Three-belt world super-welterweight champion Natasha Jonas is to take on Canada’s Kandi Wyatt for the IBF welterweight title, promoters Boxxer have announced.
The fight will take place on the undercard to the Savannah Marshall v Franchon Crews-Dezurn undisputed world middleweight bout at Manchester’s AO Arena on July 1.
It will be Liverpudlian Jonas’ first outing of the year after a stellar 2022 in which she stepped up three divisions to claim the WBC, IBF and WBO belts at super-welterweight.
She now has the chance to become a two-weight world champion after deciding to step back down to the 147lb division to fight for the vacant IBF title.
“I feel in good shape,” Jonas told the PA news agency. “It’s been a great camp and I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a long time.
“After such a busy and successful year last year, I just want to get the ball rolling and get back out there.”
Jonas, the first woman to qualify to represent Great Britain at the Olympics, has won 13 of her 16 professional fights, eight by knockout, with just one defeat.
Wyatt, the WBA Intercontinental champion, has previously challenged for welterweight world titles on three occasions.
I’ve underestimated people before and it didn’t work out well, so I will never do that again— Natasha Jonas
Jonas, 39, said: “There isn’t much that we’ve seen of her, but I’ve underestimated people before and it didn’t work out well, so I will never do that again.
“Every fight now I come to be the best version of me and prepare for the best version of them.”
On her decision to drop a division, she said: “It’s about opportunities, but I was never a 154lb fighter.
“The heaviest I weighed in was 149 and that was with clothes on. It made sense just to drop down and go for more world titles at another weight and take the opportunities as they come.”
Becoming a world champion at a second weight would be a rare feat, but Jonas is focusing on the victory rather than the glory.
She said: “I’d be Liverpool’s first to do that – I know that – and it is a great thing, but I’m not focused on the accolades. I’m just focused on going in on the night and getting the win.
“There is an air of confidence you get when you are a champion, but the goal is just to get in the ring and win. Everything else that comes with it is just a bonus.”
Boxxer chief executive Ben Shalom said: “I’m very excited to see Natasha compete at the top of the welterweight division. When you look at what she’s achieved in the last year alone, you know you’re looking at an extra special fighter.”
