Jonas edges Mayer via split decision in a banger to retain title
A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.
Natasha Jonas notched the best win of her career in a pitched battle with Mikaela Mayer, but it was by no means easy and it came with controversy.
Jonas won a disputed split decision over Mayer to retain the IBF women’s welterweight title for the first time in an all-out slugfest that headlined a Boxxer card on Saturday at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, Jonas’ hometown.
After they finished hammering each other for the entire fight, British judge Michael Alexander had it 96-95 and American judge Frank Lombardi had it 96-94, both for Jonas, and German judge Diana Drews Milani had it 97-93 for Mayer, whose two career losses have both been by split decision in world title fights in England.
Fight Freaks Unite also had it 96-94 for Jonas, who appeared to put many of the early rounds in the bank before Mayer came on.
Please upgrade to a paid subscription for full access to the rest of this post and all posts and comments — and also help support independent journalism
Make sure to check out the 2023 Fight Freaks Unite award stories