A year ago, Natasha Jonas had failed to win her last two bouts. The decorated amateur had seemed nailed on to win a world title after turning pro but, at the age of 37, that door looked closed. A draw with Terri Harper for the WBC super featherweight championship was followed by a loss to Katie Taylor for the undisputed lightweight title. A career that had entered the stratosphere when Jonas became the first female to box for Team GB at London 2012, looked to be heading towards a conclusion.
Fast forward 365 days and the amiable Liverpudlian is the unified WBC and WBO super welterweight champion of the world. Jonas took the gamble of her life, going up three weight divisions to face WBO boss Chris Namus in February. She was victorious via an emphatic two-round TKO victory. After a controversial draw with Harper and a narrow points reverse to Taylor, the 38-year-old was leaving nothing to chance.
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Jonas’ destiny was fulfilled, the promise she had shown as an icon of 2012 finally realised. But she wasn’t stopping there. September saw the Scouse superstar score a unanimous decision win over previously-unbeaten WBC champion Patricia Berghult. A year ago, the dream of a world title could not have been further away. After an incredible annum, Jonas now has two belts to show for her incredible efforts.
Jonas can cap off a dream 2022 this Saturday as she faces Marie-Eve Dicaire. The IBF super welterweight champion is Tasha’s toughest challenge since Taylor. An accomplished 18-1 champion, Dicaire’s sole defeat came at the hands of the future Hall of Famer, Claressa Shields. The Canadian starts as the betting underdog, but she is far more threatening than the odds suggest.
If Jonas can defeat Dicaire, she would make a compelling argument to be crowned Boxer of the Year. She has rebounded from world title disappointment that would have ended lesser fighter’s careers. Not only that, she will have competed for a different world title belt in all three of her bouts in a year. Win them all and it is hard to see past Jonas’ achievements in the last twelve months.
In a sport where the fabled ‘0’ is prized above all else, Natasha Jonas is proof that one can often learn more from adversity than victory. Without her setbacks at lower weights, the Liverpool puncher might never have found her true weight division. Super welterweight appears to suit Jonas better than super featherweight or lightweight ever did. Without those defeats, would the unified champion have savoured her current success as much? Is she a better fighter for sharing ten rounds with the likes of the legendary Taylor? The answer is undoubtedly a resounding “yes”.
Whatever happens on Saturday night, Jonas has secured her legacy. Nobody can take away her achievements, even if she leaves Manchester without her treasured belts. But she isn’t done just yet. Get through the challenge of Dicaire and Jonas will be just one belt away from undisputed status. 2022 has been the year of Natasha Jonas. 2023 might just start to solidify her era.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
