Natasha Jonas: I won’t rest until I win a world title

Natasha Jonas admitted her career would be unfulfilled if she failed to win a world title as the Liverpool fighter bids to make it third time lucky after taking the plunge at a higher weight.

A debatable draw against Terri Harper 18 months ago denied Jonas in her effort to claim the WBC super-featherweight crown and the Merseysider lost narrowly on the cards against undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor last May.

With various other title holders in and around her natural fighting weight tied up, Jonas has elected to jump three divisions as she takes on Chris Namus for the women’s vacant WBO super-welterweight title at Manchester’s AO Arena.

Jonas came in at 10st 9lbs 5oz at Friday’s weigh-in, surprisingly two pounds heavier than an opponent who has been campaigning in this category for a few years although the Uruguayan boasts height and reach advantages.

But the 37-year-old Jonas is willing to take a step into the unknown in order to realise her world title dream.

She told the PA news agency: “I definitely need a world title – 100 per cent. I won’t rest until I do.

“I can’t be fussy when I’m asking for world titles; a lot of world champions are taken so it’s been pulled out the bag to even get me this opportunity. I’m going to take it with both hands.

“Instead of thinking ‘what if’ or ‘what could have happened’, I’d rather do it and suffer with the consequences rather than never do it and live with regret.

“I’m not scared to fight anyone – I’ve said that from the beginning.”

Namus, brought in as a late replacement after Jonas’ original opponent Ewa Piatkowska tested positive for Covid last week, is a former world titlist at 11 stones but has lost two of her most recent three contests.

She has not fought since