Natasha Jonas vs Patricia Berghult: Winner Unifies WBC & WBO Titles
In her last match, Liverpool native Natasha Jonas (11-2-1, 8 KO’s) secured the vacant WBO super welterweight strap by stopping Chris Namus. Now, her first title defense will also stand as a unification. This is due to Jonas signing up for a September 3 showdown with WBC champion Patricia Berghult (15-0, 3 KO’s). The significant bout will take place under the hot lights of the Echo Arena located in Jonas’s own Liverpool backyard.
Jonas has already proved her mettle by becoming an 2012 Olympian, and giving as good as she got when splitting a losing effort to undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor and a draw with Terri Harper. Although, there are many who still openly question the draw to Harper and promoter Eddie Hearn has expressed interest on staging a rematch. Despite the previous hurdles, now armed with her WBO title, Jonas has every intention of letting her star shine two belts brighter!
Berghult will be no push-over however. Similar to Jonas, the WBC champion picked up the strap, when vacant, by besting Olivia Belkace late in 2021. Two years earlier to the day on November 27, 2019, Berghult defeated proven fighter and current WBA champion Hannah Rankin.
Originally, the WBC champion was set to face former undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus on August 13. The bout marked Braekhus’ comeback after losing a second time to current undisputed welterweight champ Jessica McCaskill and her first bout within the 154lbs limit. However, the match-up has since been called off.
Now, Berghult’s swiftly approaching dust-up against Jonas will also be her first title defense. Let’s see what fireworks these two fighters can ignite!
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By: Bakari Simpson
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