Natasha Jonas retained her IBF welterweight world title by the skin of her teeth this past weekend at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, with the judges awarding her a split decision victory over Mikaela Mayer.
Many observers felt that former super featherweight world champion Mayer, fighting at 147lbs for the first time in her career, was hard done by not to get the decision in front of Jonas’ hometown fans.
However, Jonas’ trainer Joe Gallagher unsurprisingly does not share that view, and believes that his charge is not getting the credit she deserves following the ten round war.
Gallagher appeared on Talksport today and came out swinging, even claiming that people are now calling ‘Miss GB’ the best fighter to ever come out of Liverpool.
“People calling it a robbery? It was a hard fought fight – people who know boxing know what they were looking at.”
(Lawrence Lustig, Boxxer)
“There’s no controversy – Natasha won the fight!
“Everyone should be talking about what a great performance it was from Natasha Jonas and what an inspirational figure she is for Liverpool.”
“People are saying she’s the most popular and the best fighter to ever come out of Liverpool, and that’s the narrative we should be talking about.”
In the ring after the decision had been announced, Mayer immediately stated she felt she had done enough to get the nod and wanted another shot at Jonas.
— Mikaela Mayer (@MikaelaMayer1) January 22, 2024
It remains unclear at this stage whether or not she will get her wish, as a contractual rematch clause was only in place should Jonas have tasted defeat, and not the other way around.
Given the entertaining nature of the fight and the controversy around the decision, one would imagine there is plenty of appetite amongst the boxing public for the pair to run it back.
However, there has also been talk of Jonas locking horns with Olympic gold medalist Lauren Price, also a BOXXER fighter, as well as a unification bout with WBC and WBA champion, Jessica McCaskill, although the American is likely to face Sandy Ryan in a rematch.
