Natasha Jonas: “I’m Up To Fight Anyone Who Has A Belt”

Natasha Jonas Looking for the Big Fights

On August 7, UK fighter Natasha Jonas (9-1-1, 7 KO’s) staged the biggest fight of her career against WBC and IBO world super featherweight champion Terri Harper (10-0-1, 5 KO’s). It was her first attempt at a world title. Unfortunately for her, Jonas would have to settle for a draw rather than a victory. Yet there was no great shame, or controversy, in this outcome.

Over the course of the bout, each woman enjoyed their success. Both clearly hurt their opponents at different points in the match-up.

Given the highly competitive and entertaining nature of the prizefight, many boxing fans assumed a rematch was going to circle back around quickly. There were even talks that the two females would mix it up again fairly rapidly. However, those plans have gone up in smoke.

CURVEBALLS THROWN

The WBC has since ordered Terri Harper to take on Katharina “Katy” Thanderz (13-0, 2 KO’s). In her last fight, on November 16, 2019, Thanderz defeated Danila “A Guerreira” Ramos (8-2, 1 KO’s) to pick up the interim WBC world super featherweight title. Despite losing her shot at an immediate rematch, Jonas is in no way discouraged by the situation, as she told Boxing Social.

“I don’t blame Terri for not wanting to fight me next. We’ve seen with Dillian Whyte that rematches can be made as instantly as possible. So if Terri and Eddie [Hearn] wanted that rematch straight away, we would have got it and that is all that I will say. I am not trying to disrespect anyone, but that’s the truth.”

While she clearly would have wanted the quick do-over, Jonas is hopeful that she will fight Harper in the relative near future.

“I think the idea is that she has a fight, I have a fight before the end of the year and then we meet again early next year. Like I said, that is the fight that I wanted. I’ve always said that all along I wanted a WBC belt. But any belt is good enough for me now, I’m in the position that I am in. My profile raised, I’m happy to be back mentioned in the likes of Katie Taylor, mentioned in the likes of [WBC, WBA IBF, WBO and IBF world welterweight champion Jessica] McCaskill, mentioned in the likes of Terri. And yet I just want to keep that movement going forward and fight anyone who’s got a belt.”

FOCUSED ON THE BEST

Ultimately though, Jonas is not suffering from tunnel vision solely chasing Harper. Rather than blindly pursuing the Yorkshire native, Natasha Jonas is focused on becoming a world champion.

“There is no point dwelling on it, what the decision is, the decision is. And I’ve just got to make sure it’s better next time. As I say, there’s other people out there. I’ve proved that I am at that level. There is McCaskill, there’s [Cecilia] Braekhus. I can easily go up in weight, I’m a big super feather once I am in the ring. And there is possibly fights with other champions…there’s big fights out there for women’s boxing, especially when you’re around the super featherweight and lightweight division.”

Given her positive mind-state and elevated reputation, it will be interesting to see what fight Jonas can secure next.

By: Bakari Simpson

Featured Article: Gary Russell On Haney: “We Definitely Trying To Make This Fight Happen”