Natasha Jonas

{{Short description|British boxer (born 1984)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox boxer

| name = Natasha Jonas
{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}

| image size = 30

| realname = Natasha Jonas

| nickname = Tasha

| weight = {{plainlist|

}}

| height = 5 ft 8 in {{Cite web|url= https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Google_logo_%282010-2013%29.svg}}

| reach =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984

|6|18|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Liverpool, England

| website = {{URL|natashajonas.co.uk}}

| style = Southpaw

| total = 20

| wins = 16

| KO = 9

| losses = 3

| draws = 1

| no contests =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Women's amateur boxing}}

{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}

{{MedalComp|World Championships}}

{{MedalBronze|2012 Qinhuangdao|Lightweight}}

{{MedalComp|European Championships}}

{{MedalSilver|2014 Bucharest|Light-welterweight}}

{{MedalBronze|2011 Rotterdam|Light-welterweight}}

}}

Natasha Jonas (born 18 June 1984) is a British professional boxer is a two weight world champion who held the unified WBC, and WBO female light-middleweight titles between 2022 and 2025. As an amateur, she won a bronze medal in the light-welterweight division at the 2011 European Championships; bronze in the lightweight division at the 2012 AIBA World Championships; and silver in the light-welterweight division at the 2014 European Championships.

Amateur career

Jonas took up boxing in 2005 and by 2010 she had won five ABA Championships in the 64 kg Division for Liverpool club Rotunda ABC.{{Cite web |url=http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/boxing/1027891/n_jonas.html |title=Commonwealth Games Biography – Natasha Jonas |date=8 August 2014 |accessdate=17 August 2015 }} In 2009 she became the first female boxer to compete for GB Boxing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/60130503|title=Jonas targets third world title bid|work=BBC Sport }} In the same year she claimed gold in the 64 kg division at the 2009 Women's European Union Amateur Boxing Championships in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, after she overcame Csilla Csejtei of Hungary in the final. Jonas another gold medal in the inaugural GB Amateur Boxing Championships in 2010, when she pipped rival Amanda Coulson by one point in an exciting bout in front of her home fans at Liverpool's Echo Arena.

=2012 AIBA Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships=

Jonas made history in Qinhuangdao, China in May 2012, when she reached the semi-finals of the 2012 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships to become the first ever female British boxer to qualify for an Olympic Games, she then went on to take the bronze medal and a place in the 2012 London Olympics back to Liverpool with her.

=2012 Olympic Games=

Jonas became the first ever British female boxer to compete at an Olympic Games. Jonas faced Quanitta Underwood of the United States in the round of 16, Jonas emphatically beat Underwood, 21:13 winning three of the four rounds boxed.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/05/olympic-womens-boxing-natasha-jonas-wins |title=Olympic women's boxing: Natasha Jonas wins Britain's first female bout |work=The Guardian |accessdate=22 July 2015}} Her wins set up a quarter-final bout with four-time World Champion, and Ireland's flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony, Katie Taylor. Jonas lost heavily to Taylor 26:15.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/06/olympic-womens-boxing-taylor-britain-jonas |title=Olympic women's boxing: Katie Taylor beats Britain's Natasha Jonas |work=The Guardian |accessdate=22 July 2015}}

Professional career

Jonas made her professional boxing debut against Monika Antonik at the Walker Activity Dome in Newcastle, England, on 23 June 2017, winning by stoppage just 92 seconds into the first round.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/40388875|title=Natasha Jonas: British Olympian wins first professional fight in 92 seconds|work=BBC Sport |date=23 June 2017 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/boxing/natasha-jonas-marks-professional-debut-13234424|title=Natasha Jonas marks professional debut with stunning stoppage in the first round|date=24 June 2017 |publisher=Liverpool Echo|accessdate=17 December 2024}}

