Natasha Jonas beats Ivana Habazin in Liverpool to set up Lauren Price feud in 2025 | Boxing news

Natasha Jonas battled Lauren Price as she defeated Ivana Habazin by unanimous decision to claim the IBF and WBC welterweight titles in Liverpool on Saturday night.

Jonas and Price both won the event called ‘Collision Course’ for a reason, the latter beating Bexcy Mateus earlier in the evening to successfully defend his world titles.

It marked what is expected to be Jonas’ last fight in her hometown of Liverpool as she nears retirement, with Price now looking forward to what could represent one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing history.

Jonas returned to the ring for the first time since Mikaela Mayer in January, scoring the fight 99-92, 99-91, 100-90 on the cards and improving her record to 16-2-1.

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“I think we all know what the script is, we’re going to do what I have to do to get where I have to go,” Jonas said.

Jonas was joined by Price in the ring after the fight as both of them but confirmed that they will go toe-to-toe next year.

“100 percent,” Price said. “Coming into this, Collision Course, we knew what was about to happen. Let’s make it a great night in 2025.

“It was a good performance, he won every round, he did what he had to do, move on to next year. Enjoy your Christmas, have a good camp, and see you soon.”

Jonas responded and insisted: “Be careful what you wish for!”

An open cage on the right hand didn’t see the striker get a clear or significant shot in the first round, before it was Jonas who lifted the crowd with a right hand to trouble Habazin for the second time.

Habazin responded by jumping in with a well-timed left counter to give his corner a welcome boost and remind everyone that there were two people in this fight.

Jonas upped the tempo early in the third as he capitalized on a missed pass from Habazin to hit the door and hit the spot.

The Liverpudlian then rocked Habazin with a ferocious strike in the fourth before starting to see off the finish, backing the defensive Croatian on the ropes but struggling to land a final punch.

Habazin, to his credit, recovered to reset his attack and close the round with a right hook Jonas was smart to deflect.

The fifth saw Jonas work behind a sharp counter that was met with a hard right to take Habazin’s head, before he began to control the tempo of the sixth forcing miss after miss as he tried his smartest attacks.

At this point, Jonas was in control, again passing to Habazin’s right to begin his counterattack with both fighters locked in the ropes.

Habazin was as tough as he was written, but he was no match for the wily Jonas when he decided to work in front.

There were rare drops in the ninth when Habazin landed a right hand in front of Jonas, who pulled him well before firing a sharp jab at the end of the round.

Looking at the cards, Jonas only needed to see the 10th and final round as he put the advantage on Habazin and gave himself time to land two clinical left hooks.

“I never thought it would get any better than trying out and winning at the Olympics, but on a night like this, I just want to say that the people who have supported me for 20 years, we are an incredible city,” Jonas said. “I’m proud to represent this city.”

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury’s heavyweight rematch will be on Saturday December 21 on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Usyk v Fury 2 now!