LIVERPOOL – Natasha Jonas defeats Ivana Habazin to unify WBC and IBF welterweight titles and set up a fight with Lauren Price next year Start the battle for unification.
Jonas fought back well against the tenacious Habazin, earning a unanimous decision on all three judges’ scorecards. The match at the Liverpool Exhibition Center may be Jonas’ last in her hometown and she sincerely thanked the crowd for their support throughout her career.
“I just want to thank everyone who came to see me play,” Jonas said after the game. “Your support for over 20 years has been incredible – I’m proud to be a fan.”
The win certainly unifies him with fellow Brit and WBA 147-pound champion Price. Jonas and Price met in the ring after the match and had a lot to say to each other.
“I think we all know who’s next,” Jonas said. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to get to where I want to be, and the story isn’t over yet.”
“Have a Merry Christmas, happy camping, and see you soon,” Price replied.
“Be careful what you wish for,” Jonas replied.
“Too fast, too fast, too strong,” Price said.
Jonas, 16-2 (9 KOs), started the fight, pushing Habazin back against the ropes and sinking in body shots to the roar of the home crowd. Jonas got off to a fast start again in the second, but Habazin, who now has a record of 23-6 (7 KOs), began to get into the fight and land shots on her guard.
The third fight was scrappy and both fighters bumped into each other while trying to take a shot. However, things changed late in the round when Jonas landed a right punch to the body and then another to the head, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Jonas found her right hand again in the fourth and hurt Habazin, forcing her to stumble back. The Croatian covered up as Jonas used more hooks to her head and body, but Habazin recovered well.
Habazin continued to make moves in the fifth, determined not to let the fight pass her away. Jonas seemed a little frustrated as she struggled to hold onto the right hand that had brought her so much success.
Habazin started off strong again in the sixth, forcing Jonas to back off and land a right hand followed by a right to the body. Jonas fights back and lands a right hand of his own, but is defeated by a busier Habazin.
It was difficult to score in the seventh inning, with both sides hitting shots. Jonas landed harder and cleaner, while Habazin was busier. The eighth game followed a similar pattern, with Habazin overtaking Jonas, but the Scouser fired back on the counterattack. Jonas countered with a right hand at the end of the ninth, but Habazin stood strong and once again finished the round on the front foot.
The tenth round was the most entertaining round of the match. The boxers from both sides met in the middle circle and started a fierce battle. Jonas had the upper hand in the exchange, landing two big right hands that seemed to shake Habazan awake.
Jonas won with scores of 99-92, 99-91 and 100-90 on the scoreboard. The judges gave Habazin little credit for her efforts, but she accepted the decision gracefully. Jonas will now definitely face Price in the 2025 merger.