In her 11th pro-fight, she challenged WBC and IBO female super-featherweight champion Terri Harper at Matchroom Headquarters in Brentwood, England, on 7 August 2020, with the bout ending in a split draw. One ringside judge scored the contest 96-94 for Harper, one had it 96-95 for Jonas and the third gave it as a 95-95 tie.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/53702573|title=Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas share a thrilling draw in world-title bout at Fight Camp|work=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2020 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/12044872/harper-vs-jonas-terri-harper-retains-wbc-super-featherweight-title-after-split-decision-draw-with-natasha-jonas|title=Harper vs Jonas: Terri Harper retains WBC title after split decision draw with Natasha Jonas|work=Sky Sports |accessdate=17 December 2024}}

Switching weights, Jonas took on unified female lightweight champion Katie Taylor in her next outing at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, on 1 May 2021, losing by unanimous decision with two of the ringside judges giving the fight to her opponent 96-95 and the third seeing the contest as 96-94.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/56959383|title=Katie Taylor beats Natasha Jonas in thrilling fight to retain world titles|work=BBC Sport |date=May 2021 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boxing/katie-taylor-natasha-jonas-fight-result-b1840803.html|title=Katie Taylor edges Natasha Jonas to defend lightweight titles in thriller|work=The Independent|date=May 2021 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}

Again changing weight divisions, she won her first professional world title at her third attempt by stopping Chris Namús in round two of their fight for the vacant WBO female super-welterweight championship at Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, on 19 February 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/60436222|title=Natasha Jonas beats Christian Namus to become WBO light-middleweight champion|work=BBC Sport |date=19 February 2022 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/natasha-jonas-demolishes-chris-namus-two-captures-wbo-title-results--164232|title=Natasha Jonas Demolishes Chris Namus in Two, Captures WBO Title|publisher=Boxing Scene|accessdate=17 December 2024}}

In her next bout, and at the same venue, Jonas became a unified world champion by defeating WBC female super-welterweight title holder Patricia Berghult via unanimous decision on 3 September 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/62750250|title=Natasha Jonas: Briton beats Patricia Berghult to become unified super-welterweight world champion|work=BBC Sport |date=3 September 2022 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/34517999/natasha-jonas-tops-patricia-berghult-become-wbc-wbo-junior-middleweight-champion|title=Natasha Jonas tops Patricia Berghult to become WBC, WBO junior middleweight champion|date=3 September 2022 |publisher=ESPN|accessdate=17 December 2024}}

She added the IBF and The Ring female super-welterweight titles to her collection with a unanimous decision win over Marie-Eve Dicaire at the AO Arena in Manchester on 12 November 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/12745678/natasha-jonas-defeats-marie-eve-dicaire-to-unify-the-ibf-wbc-and-wbo-super-welterweight-world-titles|title=Natasha Jonas defeats Marie-Eve Dicaire to unify the IBF, WBC and WBO super-welterweight world titles|work=Sky Sports |accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/63612179|title=Natasha Jonas beats Marie-Eve Dicaire on points to win IBF light-middleweight title|work=BBC Sport |date=12 November 2022 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}

Jonas was named the British Boxing Board of Control's British Boxer of the Year for 2022, becoming the first woman to win the accolade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/12832241/natasha-jonas-becomes-first-woman-to-win-british-fighter-of-the-year-at-british-boxing-board-of-control-awards|title=Natasha Jonas becomes first woman to win British Boxer of the Year at British Boxing Board of Control awards|website=Sky Sports}}

She became a two-weight world champion on 1 July 2023, when she stopped Kandi Wyatt in round eight of their fight at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, to claim the vacant IBF female welterweight belt.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/66035037|title=Natasha Jonas: Liverpool fighter becomes two-weight world champion with TKO win against Kandi Wyatt|work=BBC Sport |date=July 2023 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tntsports.co.uk/boxing/natasha-jonas-becomes-two-weight-world-champion-with-easy-stoppage-win-over-candi-wyatt_sto9680965/story.shtml|title=Natasha Jonas becomes two-weight world champion with easy stoppage win over Candi Wyatt|publisher=TNT Sports|accessdate=17 December 2024}}

Back at Liverpool's Echo Arena, Jonas retained her title with a split decision win over Mikaela Mayer on 20 January 2024. Two of the ringside judges gave her the bout 96-94, 96-95 respectively, with the other scoring it 97-93 to her opponent.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/68041230|title=Natasha Jonas v Mikaela Mayer: Briton retains welterweight world title by split decision|work=BBC Sport |date=20 January 2024 |accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://bigfightweekend.com/news/natasha-jonas-beats-mikaela-mayer/|title=Natasha Jonas Retains World Title Against Mikaela Mayer|date=20 January 2024 |publisher=Big Fight Weekend|accessdate=17 December 2024}}

She became a unified world champion for a second time by defeating WBC female welterweight title holder Ivana Habazin via unanimous decision at the Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, England, on 14 December 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/natasha-jonas-defeats-ivana-habazin-in-front-of-her-liverpool-supporters-to-set-up-lauren-price-clash--200771|title=Natasha Jonas defeats Ivana Habazin in front of her Liverpool supporters to set up Lauren Price clash|publisher=Boxing Scene|accessdate=14 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/13273293/natasha-jonas-beats-ivana-habazin-in-liverpool-to-set-up-lauren-price-clash-in-2025|title=Natasha Jonas beats Ivana Habazin in Liverpool to set up Lauren Price clash in 2025|publisher=Sky Sports|accessdate=14 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/articles/c0q0gy82kp3o|title=Price & Jonas both win to set up unification bout|date=14 December 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=15 December 2024}}

Jonas was scheduled to face WBA, IBO and The Ring female welterweight champion Lauren Price at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, on 7 March 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/43017124/natasha-jonas-vs-lauren-price-confirmed-march-7|title=Natasha Jonas vs Lauren Price confirmed for March 7|date=17 December 2024 |publisher=Boxing Scene|accessdate=17 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/articles/c0q08y0qv7lo|title=Price v Jonas unification fight agreed for March|date=17 December 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=17 December 2024}} Jonas lost the fight by unanimous decision.{{cite news |title=Price dominates Jonas to become unified champ |url=https://www.espn.com.au/football/story/_/id/44150677/lauren-price-natasha-jonas-unified-welterweight-champion |work=ESPN.com |date=7 March 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Iskenderov |first1=Parviz |title=Lauren Price bests Natasha Jonas to unify titles |url=https://www.fightmag.com/photos-lauren-price-bests-natasha-jonas-to-unify-titles/ |work=FIGHTMAG |date=8 March 2025}}{{cite news |title=Jonas vs Price: Welsh world champion unifies welterweight division with dominant win |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/articles/cn4ylxmxd1go |work=BBC Sport |date=7 March 2025}}

Professional boxing record

{{BoxingRecordSummary

|draws=1

|nc=

|ko-wins=9

|ko-losses=1

|dec-wins=7

|dec-losses=2

|dq-wins=0

|dq-losses=0

}}

class=wikitable style=text-align:center
{{abbr|No.|Number}}

!Result

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Round, time

!Date

!Location

!Notes

20

|{{no2}}Loss

|{{nowrap|16–3–1}}

|align=left|Lauren Price

|UD

|10

|7 March 2025

| align=left|{{small|Royal Albert Hall, London, England}}

|align=left|{{small|Lost IBF,WBC female welterweight titles;
For WBA female welterweight title}}

19

|{{yes2}}Win

|{{nowrap|16–2–1}}

|align=left|Ivana Habazin

|UD

|10

|14 Dec 2024

|align=left|{{small|Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, England}}

|align=left|{{small|Retained IBF female welterweight title;
Won WBC female welterweight title}}

