Natasha Jonas v Chris Namus: Who Will Achieve Their Championship Dream?
Sometimes a fighter’s journey towards becoming a champion is filled with ups and downs. The showdown between two-time title challenger Natasha Jonas (10-2-1, 7 KO’s) and former champion Chris Namus (25-6, 8 KO’s) is the last shot at a title for both fighters.
Boxing is a sport where fighters typically get two or three chances at becoming a champion. However, fighters understand that at some point the opportunity they are given could be their last. This is the story of Jonas and Namus as both fighters are fighting for different reasons.
ANOTHER TURN AT BEING A CHAMPION
Namus is a 34-year-old fighter from Uruguay and a former IBF junior middleweight champion. She knows full well what it means to hold a championship title. However, her journey towards becoming a champion was not an easy one.
After overcoming her first career defeat at the hands of Lely Florez in 2009, she came up short on two occasions in title shots against then WBO junior welterweight champion Fernanda Soledad Alegre. In 2016, she would challenge then undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus only to come up short for the third time.
In 2017, Namus finally won a title, capturing the vacant IBF title before losing it to Marie Eve Dicaire in 2018. She will be facing Jonas for the vacant WBO title in a remarkable fifth title opportunity. Moreover, she understands that this could be the last chance to relive championship glory. So fans can look for the woman dubbed El Bombon Asesino to leave it all in the ring.
LOOKING TO FINALLY BECOMING A CHAMPION
Jonas’ success in the amateur ranks has not translated over into the professional level. She won a bronze medal in both the European and World Championships with a silver medal in the European Championship in 2012. She made history as the first British female fighter to compete in the 2012 Olympics Games. Jonas advanced to the quarter-finals before losing to current undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor.
The 37-year-old had to overcome an early career knockout by Viviane Obenauf for the WBA international title back in 2018. In 2020, she challenged WBC junior lightweight champion Terri Harper for the title and almost pulled off the upset. Several fans thought she should have gotten the nod.
Next, instead of getting a rematch with Harper, Jonas put on another excellent performance against Katie Taylor. However, she came up short in that amateur rematch for the undisputed lightweight crown.
Jonas will be entering a new division, fighting for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title. Many fans believe this to be her last opportunity at becoming a champion. She will undoubtedly fight with every ounce of energy she can muster in capturing that elusive title belt.
The journey for both fighters has been remarkable and is the undercard fight of the long-anticipated grudge match between Amir Khan and Kell Brook live on ESPN+ at the Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom.
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By: Garrisson Bland
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