Natasha Jonas had a potential showdown with Lauren Price as she defeated Ivana Habazin via unanimous decision to become the unified IBF and WBC welterweight world champion in Liverpool on Saturday night.
Both Jonas and Bryce emerged victorious in a show billed as a “Collision Course” for a reason, with the latter defeating Bexcy Mateus earlier in the evening to successfully defend her world titles.
This marked Jonas' final fight in her hometown of Liverpool, as she is likely to be nearing retirement, and Price will now likely await what may represent one of the most high-profile fights in women's boxing history.
Jonas returned to the ring for the first time since defeating Mikaela Mayer in January, taking the fight to a 99-92, 99-91, 100-90 scorecard and improving her record to 16-2-1.
“I think we all know what the scenario is, and we're going to do what's necessary to do what I need to do to get where I want to go,” Jonas said.
Bryce joined Jonas in the ring after the fight as the duo confirmed they will go toe-to-toe next year.
“100 percent,” Price said. “Going into this collision course, we knew what was at stake. Let's have a great night in 2025.”
“It was a good performance, she won every round, did what she had to do, and continues into next year. Enjoy Christmas, have a good camp, and I'll see you soon.”
“Be careful what you wish for!” Jonas responded adamantly.
A cagey opening on the right saw neither fighter land clean or meaningful shots in the first round, before it was Jonas who lifted the nervous crowd with a clean right hand to upset Habazin in the second round.
Habazin responded by breaking in with a well-timed counter left hook to give her corner some welcome encouragement while once again reminding everyone there are two people in this fight.
Jonas upped the tempo early in the third period as she took advantage of a missed Habazin cross to pounce on the opener with a right uppercut of her own.
The Liverpool man then rocked Habazin with a brutal attack in the fourth before bursting forward and feeling the finish in attack, backing the Croatian defender on the ropes but struggling to deliver the decisive final blow.
To her credit, Habazin recovered well to reset her distance and end the round with a lightning right hook that Jonas was smart to deflect.
The fifth game would see Jonas work behind a sharp counter collected to the straight right to recover Habazin's head, before maintaining control of the tempo in the sixth to force error after error while strategically balancing her attacks.
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Meanwhile, Jonas was in strong control, once again outpacing a right hand from Habazin to fire up a counter with both fighters pressing against the ropes.
Habazin was as strong as described, but she was unable to withstand the attacks against the intelligent Jonas when she decided to act at the front.
There were rare gasps in the ninth game when Habazin landed a clean right hand to the face of Jonas, who absorbed it well before firing back with a sharp flurry at the end of the round.
To take control on the cards, Jonas only needs to finish the tenth and final round as she puts the onus on Habazin while also giving herself time to produce two more left hooks.
“I didn't think it could get any better than qualifying and winning the Olympics, but nights like this, I just wanted to say to the people who have given me 20 years of support, we as a city are incredible,” Jonas said. “I am very proud to represent the city.”
The massive heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will be broadcast on Saturday 21 December on Sky Sports Box Office. Book Usyk v Fury 2 now!