18

|{{yes2}}Win

|15–2–1

|align=left|Mikaela Mayer

|SD

|10

|20 Jan 2024

|align=left|{{small|Echo Arena, Liverpool, England}}

|align=left|{{small|Retained IBF female welterweight title}}

17

|{{yes2}}Win

|14–2–1

|align=left|Kandi Wyatt

|TKO

|8 (10)

|1 July 2023

|align=left|{{small|AO Arena, Manchester, England}}

|align=left|{{small|Won vacant IBF female welterweight title}}

16

|{{yes2}}Win

|13–2–1

|align=left|Marie-Eve Dicaire

|UD

|10

|12 Nov 2022

|align=left|{{small|AO Arena, Manchester, England}}

|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC and WBO female light-middleweight titles}}
{{small|Won IBF, and The Ring female light-middleweight titles}}

15

|{{yes2}}Win

|12–2–1

|align=left|Patricia Berghult

|UD

|10

|3 Sep 2022

|align=left|{{small|Echo Arena, Liverpool, England}}

|align=left|{{small|Retained WBO female light-middleweight title}};
{{small|Won WBC female light-middleweight title}}

14

|{{yes2}}Win

|11–2–1

|align=left|Chris Namús

|TKO

|2 (10), {{small|0:28}}

|19 Feb 2022

|align=left|{{small|AO Arena, Manchester, England}}

|align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBO female light-middleweight title}}

13

|{{yes2}}Win

|10–2–1

|align=left|Vaida Masiokaite

|UD

|6

|20 Nov 2021

|align=left|{{small|Wembley Arena, Wembley, England}}

|align=left|

12

|{{no2}}Loss

|9–2–1

|align=left|Katie Taylor

|UD

|10

|1 May 2021

|align=left|{{small|AO Arena, Manchester, England}}

|align=left|{{small|For WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring female lightweight titles}}

11

|{{draw}}Draw

|9–1–1

|align=left|Terri Harper

|{{abbr|SD|Split draw}}

|10

|7 Aug 2020

|align=left|{{small|Matchroom Headquarters, Brentwood, England}}

|align=left|{{small|For WBC and IBO female super-featherweight titles}}

10

|{{yes2}}Win

|9–1

|align=left|Bianka Majlath

|TKO

|2 (6), {{small|0:30}}

|15 Nov 2019

|align=left|{{small|Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England}}

|align=left|

9

|{{yes2}}Win

|8–1

|align=left|Bec Connolly

|TKO

|4 (6), {{small|1:07}}

|12 Jul 2019

|align=left|{{small|Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England}}

|align=left|

8

|{{yes2}}Win

|7–1

|align=left|Feriche Mashauri

|PTS

|6

|30 Mar 2019

|align=left|{{small|Echo Arena, Liverpool, England}}

|align=left|

7

|{{no2}}Loss

|6–1

|align=left|Viviane Obenauf

|TKO

|4 (10), {{small|1:42}}

|4 Aug 2018

|align=left|{{small|Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff, Wales}}

|align=left|{{small|Lost WBA International female super-featherweight title}}

6

|{{yes2}}Win

|6–0

|align=left|Taoussy L'Hadji

|TKO

|7 (10), {{small|1:44}}

|21 Apr 2018

|align=left|{{small|Echo Arena, Liverpool, England}}

|align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBA International female super-featherweight title}}

