Natasha Jonas vs Mikaela Mayer LIVE: Result tonight as Briton retains title in enthralling bout

Re-live updates after Natasha Jonas defended the IBF welterweight title in her hometown of Liverpool, against America’s Mikaela Mayer

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou face off before Saudi Arabia bout

Natasha Jonas retained the IBF welterweight title in a thrilling clash with Mikaela Mayer on Saturday, beating her challenger via split decision in Liverpool.

Fighting in front of a hometown crowd, Jonas was forced to dig deep against Mayer, who was making her debut in the division. In the early rounds, Mayer – a former super-featherweight champion – was chasing Jonas, whose wise shot selection and naturally greater power was proving the difference.

However, the American challenger began to find her rhythm as the bout progressed, varying her offence and backing up Jonas, 39. Mayer, 33, seemed to be pulling ahead, leaving Jonas arguably needing to win the final few rounds to emerge from the fight with her championship status intact.

What followed was an enthralling series of rounds, which could have gone either way, as each boxer brutalised the other to the body. Ultimately, Jonas emerged a split-decision winner, as the scorecards read 96-94, 93-97, 96-95 in favour of the two-weight champion.

Re-live updates and results below.

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE

• Natasha Jonas retains welterweight title with split decision against Mikaela Mayer
• Jonas comes out on top with scorecards of 96-94, 93-97, 96-95 in her favour
• Liverpudlian was fighting in her hometown as she took on the American
• ‘We have to hustle harder than men’: Mayer and Jonas talk to The Independent
• Is it okay to keep saying ‘women’s boxing’? Here’s what Mayer thinks...
• Meet tonight’s ring announcer: ‘Big Mo’ Kody Mommaerts

[20 January 2024 18:59 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Meet tonight’s ring announcer, Big Mo...

The MC for tonight’s event in Liverpool is Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts, who was a pleasure to speak to back in October.

I talked to the American about his status as the youngest ring announcer in top-level boxing, as well as how he goes about ramping up the excitement – not just for the fans in the arena, but also those watching on TV.

“I fully embrace how ridiculous my job is,” Kody Mommaerts smiled, his whitened grin stretching as wide as a face could allow.

Read what he had to say, as well as the thoughts of a few boxers on what makes ring announcers so important to the sport, right here:

[20 January 2024 18:57 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Odds for tonight’s main event

Jonas – 4/6

Mayer – 5/4

Draw – 14/1

Via Betway.

[20 January 2024 18:55 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Elsewhere in boxing – Hearn vs Warren official?!

Turki Al-Sheikh hurled the idea down from the mezzanine, through the air and onto the stage. “I want to see Eddie Hearn vs Frank Warren – five on five!” Three days later, that idea was inked.

And so, the staggering speed at which Saudi Arabia is making fights quickens again. Al-Sheikh, who is at the helm of the state’s vociferous venture into boxing, verbalised the suggestion on Monday, at the London press conference for Anthony Joshua’s upcoming bout with Francis Ngannou in Riyadh. By Thursday, Warren and Hearn were photographed signing contracts for a Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card– both smiling but both looking slightly bewildered, it must be said.

Each promoter will pick five fighters to square off with the other’s on a unique card, the date of which will be revealed on 8 March, when Joshua boxes ex-UFC champion Ngannou. It is an understandably unprecedented move; why would a promoter risk their reputation and/or company’s brand by directly pitting such a percentage of its roster against another’s? Well, ‘to make a significant amount of money’ is the only answer, and never has such an amount of money been on tap until now.

It is a fun exercise to predict and suggest which boxers might be chosen by Hearn and Warren. It has not yet been announced which weight classes will be featured at the event, but Indy Sport will choose five different divisions. So, without further ado...

[20 January 2024 18:50 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Elsewhere in boxing – Joshua’s notes and Ngannou’s scary handshake

Earlier this week, Indy Sport went backstage at the press conference for Anthony Joshua’s March showdown with ex-UFC champ Francis Ngannou.

We documented the details you didn’t see: from Joshua’s personal notes on his phone, to the scary edge to Ngannou’s handshake... and much more!

Read our behind-the-scenes piece here:

[20 January 2024 18:44 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: American pushed for 12 three-minute rounds

Tonight’s main event will play out across 10 two-minute rounds – unless we see a stoppage.

At November’s press conference for the bout, Mayer made the point that she would have preferred 12 three-minute rounds, as is typical in men’s title fights.

Here’s what she said, and how Jonas and promoter Ben Shalom responded:

[20 January 2024 18:39 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Alycia Baumgardner cleared of intentional doping

In other news from the women’s side of the sport this week:

Alycia Baumgardner has been cleared of ‘intentionally’ taking a banned substance, after the American returned an ‘adverse’ drug-test result last year.

Baumgardner, who became undisputed super-featherweight champion with a win over Mayer in 2022, tested positive for mesterolone just days before her win over Christina Linardatou last July. She has not fought since.

After news emerged of her failed test, the 29-year-old quickly took to social media to maintain her innocence, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) has now issued a statement on the matter.

To read the WBC’s statement, as well as what Baumgardner had to say this week, click on the article below:

[20 January 2024 18:37 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Is it okay to to keep saying ‘women’s boxing’?

When I interviewed Mikaela Mayer at November’s launch press conference for tonight’s fight, I half-apologised for repeatedly using the term “women’s boxing”.

But in the American’s opinion, there’s no need to feel guilty about differentiating women’s boxing from men’s, despite the growth of her side of the sport in recent times.

“I don’t mind, because we’ve got our own story, right?” she told The Independent at the time.

[20 January 2024 18:32 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Fight preview featuring interviews with tonight’s key players

Ahead of tonight’s main event, I spoke to Jonas, Mayer, and Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom about the fight.

Here are a few snippets from our full preview, which you can find at the bottom of this post...

Mayer: “We have to [take these risks]. We don’t have the privilege of sitting back and collecting one big cheque. We haven’t had the opportunity or platform. We still have to prove to a lot of people that we belong in this sport, and that starts with making fights that fans want to see and winning them over. We’ve got to hustle a little harder [than the men].”

Jonas: “In 10 years’ time, I would expect those girls’ experiences to be a whole lot different [to ours]. You’ve got Jane Couch, Christy Martin, Laila Ali – all them people who had big moments and performed. There are certain fights where you remember where you were, what you were eating while you were watching! In 10 years’ time, I’d love people to look back and say: ‘I was there.’”

Shalom: “It’s not just, ‘Let’s push it for equality purposes,’ which is a reason in itself. I think it’s an iconic fight, two stars that we didn’t expect to see in the ring together, and we think a healthy and growing women’s side of the sport is so unbelievably powerful for boxing itself. When we first came in and headlined with Savannah Marshall, a few eyebrows were raised. The fact that we announced this as our first show of the year and no one batted an eyelid, the growth has been incredible.”

Full preview:

[20 January 2024 18:23 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: How to watch fight tonight

In the UK, the event will air live on Sky Sports Arena from 7pm GMT (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET) and Sky Sports Main Event from 8pm GMT (1pm PT, 3pm CT, 4pm ET). It will also stream live on the broadcaster’s Sky Go app.

In the US, the fights will stream live on ESPN+.

More info here:

[20 January 2024 18:14 · Alex Pattle]

Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Timings and ring walks in UK and US

The earliest fights are under way as we speak, but the main card is due to begin at 7pm GMT (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET) – that’s when our round-by-round updates will begin.

Ring walks for the main event are then expected at 10.30pm GMT (3.30pm PT, 5.30pm CT, 6.30pm ET).

More info here: