Natasha Jonas vs Mikaela Mayer LIVE: Result tonight as Briton retains title in enthralling bout
Re-live updates after Natasha Jonas defended the IBF welterweight title in her hometown of Liverpool, against America’s Mikaela Mayer
Natasha Jonas retained the IBF welterweight title in a thrilling clash with Mikaela Mayer on Saturday, beating her challenger via split decision in Liverpool.
Fighting in front of a hometown crowd, Jonas was forced to dig deep against Mayer, who was making her debut in the division. In the early rounds, Mayer – a former super-featherweight champion – was chasing Jonas, whose wise shot selection and naturally greater power was proving the difference.
However, the American challenger began to find her rhythm as the bout progressed, varying her offence and backing up Jonas, 39. Mayer, 33, seemed to be pulling ahead, leaving Jonas arguably needing to win the final few rounds to emerge from the fight with her championship status intact.
What followed was an enthralling series of rounds, which could have gone either way, as each boxer brutalised the other to the body. Ultimately, Jonas emerged a split-decision winner, as the scorecards read 96-94, 93-97, 96-95 in favour of the two-weight champion.
Re-live updates and results below.
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Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Karriss Artingstall vs Lila dos Santos Furtado
Round two
Furtado is seemingly unperturbed by that knockdown, as she gets right after Artingstall, throwing herself into close range.
Furtado lands a few sporadic rights and lefts, but Artingstall looks unfazed. The Briton carries much more power, evidently.
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Karriss Artingstall vs Lila dos Santos Furtado
Round one
Furtado stands orthodox; Artingstall stands southpaw. Lots of jabs from both fighters early.
A one-two is off target for Furtado. Now she sees a cross parried.
Well-timed counter cross by Artingstall, then a pair of slick jabs.
Furtado misses with a few hooks, before Artingstall times another counter cross well.
OH! And right on the bell, she floors Furtado with a one-two! Furtado stands, and there’s some confusion as the referee guides her to her corner and she takes a seat; her corner had already put her stool down!
The referee affords some leeway, though.
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Karriss Artingstall vs Lila dos Santos Furtado
Next up, Karriss Artingstall takes on Lila dos Santos Furtado at featherweight!
Artingstall, 29, is a former soldier who has built a 5-0 pro record.
Will the Cheshire fighter stay unbeaten tonight? She wastes no time in making her way to the ring, sporting camouflage-themed gear.
Furtado is all smiles in the opposite corner.
Eight two-minute rounds scheduled here.
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Ste Clarke vs Vasif Mamedov
Lots of chants for Clarke as he gives his first post-fight interview as a pro.
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Ste Clarke vs Vasif Mamedov
Round three
Good roll by Mamedov, who then unfurls a strong left hook. Clarke jabs to the body then follows up with heavy hooks to the head – one left, one right.
Clean left hook to the head by Mamedov! It’s really well timed, but Clarke is unfazed! In fact, the Liverpudlian presses forward now, as if to punish Mamedov for having the audacity to land that shot.
OH! Mamedov turns his back on Clarke and complains of a shot to the back of the head, but the referee doesn’t agree! Clarke seizes the opportunity to pour on some (legal) unanswered shots while Mamedov’s back is turned, and the referee steps in to award him the win!
It seems he deemed that Mamedov didn’t want to keep fighting. That should have been a warning or docked point for Mamedov in my opinion – not necessarily a stoppage.
1:53 is the time of the finish.
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Ste Clarke vs Vasif Mamedov
Round two
A lot of noise from the crowd as Clarke starts the second round on the front foot.
Decent counter left hook by Mamedov, as Clarke gets a bit carried away, perhaps.
Clarke feints upstairs and propels a right cross at the body of Mamedov. A teasing one-two gets through Mamedov’s high guard now.
No set-up for this one: Clarke just lands a clean right hook!
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Ste Clarke vs Vasif Mamedov
Round one
Good fundamentals from Clarke early on. The hometown favourite is boxing well behind his jab.
Now he curls some hooks around Mamedov’s guard – both upstairs and to the body.
Clean one-two by Clarke! Mamedov replies with a grazing right hook, now a grazing left.
Mamedov’s nose is already sporting clear signs of damage.
More good jabs from Clarke. In the best sense, he looks like a video-game boxer: very pronounced movements and clean technique from him.
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Ste Clarke vs Vasif Mamedov
Next up, Liverpool’s own Ste Clarke makes his professional debut! The 22-year-old reportedly sold 1,000 of tonight’s 7,500 tickets!
He faces off with Vasif Mamedov at middleweight.
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Aaron McKenna def. Mickey Ellison
McKenna stays unbeaten and calls for a bout with Chris Eubank Jr. “If he’s struggling to find a fight...”
It’s ambitious of McKenna, but fair play!
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Aaron McKenna vs Mickey Ellison
Round six
Ellison seems to be suffering from an injury to his right hand. McKenna gets right after the Englishman.
Ellison’s corner seems poised in case they need to save their fighter here, but he shows them something with some decent jabs.
McKenna lands a one-two to the head and a couple of solid left hooks.
And another! Now he works the body. Ellison is truggling in there...
McKenna lands a series of powerful shots, and the towel comes in!!
2:21 is the time of the stoppage in this sixth round.
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