Two of the best fighters in women’s boxing collide when Natasha Jonas makes the maiden defence of her IBF welterweight championship against fellow pound-for-pound entrant Mikaela Mayer at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on January 20. The 10-round bout, plus undercard action, will be broadcast by ESPN+ in the U.S.
WATCH: Natasha Jonas vs. Mikaela Mayer, exclusively on ESPN+
Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KOs) is coming off an eighth-round stoppage win over Kandi Wyatt last July. The former U.K. Olympian had already annexed the IBF, WBC, and WBO titles at 154 pounds before dropping down to welterweight for a shot at the vacant IBF crown. Wyatt put up very little resistance as Jonas put on a sizzling display in what was her sixth world title bout.
Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs) lost her unified championship at super featherweight to U.S. rival Alycia Baumgardner in 2022. Following her first pro setback, the 33-year-old American immediately made it clear that she would be moving up in weight. The ex-champ campaigned at lightweight and super lightweight in 2023, and this bout against Jonas marks her welterweight debut.
The Sporting News will provide undercard results and a full report on the main event.