5

|{{yes2}}Win

|5–0

|align=left|Karina Kopinska

|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}

|6

|25 Feb 2018

|align=left|{{small|Victoria Warehouse Hotel, Manchester, England}}

|align=left|

4

|{{yes2}}Win

|4–0

|align=left|Katarina Vistica

|TKO

|2 (6), {{small|1:21}}

|16 Dec 2017

|align=left|{{small|Leisure Centre, Oldham, England}}

|align=left|

3

|{{yes2}}Win

|3–0

|align=left|Marianna Gulyas

|TKO

|3 (6), {{small|1:23}}

|13 Oct 2017

|align=left|{{small|York Hall, London, England}}

|align=left|

2

|{{yes2}}Win

|2–0

|align=left|Bojana Libiszewska

|TKO

|4 (4), {{small|1:17}}

|30 Sep 2017

|align=left|{{small|Echo Arena, Liverpool, England}}

|align=left|

1

|{{yes2}}Win

|1–0

|align=left|Monika Antonik

|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}

|1 (4), {{small|1:32}}

|23 Jun 2017

|align=left|{{small|Walker Activity Dome, Newcastle, England}}

|align=left|

Manager

In 2023, Jonas became the first black woman to receive a manager's license from the British Boxing Board of Control.{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/fannation/boxing/natasha-jonas-makes-history-as-first-black-woman-boxing-manager#:~:text=Natasha%20Jonas%20has%20made%20history,was%20born%20in%20Liverpool%2C%20England | title=Natasha Jonas Makes History as First UK Black Woman Boxing Manager | date=20 October 2023 }}https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2023-10-16/natasha-jonas-bcomes-first-black-female-to-obtain-boxing-manager-license

Personal life

Initially intending to be a footballer, Jonas spent eighteen months at St. Peter's College in the United States on a football scholarship.{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/london-2012-natasha-jonas-is-fighting-1163229 |title=Proving her worth: Natasha Jonas is fighting for Team GB, for herself and to demonstrate that women's boxing is here to stay |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=24 July 2012 |first=Oliver |last=Holt |accessdate=21 July 2015}} After suffering an injury that ended her football career,Television interview with Judy Murray on Driving Force. she returned to the United Kingdom and studied media studies at Edge Hill University, Lancashire.{{cite web |title=Natasha Jonas |url=https://www.educatemagazine.com/natasha-jonas/ |website=Educate Magazine |access-date=25 January 2024 |date=16 January 2012}} She was employed for five years by Liverpool City Council and was a mentor for the Youth Sport Trust for four years, helping to promote sport and healthy lifestyles to school-age children.{{cite web |url=http://www.gbboxing.org.uk/news/natasha-jonas-hangs-up-her-gloves-686.php |title=Natasha Jonas hangs up her gloves |publisher=gbboxing.org.uk |date=7 April 2015 |accessdate=21 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711134142/http://www.gbboxing.org.uk/news/natasha-jonas-hangs-up-her-gloves-686.php |archive-date=11 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}

Jonas is an older sister of footballer Nikita Parris.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/get-inspired/23579610 |title=Natasha Jonas: From dinner scraps to Olympic boxing battles |date=6 August 2013 |first=Jessica |last=Creighton |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=21 July 2015}}

Jonas was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2025 Birthday Honours for services to boxing to the community in Liverpool.{{London Gazette

| issue = 64759

| date = 14 June 2025

| page = B21

| supp = y

}}

In the media

In July 2012, Jonas appeared alongside Tom Stalker and James Dickens in Channel 4 documentary, Knockout Scousers, which followed her to Czech Republic and China on her pursuit for Olympic qualification, a production which she also narrated. In August 2023, Jonas during her tour in Tanzania she appeared in Azam TV, where she shared her experience and motivated female local amateur boxers to encounter challenges they face in their careers towards substantial achievements in the sport.{{cite news |last1=TV |first1=Azam |title=Natasha Jonas, mkali wa ngumi kutoka England atua Tanzania na jambo|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPvNlElZocM| accessdate=16 September 2023 |work=AZAM Media}}{{cite news |publisher=Daily News |title=UK pugilist's tour boosts lady boxers|url=https://dailynews.co.tz/uk-pugilists-tour-boosts-lady-boxers/ |accessdate=16 September 2023 |work=TSN}}

A mural of her is in Liverpool, on Elwy Street off High Park Street, near the home she lived in as a child.{{Cite web|url=https://theguideliverpool.com/a-new-mural-celebrating-boxing-world-champion-natasha-jonas-has-been-unveiled-in-toxteth/|title=A new mural celebrating boxing world champion Natasha Jonas has been unveiled in Toxteth.|date=18 January 2024|website=The Guide Liverpool}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}