Natasha Jonas delivered a lesson in perseverance and hanging on to your dreams.
The 38-year-old Liverpudlian fighter beat Marie-Eve Dicaire on Saturday, taking her to three world titles in just nine months. It’s a special feat that she almost quit the sport at one point.
This week’s Fight Talk examines the reaction to Jonas’ success and other talking points in the boxing world – with pundits respecting the name Sunny Edwards and Ricky Hatton sending everyone into excessive nostalgia.
Belts and braces
Jonas’ best year in boxing came late in his career. Her frantic run began in February, when she moved up three weight classes to knocks out Chris Namus and become the WBO super welterweight champion. In September, it unified the super-welterweight division into beat Patricia Berghult. And on Saturday, Jonas completed the treble, winning the IBF light middleweight title.
All of this is all the more remarkable considering that she nearly quit the sport in 2018, after suffering her first professional loss to Viviane Obenauf.
“To think, at one point it was almost over and I almost walked away,” Jonas said after Saturday’s fight.
The next step for her could involve a rematch with WBA and IBO super welterweight champion Terri Harper, or undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor. Alternatively, she could face undisputed welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron or undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields.
Right now, however, a good rest is probably well deserved.
It’s always sunny
Sunny Edwards once again proved her skills on Friday. The 26-year-old fighter from Croydon held a clinic against Nicaraguan Felix Alvarado, 33, in what was a third successful defense of his IBF flyweight title.
By winning, Edwards extended his undefeated record to 19 fights.
Whether it’s because he deliberately avoids fame, his old ties with sanctioned Irish cartel leader Daniel Kinahan, or the fact that he doesn’t compete in a heavier weight class, boxing’s ‘forgotten man’, like Steve Bunce called he doesn’t always make the headlines.
Nevertheless, many experts rank it among the best in Britain.
A unification could now be on the cards for Edwards, with Artem Dalakian and Julio Cesar Martinez both undefeated in the flyweight division.
Hats off to Hatton
Ricky Hatton performed a show in his hometown on Saturday. The 44-year-old Mancunian returned to the ring for the first time in 10 years to take part in an exhibition bout against Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera, 48.
A former world welterweight and welterweight champion, Hatton has struggled with his weight and mental health issues since retiring from boxing in 2012, but he looked in great shape for this one.
Slimming down from 15lbs 4lbs to 11lbs 6lbs, he told BBC Sport the days of ‘Ricky Fatton’ were over.
Hatton’s ring walk, which featured two nurses and a zimmer frame, offered a small nod to the man’s senior years.
The whole thing was a real nostalgic tour for a lot of fans.
His son Campbell was in his corner before the fight and there to celebrate in “style” afterwards too.
