Two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas (14-2-1) has decided that she is no longer willing to be patient to secure the biggest fights possible as the former 2012 Olympian continues her career at the highest level as her career continues into her twilight years.
The 39-year-old revealed her ideal wish list of opponents to Sky Sports before her career draws to a close. The Liverpudlian has a wish list of Katie Taylor, Chantelle Cameron and Lauren Price before she winds up her career. Taylor and Cameron are set to rematch each other in November following Cameron’s victory over Taylor in Dublin to retain her undisputed super-lightweight title.
“I don’t want to wait around. I haven’t got time on my side to be waiting around. It’s all about what makes sense,” she told Sky Sports.
Jonas and Taylor have shared a friendly and respectful rivalry as far back as their amateur days. Taylor defeated Jonas at the 2012 Olympic games before proceeding to claim a gold medal before the pair fought each other as professionals in May 2021. Taylor would successfully defend her undisputed lightweight world titles against Jonas but only by the narrowest of margins for a unanimous decision with scores being returned of 96-95x2 and one score 0f 96-94. Jonas has stated that she would like to have a victory over Taylor before she retires.
“I want to have a victory over Katie before I retire. Katie is definitely one of the ones on the hit list.”
Undisputed super-lightweight champion Cameron has a friendly relationship with Jonas and was used as a sparring partner for Jonas as she prepared to face the likes of Taylor and Terri Harper in the past. Furthermore, the pair were former amateur teammates on the Great Britain amateur step-up.
“Chantelle is the best fighter that we’ve got on these shores,” the Liverpudlian explained. “Chantelle helped me out with the [Terri] Harper fight, she’s helped me out with the Katie camps. We’ve known each other since GB and before that. We’ve got a long history of being friends and there is no animosity. It’s just this is just boxing business.”
The most realistic option for Jonas on who she will face on her list is most likely Lauren Price. Price is a Tokyo 2020 gold medal winner and former world amateur midweight champion. As a professional, Price competes at welterweight, of which Jonas currently holds the IBF version of the world title.
Despite Price being only four fights into her career, Jonas would welcome the opportunity to face Price and says it is a fight that makes sense.
“To me, right now it’s all about not wasting time,” the champion said. “If she hasn’t got a fight and she’s the one there, then that makes sense for me.”
