Former unified super-featherweight world champion Mikaela Mayer will step up three weight classes to challenge two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KOs) for her IBF world welterweight title on Saturday, January 20th, at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.
The main card for this event starts at 2 p.m. ET live on ESPN+. Natasha Jonas will be making the first defense of her IBF title in front of a hometown crowd. The Los Angeles, California native Mikaela Mayer is planning on playing the role of spoiler as her goal is to defeat Jonas and bring the IBF title back to the U.S.
In her 14th professional bout back in October 2020, Mikaela Mayer won her first world title when she defeated Ewa Brodnicka by unanimous decision. A year after winning the vacant WBO super-featherweight strap, Mayer beat Maiva Hamadouche and won the IBF super-featherweight title.
Already a unified champion, Mayer would attempt to win a third belt when she faced the then-WBC super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner. Mayer and Baumgardner are heated rivals who had a hard time being in the same place at the same time.
After having multiple near confrontations during the build-up for their fight, Mayer and Baumgardner finally faced each other in the ring back in October 2022. Mayer got off to a fast start, but Baumgardner was more effective in the second half of the match.
At the conclusion of 10-rounds, Alycia Baumgardner was awarded the split-decision victory. Mayer would bounce back by collecting two unanimous decision victories in 2023. The former unified champion was seeking another shot at a world title, and opportunity came knocking three division north of super-featherweight.
Now Mikaela Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs) is making the jump from 130 to 147 to face Natasha Jonas. Mayer wanted this particular fight because it was the easiest world title fight to make. The defending champion, Natasha Jonas, accepted this fight because she wanted Mayer’s name to be added to her record of victories.
Natasha Jonas is a southpaw who can adapt to any style due to her amateur pedigree. She’s a highly skilled boxer, and the only blemish on her record is a loss to the current two-weight undisputed champion, Katie Taylor.
Mikaela Mayer is also a highly skilled pro boxer who has a decorated amateur pedigree. Mayer strives to cement her legacy by consistently fighting the best of the best. She is going up three weight classes in an attempt to become a two-division world champion.
Despite the fact that she’s going up multiple divisions, Mayer is confident she will defeat the defending IBF world welterweight champion. Mayer also believes the additional weight will be beneficial for her.
“I think you’re going to see a better version of me. I’m a happier fighter. I’ve had a more enjoyable camp,” Mayer said. “I feel like I’m just at a more natural weight where I’ll be able to put on muscle, whereas before, I was constantly dieting down to a weight that wasn’t suitable for my body type.”
