Natasha Jonas unified the welterweight division, taking a clear points win against Ivana Habazin to add the WBC title to her IBF crown at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool on Saturday.
Jonas (16-2-1, 9 KOs) was last seen in January, retaining her title in a tight split decision win against Mikaela Mayer, while Habazin (23-6, 7 KOs) won the vacant WBC welterweight title in her homeland last time out, taking a wide points victory against Kinga Magyar.
After a technical opening round, Jonas settled into a steady rhythm, finding a massive right hand that staggered Habazin in the fourth round.
It was competitive stuff, but the home favourite was getting much the better of the exchanges, and seemingly banking round after round.
The pattern continued to the final bell, where Jonas was ruled the winner by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-92.
Price closes in on Jonas clash
Lauren Price emphatically remained on a collision course with Jonas, and she defended her WBA and IBO welterweight titles with ease in a third round stoppage of Bexcy Mateus.
Mateus (7-1, 6 KOs) was on the deck in the first round, with a massive straight left hand landing for the Welshwoman, and the Colombian struggled to match Price’s speed.
The same shot had the 29-year-old over again in the second, and a round later saw the end, as yet another stinging left hand stunned Meteus, and she fell to the canvas, with the fight then waved off.
Price (8-0, 2 KOs) has agreed to face Jonas next, with promoter Ben Shalom revealing that it could be announced next week.
Cutler edges past McKenna
Lee Cutler scored an upset win, as he took the WBC International Silver welterweight title with a majority decision success against Stephen McKenna.
McKenna (15-1, 14 KOs) was dropped in round one, his knee touching the canvas after getting tagged, and Cutler (15-1, 7 KOs) took full advantage of his rival fading in the seventh, a right hand dipping the knees of the Irishman, and he eventually was dropped once again.
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McKenna was relentless in his approach, and banked rounds with his sheer volume of punches.
A 94-94 scorecard was trumped by scores of 95-93 and 96-92 to give Cutler the victory.
Jeffers halts Quartey
Mark Jeffers kept on track for big fights in 2025, as he halted Joshua Quartey to defend his Commonwealth Silver super middleweight title.
A couple of right hands had Quartey (10-1, 9 KOs)y on the canvas, and although he beat the count, a well-placed body shot on the resumption from Jeffers (19-0, 6 KOs) had the visitor over again.
A frenzied attack on the restart forced the stoppage.
Riley secures Chamberlain clash with stoppage
Viddal Riley ticked over with a run out at heavyweight, and he stopped Dan Garber in the second of a scheduled six rounder.
Riley (12-0, 7 KOs) clubbed Garber (7-4, 2 KOs) with a right hand that had him all at sea, and a follow-up attack forced the referee’s intervention.
Riley is next slated to face Isaac Chamberlain on February 1.
Remaining Undercard
Mason Cartwright (21-4-1, 8 KOs) won all six rounds at super welterweight against Dzmitry Atrokhau (16-25, 7 KOs) and lightweight hope, Frankie Stringer (9-0, 1 KO) did the same against Tatenda Mangombe (3-9-1).
At flyweight, Mikie Tallon (6-0) dropped Benn Norman (7-7) with a body shot in the opening round of their meeting, before settling for a 59-54 win on the cards.
The sole four rounder was at super featherweight, where Mason Devine (6-0, 1 KO) won all every session against Jayo Fernando Duran (15-34-1, 14 KOs).
