fourth spherical Jonas landed an enormous proper hook and Habazin wobbled backwards within the ring.
Jonas adopted up, unloading punches on her opponent and in search of the end however Habazin recovered nicely.
The Liverpudlian continued to be aggressive by means of the combat, touchdown some highly effective proper hooks however they didn’t appear to overly section the Croatian.
Jonas confirmed her class within the closing rounds, dealing with the assaults nicely by Habazin and countering with some spectacular motion and punches as she noticed the combat out.
After the ultimate bell the scorecards by the judges learn 99-92, 99-91, 100-90 all in favour of Jonas.
Value’s efficiency could make her the slight favorite, however Jonas as soon as once more demonstrated her class and expertise.
