Natasha Jonas teed up a possible blockbuster showdown with Lauren Price as she overcame Ivana Habazin via unanimous decision to become unified IBF and WBC welterweight world champion in Liverpool on Saturday night.
Jonas and Price both emerged victorious on a show billed as ‘Collision Course’ for a reason, the latter beating Bexcy Mateus earlier in the evening to successfully defend her world titles.
It marked what is expected to be Jonas’ final fight in her hometown Liverpool as she likely closes in on retirement, Price now potentially awaiting in what would represent one of the most marquee fights in women’s boxing history.
Jonas was back in the ring for the first time since edging out Mikaela Mayer in January, dictating the fight to clinch it 99-92, 99-91, 100-90 on the scorecards and improve her record to 16-2-1.
“I think we all know what the script is, we’ll do what’s necessary to do what I need to do to get to where I need to go,” said Jonas.
Jonas was joined by Price in the ring after the fight as the pair all but confirmed that they will go toe-to-toe next year.
“100 per cent,” said Price. “Coming into this, Collision Course, we knew what was on the line. Let’s make a great night in 2025.
“It was a good performance, she won every round, did what she had to do, roll on next year. Enjoy your Christmas, have a good camp, I’ll see you soon.”
Jonas responded by insisting: “Be careful what you wish for!”
A cagey opening to the right saw neither fighter land clean or meaningful shots in the first round, before it was Jonas who lifted a tense crowd courtesy of a clean right hand to trouble Habazin in the second.
Habazin responded by breaking through with a well-timed counter left hook to hand her own corner some welcome encouragement while reminding everybody once more there were two people in this fight.
Jonas lifted the tempo early into the third as she capitalised on a missed overhand right from Habazin to pounce on the opening with a crashing right of her own.
The Liverpudlian then rocked Habazin with a brutal assault in the fourth before launching forward sensing a finish in the offing, backing the defensive Croatian onto the ropes but struggling to unlock a decisive final blow.
Habazin, to her credit, recovered well to reestablish her distancing and close out the round with a glancing right hook Jonas was smart to swerve.
The fifth would see Jonas work behind a sharp counter that amassed to a firm straight right to snap back the head of Habazin, before maintaining control of the tempo in the sixth to force miss after miss while weighing up her attacks strategically.
By now Jonas was firmly in control, again bypassing an overhand right from Habazin to launch an on-target reply with both fighters pressed against the ropes.
Habazin was as tough as had been billed, but unable to sustain attacks against a shrewd Jonas when she did decide to work on the front foot.
There were rare gasps in the ninth when Habazin landed a clean right hand to the face of Jonas, who absorbed it well before firing back with a sharp flurry at the end of the round.
In control on the cards, Jonas need only see out the 10th and final round as she put the onus on Habazin while also affording herself the time to produce two more clinical left hooks.
“I didn’t think it could get any better than qualifying and winning at the Olympics, but nights like this, I just wanted to say people who have given me 20 years of support, we are as a city unbelievable,” said Jonas.” I’m so proud to represent the city.”
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