Natasha Jonas vs. Ivana Habazin Stats Comparison and Prediction: Record, Age, Height, Reach, Weight, and Knockout Ratio

Ten days from now, an exciting event will unfold at Liverpool’s Exhibition Center. On December 14, IBF welterweight champion Natasha Jonas and her WBC counterpart, Ivana Habazin, will square off for title unification. Apart from the Jonas-Habazin clash, the BOXXER card will feature more than half a dozen fights, including one between Lauren Price and Bexcy Mateus for the IBO welterweight title.

Natasha Jonas joins the fight following her first title defense against Mikaela Mayer. In addition to staking a claim to Jonas’ title, Ivana Habazin will defend her belt for the first time. For both the champions, losing is not an alternative. A win could put them in WBA titleholder Lauren Price’s direct line of fire. Ahead of their much-anticipated match, let’s take a look at how both Jonas and Habazin measure up against each other one-on-one.

Natasha Jonas vs. Ivana Habazin: Stat Showdown—Physical Edge in the Ring

Liverpool-born Natasha Jonas, who turned 40 on June 18, is five years senior to her opponent Ivana Habazin, who turned 35 on October 22. Though the details of the British boxer’s hand reach are not available, it seems that standing at 5 feet and eight inches, or 173 centimeters, she is nearly an inch shorter than Habazin, who has a height of 5 feet nine inches, or 175 centimeters, and a reach extending 66.5 inches, or 169 centimeters.

The final weigh-ins of the event are yet to take place. Ahead of her last fight against Mikaela Mayer, Natasha Jonas weighed around 146 pounds. Ivana Habazin also tipped the scales at 146 pounds when she went against Kinga Magyar in April of this year.

Stylistically, the fight between Natasha Jonas and Ivana Habazin is one of the most contrasting matchups. But in terms of experience, the Croat fighter clearly has an upper hand. Commencing her career in 2010, Zagreb-born Habazin has thus far participated in 28 bouts. Out of those, she secured victories in 23, seven of which were early stoppages. Thus Habazin records a knockout-to-win rate of 30%.

Though she commenced her professional career seven years ago, Natasha Jonas, on the other hand, has been through eighteen fights, where 15 ended in wins and one match went for a draw. Given that nine of her triumphs came via knockouts, Jonas’ knockout-to-win rate stands at a commendable 60%.

Natasha Jonas vs. Ivana Habazin: Prediction: Who Has the Edge?

As of now, ‘Miss GB’ appears to be the overwhelming favorite to win the fight on December 14. Oddsmakers give her as much as an 84% chance of winning against the underdog Ivana Habazin. What could the reason be? Perhaps a home advantage that combines with a recent solid run gives Natasha Jonas a clear edge over her Croatian opponent.

The British boxer has suffered two defeats in her career, including one to Katie Taylor. However, it seems Natasha Jonas has left them as echoes of the past. Following the 2021 loss to Taylor, she improved her game steadily and emerged unbeaten in five straight fights. Her latest victory over Mikaela Mayer, though closely contested, visibly boosted her morale.

However, pundits may point at the short breaks that kept her away from the ring. Though she had an active schedule in 2022, last year she had only one fight. The Mayer fight of January 20 followed six months after she went against Kandi Wyatt.

But what about Ivana Habazin? Has she been active in comparison? Doesn’t seem so. The Croatian champion’s fight in April followed an 11-month-long hiatus after she lost a shot at the light middleweight title to Terri Harper. After the fourth career loss to Claressa Shields in 2020, Habazin was out of the ring for almost a year. So frequent breaks and losses have marred the Croatian boxer’s career trajectory over the last four years.

But is it sufficient to conclude that Natasha Jonas has a walkover in her hand?

Style Breakdown: Strengths and Weaknesses

As the Mikaela Mayer fight showed, moving around the ring, the southpaw Natasha Jonas will try to clobber Ivana Habazin with precision body shots. The standard left-right appears to be her favorite combination. But the tactic often leaves her vulnerable to some vicious head shots, an advantage Mayer eagerly exploited.

Trying to set the overall pace of the bout, a fast-moving Jonas will become a difficult target for Ivana Habazin. Fighting from the inside, the Croatian boxer may try to maintain distance with jabs. But will that be sufficient enough to prevent Natasha Jonas from sneaking in? As the Shields fight displayed, Habazin often gets in the firing line of a piercing body shot.

Given the stage where Natasha Jonas and Ivana Habazin stand today, a win will take them a bit closer towards title unification.

Our Verdict: Natasha Jonas winning with an early stoppage. The triumph will lend her an advantage when she proceeds to challenge Lauren Price and Mikaela Mayer.

What about you? Between Jonas and Habazin, who is your pick for the win tomorrow?