Jonas vs. Mayer will be on January 20. The main card starts at 2 p.m. ET. Jonas and Mayer should make their way to the ring around 5:30 pm ET.
Event Detail
Jonas vs. Mayer Information
Date Saturday, January 20
Start Time 7 p.m. UK / 2 p.m. ET
Main Event Ringwalks (Approx.) 10 p.m. UK / 5 p.m. ET
Natasha Jonas Record and Bio
Nationality British
Date of Birth June 18, 1984
Height 5′ 8″ Reach N/A
Total Fights 17 Record 14-2-1 (9 KOs)
Mikaela Mayer Record and Bio
Nationality American
Date of Birth July 4, 1990
Height 5′ 9″ Reach 66″
Total Fights 20 Record 19-1 (5 KOs)
Fight Card Main Event
Natasha Jonas vs Mikaela Mayer; For Jonas’ IBF welterweight title
Supporting Fights
Jack Cullen vs Zak Chelli; For Cullen’s British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles
Aaron McKenna vs. Linus Udofia; Middleweight
Mark Jeffers vs. Germaine Brown; Super middleweight
Karriss Artingstall vs. Lila dos Santos Furtado; Featherweight
Two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas wil defend her IBF welterweight world title on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.
Jonas, with a record of 14-2-1 and 9 KOs, is stepping into the ring to make the first defense of her IBF crown, which she secured with a spectacular stoppage victory over Canadian Kandi Wyatt earlier this year. Prior to that, she had unified the WBC, WBO, and IBF junior middleweight world titles.
Her opponent, the U.S. star Mikaela Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs), is no stranger to the limelight. She’s a fellow Olympian and former IBF, WBO, and Ring Magazine junior lightweight world champion. Mayer made waves last year during BOXXER’s historic women’s night, and after clinching the WBC interim lightweight world title earlier this year, she’s ready to step up in weight once more.
Newly crowned British champion Jack Cullen is also making his return to action in Liverpool. He’ll be defending his Lonsdale strap against former foe Zak Chelli. Cullen, with a record of 22-4-1 and 10 KOs, scored a memorable third-round TKO win over Mark Heffron in September to claim the British and Commonwealth titles. Now, ‘Little Leaver’s Meat Cleaver’ is gearing up for a rematch against former English Champion Chelli (14-2-1, 7 KOs) in a repeat of their thrilling 2020 contest that ended in a draw.
Natasha Jonas herself expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m so thrilled to be back in Liverpool headlining my first show and facing the biggest fight of my career. It’s my fifth world title fight with BOXXER, right here in my hometown, and I’m absolutely ready for it. It’s Natasha ‘Miss GB’ versus Mikaela ‘Miss USA,’ and may the best woman win!”
Mikaela Mayer added, “These are the kind of matchups that the world of boxing craves. I’m feeling better than ever at my new weight, and I’m confident that 2024 is the year I reclaim it all.”
BOXXER Founder and CEO, Ben Shalom, chimed in with excitement about 2024 and said, “We’re kicking off 2024 with a monumental night for women’s boxing. Natasha Jonas defending her world title against Mikaela Mayer is a matchup that will epitomize the pinnacle of the sport. These two fantastic athletes, former Olympians and world champions, are ready to lay it all on the line to secure their legacies.”
And even Top Rank chairman Bob Arum had words of praise, stating, “Mikaela Mayer is beloved in the UK, and we are thrilled that she will get an opportunity to become a two-weight champion against a sensational fighter in Natasha Jonas. These are two of the best pound-for-pound females in boxing.”
UNDERCARD
Aaron McKenna and Linus Udofia are gearing up for a clash that’s as tantalizing as a double bacon cheeseburger, set to unfold in a brawl-filled bonanza on January 20th at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.
These middleweight mavericks will lock horns in a bet365 Wildcard rumble for McKenna’s shiny WBC International Title. This scrap is the appetizer to Natasha Jonas’ main course IBF World Welterweight Title defense against the once-reigning champ, Mikaela Mayer.
McKenna snatched the WBC International belt with a unanimous points thrashing of Uisma Lima last June at York Hall. Sporting a flawless 17-0 record, this 24-year-old pugilist is a whirlwind in the ring, labeled as one of the division’s most electrifying up-and-comers. To keep his star soaring, the ‘Silencer’ must now hurdle over his biggest challenge yet: former English Champion and British Title hopeful, Udofia.
Udofia, a veteran of the ring wars with wins against Tyler Denny and John Harding Jr., plus a nail-biting split decision defeat to Denzel Bentley for the British Middleweight crown, has carved out a reputation as a top dog in a fiercely competitive domestic division. At 30, the Luton-based fighter jumps back into the title fray after a stumble against Kieron Conway. A triumph over the unbeaten McKenna could turbocharge his career and launch a stellar 2024.
Ben Shalom, the head honcho at BOXXER, couldn’t contain his excitement, saying, “Liverpool’s night of fisticuffs just hit the next level with McKenna vs. Udofia. It’s a top-shelf addition to an already jam-packed card. A riveting face-off: McKenna’s been unbeatable so far, while Udofia’s tasted defeat but knows the high-stakes game. This one’s a real coin toss.”
Jack Cullen, newly minted as British and Commonwealth Champion, dives back into the fray in Liverpool, putting his titles on the line against old rival Zak Chelli. Cullen celebrated a show-stopping third-round TKO victory over Mark Heffron last September, bagging the British and Commonwealth titles. He’s set for a rematch with Chelli, recreating their 2020 thrill-ride that ended in a deadlock.
Karriss Artingstall, fresh off a thunderous second-round KO of Vanessa Bradford in October, is ready to rumble again. The 2020 Olympic medalist faces off against Lila dos Santos Furtado, aiming to ascend the featherweight ladder.
Mark Jeffers, holding the English and Commonwealth Silver Super Middleweight Titles, is set for a showdown with Germaine Brown. Jeffers, who claimed his titles in a points victory over Zak Chelli, defends his crown for the first time against Brown, who’s itching to reclaim the English Title he once held.
Jack Massey, the former IBO World Cruiserweight Champion and heavyweight scrapper, is back in the 200lbs division. After going toe-to-toe with Joseph Parker in a heavyweight bout last year, he’s ready to kick off the New Year with a bang in Liverpool.
