Boxing News: Mikaela Mayer Remains Honest On Her Defeat To Natasha Jones – “Thought I Did Enough To Win”

In the lead-up to the fight between Mikaela Mayer and Natasha Jonas, Mayer’s coach drew parallels to the legendary 1985 battle between Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns. While replicating that iconic clash would have always been a tall order, Jonas and Mayer created their own memorable night in boxing. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned for the 5′ 9″ orthodox boxer.

Mayer ended up losing the highly anticipated bout. From the start, Jonas put pressure on Mayer with her left hook and a counter right. Though she caught her bearings and adjusted her approach in the second round, Jonas responded with effective counters. Mayer gained confidence and trapped Jonas in the corner in the fifth. However, in the end the fight still ended in a loss for Mayer, but her spirit was not dampened. Here’s what she has to say to Jones after the fight.

Mikaela Mayer fells hard done by…

In a pulsating battle at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, Natasha Jonas secured a tight split-decision victory over Mikaela Mayer, retaining her IBF welterweight title. The intense back-and-forth duel left spectators on the edge, resulting in scorecards of 96-94 and 96-95 in Jonas’s favor, while one judge saw it 97-93 for Mayer. Reflecting on her defeat, Mayer, 33, expressed disappointment but maintained sportsmanship, hoping for a rematch. “It’s disappointing, but what am I going to do? I just hope that Tasha will be the stand-up champ that she is and give me another shot.”

Moreover, she shared her frustration with the result stating, “I thought I did enough to win. I would have given her the first round or two, but after that, I feel like I outpunched her and landed the cleaner shots.” It will be interesting to see if the fight will receive a rematch or not, though it will certainly be something to look forward to. In the meantime, Jones has already announced this to be her last year in the sport.

Natasha Jones in her final year in boxing

In her final year of boxing, Natasha Jonas reflected on a groundbreaking career, acknowledging the influence of boxing pioneer Jane Couch, who championed women’s boxing rights in the UK. Accompanied in the ring by Couch, Jonas, an Olympic trailblazer, expressed gratitude to her hometown crowd for their support.

Overcoming setbacks, Jonas secured a world title at 37, adding three more within 22 months. Now, she contemplates legacy fights, eyeing potential unification bouts in the welterweight division. Though not specifying opponents, Jonas hinted at retiring, stating, “Unfortunately, I can’t be around forever – and this is probably my last year in boxing.” 

Read More: “There Is No Transparency Here”: While Snubbing Her as a ‘Clean’ Fighter, Mikaela Mayer Rips Apart Alycia Baumgardner Post Doping Test Fiasco

As she bids farewell, Jonas leaves a lasting legacy, both as a pioneer for women’s boxing and a resilient champion in the ring.

Watch This Story: All You Need to Know About Mikaela Mayer’s Relationship With XFL Player Boyfriend Marquette King