Price Overpowers Jonas To Unify At 147
Lauren Price dominated Natasha Jonas to add the IBF, and WBC Welterweight Titles to her IBO, WBA and Ring Magazine Belts with a unanimous decision win: 98-93, 100-90, 98-92.
Price showed that she was the far superior fighter from the off, as her physicality and power was too much for Jonas, who struggled to get a foothold. Price found her range by landing the right hand in the opening round. She was quicker to the punch, as her jab continued to find the target. Price also found joy with her counter right hook and left hand in the second round. A left-right combination peppered Jonas in round three, as the latter was gunshy and out of ideas.
It was the same story moving into the second half of the fight. In round seven, Price landed a right hook flush on Jonas. Another counter punch popped Jonas’ head backwards in the ninth, as the 40-year-old had to change something. She needed a knockout to secure the win, which never looked like coming, as Price coasted to victory. Lauren will now target an Undisputed Welterweight Championship fight with Mikaela Mayer, who holds the final WBO belt. Meanwhile, Jonas has to question whether it is the right time to retire from the sport.
Post-Fight
“I knew obviously Tash, she’d be quick to start off. It was all about using my angles, using my speed, using my jab, using my feints. And I thought my right hook worked pretty well tonight. And like always, using my feet. They helped me in the amateurs, that’s what won me the Olympic gold medal and it’s going to get me to the top in the pros. I honestly believe I can become undisputed. I want to go on. [And] I want to create a lasting legacy. I want to follow in the footsteps of Katie Taylor. It started with [beating Jessica] McCaskill and now Jonas. So the winner of Mayer and Sandy I’d like next,” Price
“She was just too fast. She just beat me to the punch every time. And I was trying to work out a way to get around and get shots off. I was trying to land one big shot instead of putting the combinations together. I think emotions are running high right now. And [trainer Joe Gallagher] has been asking me to retire for a very long time. And I actually enjoy sitting next to you Andy, and [Sky Sports commentators] Anna [Smith] and Johnny [Nelson] and commentating on everyone else’s performances, so maybe we will have that afterwards. For right now, I’m going to go home and spend some time with my daughter,” Jonas said
Full Card
Lauren Price defeated Natasha Jonas to win the WBC and IBF titles and keep the WBA and Ring Magazine welterweight belts.
Caroline Dubois beat Bo Mi Re Shin by majority decision to keep the WBC lightweight title.
Karriss Artingstall defeated Raven Chapman by unanimous decision to win the British featherweight title.
Jasmina Zapotoczna beat Chloe Watson by split decision to win the European flyweight title.
Francesca Hennessy won on points against Gemma Ruegg in a super bantamweight fight.
Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.
