Natasha Jonas Unifies 147 After Prevailing Over Ivana Habazin

Natasha Jonas (16-2-1, 9 KOs) is now a unified welterweight champion following a dominant unanimous decision win over Ivana Habazin (23-6, 7 KOs).

Scores were 100-90, 99-92 and 99-91. With the victory, Jonas adds the WBC title to her collection. She is also the reigning IBF welterweight champion, a title she won after defeating Kandi Wyatt in July of last year.

The fight headlined a BOXXER card at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool, England. Boxing fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland could catch the action live on Sky Sports. Those in the United States could do so with Peacock. As for the rest of the world, BOXXER put up this post to show how you could catch the action.

Natasha Jonas Unifies 147 After Prevailing Over Ivana Habazin

Natasha Jonas vs. Ivana Habazin Fight Recap

Both fighters spent the opening round mainly at an arm’s length of each other without throwing too many punches. As the fight progressed, they closed the distance and started to trade at close quarters. However, this also resulted in occasional holding.

Habazin was stunned by a right hook in round four. For the next 15 seconds, Jonas unleased a barrage of punches in a bidto end the bout, but her opponent was able to weather the storm and make it out of the round. Habazin was throwing several shots but failing to connect on a number of them, something that tired her as the fight went on and worked in Jonas’ favour in the late rounds.

There continued to be a fair amount of holding throughout the contest, but with Habazin tiring Jonas was able to time clean, hard shots and win rounds. In the end, Jonas’ ability to do that consistently won her many of the rounds on the final scorecards. Habazin’s inability to convert many of the punches she threw into shots landed proved to be her downfall.

Post-fight Interview

Natasha Jonas

“I didn’t think it could get any better than qualifying for the Olympics and performing in the Olympics, winning,” said Jonas after the fight. “But nights like today. I just want to say to everyone who has come out and spent their hard-earned money and all the 20 years of support you have given me. We are as a city unbelievable and I am so proud to be a Scouse. I’m so proud to represent the city and the people. Thank you all so much for your love and support from day one.”

“You’re always your own biggest critic. I’m sure I’ll go back watch it and throw more shots in the house than I did in the round. You just have to adapt as you’re going through the rounds and listen to Joe [Gallagher, her trainer]…I was a little bit off in parts. That’s why I wanted a warmup before the big one [against WBA welterweight champion Lauren Price].”

Undercard Results

Lee Cutler (15-1, 7 KOs) won a majority decision against Stephen McKenna (15-1, 14 KOs). While one judge had the 10-round super welterweight bout a 94-94 draw, the other two saw it 96-92 and 95-93 for Cutler. McKenna went to the canvas once in round one and again in the seventh.

Check out our recap of the rest of the undercard which included a dominant victory for Lauren Price as she retained her own welterweight world title. After the win by Lauren Price she said the following:

Well, with speed comes power, right?” said Price after the fight. “But yeah, I enjoyed myself in there tonight. Wanted to make a bit of a statement. Obviously, I want big fights next year and credit to my opponent. I didn’t really know much about her coming in. I knew she had a good record, but I’ve had a great camp and yeah. Over the moon.”

“I think it’s just, you know, fight by fight. I keep learning, keep development [sic]. I’ve still got so much more to come, but I’ve got a great team behind me. You’ve seen tonight now I’m not just speed, I can bang as well. So, happy days.”