Natasha Jonas had a potential blockbuster fight with Lauren Price when she defeated Ivana Habazin to become the IBF and WBC middleweight world champion by unanimous decision in Liverpool on Saturday night.
Jonas and Price both emerged victorious on a show called Collision Course for a reason, with the latter defeating Bexy Matthews earlier in the evening to successfully defend her world titles.
It marked what is expected to be Jonas’ final fight in her hometown of Liverpool, as she likely ends her retirement, with Price now potentially facing one of the longest fights in women’s boxing history.
Jonas stepped into the ring for the first time since defeating Michaela Mayer in January, dominating the fight to close it out 99-92, 99-91, 100-90 and improve her record to 16-2-1.
“I think we all know what the script is, we’re going to do what it takes to do what I need to do to get where I need to go,” Jonas said.
After the bout, Jonas was joined in the ring by Price as the pair all but confirmed that they will be going toe-to-toe next year.
“100 percent,” Price said. “Going into this Collision Course, we knew what was on the line. Let’s create a great night in 2025.
“It was a good performance, he won every round, did what he had to do, rolled on next year. Enjoy your Christmas, have a good camp, see you soon.”
Jonas responded by claiming: “Be careful what you wish for.”
A cagey right saw neither fighter land clean or meaningful strikes in the first round before Jonas pumped up the tense crowd with a clean right hand to trouble Habazin in the second.
Habazine responded by cracking a counter left hook just in time to give his corner a welcome boost, reminding everyone once again that there were two people in this fight.
Jonas upped the ante early in the third when he capitalized on a missed overhand from Habazine and pounced on the opening with a forehand of his own.
The Liverpudlian then rocked Habazzin with a vicious attack in the fourth before pouncing forward sensing the end of the line, backing the defensive Croatian on the ropes but struggling to land a decisive final strike.
Habazine, to his credit, recovered well to regain his distance and close the turn with a glancing right hook, Jonas smartly deflected.
The fifth would see Jonas work behind a sharp counter that gathered in the straight to push Habazin’s head back, before maintaining control of the tempo in the sixth to force miss after miss while weighing his attacks strategically.
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Lee Cutler hit Stephen McKenna twice to win with a worm breakdance move after taking a majority decision in Liverpool.
By now, Jonas was firmly in control, again rounding the starboard side of the Habazin to answer the ropes tightened by the two fighters on target.
Habazine was as tough as advertised but couldn’t sustain the attacks against the astute Jonas when he opted to work on the front foot.
There were rare gasps in the ninth when Habazine landed a clean right hand to the face of Jonas, who absorbed it well before firing back with a sharp jab at the end of the round.
Jonas only needed to see out the 10th and final round to take control of the cards as he put the onus on Habazine while giving himself two more clinical left hooks to produce.
“I didn’t think it could get any better than qualifying for the Olympics and winning, but on nights like this I just wanted to say to the people who have supported me for 20 years, we’re an incredible city,” Jonas said. I am so proud to represent the city.”
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