When it comes to being a true pioneer of women's boxing, and someone who has continually set records and raised the bar to what can be achieved in the sport, Natasha Jonas is in a league of her own.
Jonas has had a tumultuous career in and out of the ring. Initially intending to be a footballer, she spent 18 months at a college in the United States on a football scholarship.
But her dreams of being the next big superstar of women's football came to an abrupt end after she tore her ligament in a bad tackle. She returned to Toxteth without finishing her degree.
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But Jonas’ love for sport was reignited when she tried her hand at boxing, competing with the England team within a year. She then made history by becoming the first female boxer to compete for GB Boxing in 2009 and then, in 2012, becoming the first female British boxer to compete at an Olympic Games.
Jonas beat US fighter Quanitta Underwood in the capital, but missed out on the Gold medal to Irish boxer Katie Taylor. Dubbed 'Miss GB', it can't be overstated what a major role Jonas has played in the development of British women's boxing before making the move into the professional ranks.
As a pro she suffered an early career defeat to Viviane Obenauf, but after clawing her way back to the top, Jonas came tantalisingly close to beating then-WBC super-featherweight champion Terri Harper in a thrilling fight in August 2020, which ended in a split-decision draw.
Following the draw, Jonas stepped up to lightweight to challenge Taylor for the undisputed championship, but after a fine performance lost a close decision on the cards. That loss prompted another move up the weights as she made the call to head to super-welterweight for her third - and what was seen by many in the world of boxing as her final world title shot.
And with her career on the line, Jonas did not disappoint as she claimed an explosive second round stoppage victory over Chris Namus to win the vacant WBO belt in Manchester. She dedicated her win to her daughter, Mela. After the win, she said: "Mommy did it. This is for you, she's bringing the belt home."
And so after a whirlwind three years on the road, Jonas eventually returned to her home city to take on Patricia Berghult in a bout to unify the WBO and WBC super-welterweight world titles earlier this month.
After 10 gruelling rounds of boxing, in which the 38-year-old outclassed the previously unbeaten Swede, judges scored the contest 99-91, 100-90 and 100-90 in favour of Jonas, with the official announcement sparking wild scenes of celebration from those in attendance at the M&S Bank Arena.
It was a moment that will live with Jonas forever, and one she believes came as a result of all the sacrifices she has made not just as an athlete, but also a mum. Jonas fell pregnant with her daughter in 2015.
“100 percent, and even the sacrifices with the baby and stuff it is all worth it when you have them there,” she tells the ECHO when asked if the win was a reward for all the sacrifices she has made.
“That is what you get into the sport for and that is why I am training twice a day, five or six times a week. That is what it is all worth, to have nights like that in front of your family and friends.”
It was recently revealed that TV audiences for women's sports have doubled from 2021 to 2022. Football was responsible for 72% of the women's sport audiences between the specified period, but with the likes of Jonas, Taylor and Savannah Marshall all having been in action over the past year, boxing has certainly played its part in the rise.
Jonas had long vowed to repay a promise she made to her daughter that she will bring home a world championship belt. But when asked by the ECHO what it feels like to be seen as an inspiration and trailblazer herself, the mum-of-one admits it is all still very surreal.
“I don’t think you ever think about that when you are an athlete, you are just focused on the results, but it does,” she said.
“When I go into schools, there are little girls saying: 'Ah miss I saw you, you are my hero.' It properly touches me because I never felt like I would do that to somebody and just because I box they would feel that way.
“I inspire mums, I inspire women and people of the city. It is a nice feeling and I couldn’t let my little sister have all the headlines!"
Football is a sport that holds a close place in Jonas’ heart. Sister Nikita Parris wrote her name into the history books in the summer when she helped steer England to victory in the Women's European Championship.
The pair are undoubtedly two of the most successful athletes to ever come out of Merseyside. Despite taking different paths, the Toxteth duo have enjoyed huge victories in their own sports and are inspiring each other to be the very best.
And Jonas now has her eyes on another piece of history to do with football. A huge Liverpool supporter, she would love nothing more than to be able to fight at Anfield, having watched close friend Tony Bellew rock Everton’s Goodison Park to its core following his sensational third-round knock-out win over Ilunga Makabu back in May 2016.
Liam Smith recently revealed that like brother Callum, he harbours his own dreams of a big world title night at Anfield. And Jonas believes with Sky Sports’ Adam Smith, and Ben Shalom of Boxxer both being big Reds too, a night of boxing at the home of Liverpool is most certainly possible.
“Yeah, I think it helps that Ben, Liam, Adam and myself are all Liverpool supporters so we have got a good contingency that would happily fight at Anfield,” she said.
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