Natasha Jonas is relishing the prospect of writing her name into the history books when she takes on Kandi Wyatt for the vacant IBF welterweight title at the AO Arena.
This Saturday night in Manchester, Jonas will attempt to become a two-division world champion when she drops down in weight to face Canadian Wyatt. After a memorable 2022, in which she won WBC, IBF and WBO super-welterweight belts, Jonas also became the first female fighter to be named Boxer of the Year by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Jonas had hoped to return to the ring as early as possible following her win over Marie Eve Dicaire last November, but her return was then delayed due to scheduling issues. Now, however, she is ready to make her mark and continue where she left off last year.
"I think I’m Liverpool’s first; definitely not the country's first, I don’t think, but yeah, it is another piece of history that I want," she told the ECHO.
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Reflecting on her time out of the ring, Jonas said: "It was a bit of a learning curve for me. I’m not used to being out of the ring.
"I had a long time out before I fought Terri Harper and a long time out before facing Katie Taylor. I believe the key for me last year was being fight-ready all of the time and taking the opportunities when they came.
"Unfortunately this year, I must have used all my luck last year before this year. I just haven’t been as lucky, and I haven’t had as many opportunities.
"We spent so long trying to get the Claressa Shields fight to happen, but that hasn’t happened, and that meant I was off the March show.
"I was then supposed to be out in April on the undercard of Josh Taylor against Jack Catterall, but that obviously got cancelled.
"Nothing then happened in May, and they were like, wait for the big show in June, and then I waited for the big show in June, and then it was delayed another two weeks.
"Now we are fighting in July, and the last time I fought was in November. It has been a long, frustrating road, but like I said, it is just one of those things.
"As a professional boxer, it is what happens, and you have just got to roll with it. I had a good run of fortune last year, and it is what it is."
