Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou face off earlier than Saudi Arabia bout
Natasha Jonas and Mikaela Mayer will go face to face in Liverpool tonight, as hometown fighter Jonas defends the IBF welterweight title.
Jonas, an Olympic veteran, lastly achieved her world-title dream in 2022, earlier than dropping right down to welterweight to grow to be a two-division champion. The 39-year-old will make her first defence of the IBF belt this night, as Mayer appears to be like to comply with Jonas in changing into a two-weight champion.
The American made her UK debut in 2022, dropping her unified super-featherweight titles to Alycia Baumgardner, and her two subsequent fights have additionally come on these shores – and produced higher outcomes. Mayer moved as much as light-weight to win the WBC interim title final 12 months, earlier than transferring up once more and securing a victory at super-lightweight.
Now, the 33-year-old returns to the UK and strikes up in weight as soon as extra to problem Jonas, in Saturday’s major occasion on the M&S Financial institution Area.
Comply with reside updates and outcomes beneath.
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE
Present newest replace
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Aaron McKenna vs Mickey Ellison
Sharp jabs by McKenna early on this spherical. He’s getting by means of virtually at will.
Extra good jabs from McKenna, who leans off the centre line to land from an angle now.
Brutal physique pictures comply with from McKenna. Finally Ellison appears to be like to reverse the place towards the ropes.
Ellison with a bigggggg overhand proper! McKenna takes the shot properly, although.
Beautiful head motion from McKenna once more. The Irishman follows up with a grazing one-two.
Ellison appears to be like to be tiring, whereas McKenna is steadily turning up the stress.
Ellison’s nook are speaking to him now, earlier than spherical six, suggesting that they might pull him from this battle quickly…
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:40
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Aaron McKenna vs Mickey Ellison
A quick battle of the jabs to start this spherical, with McKenna having the better success.
Good proper hook by Ellison, although. McKenna misses with a winging proper hook of his personal, however he quickly lands a left.
Ellison throws a teasing uppercut and hook to check McKenna’s guard. McKenna fires again with heavier pictures.
Once more he has Ellison backed up towards the ropes, and he’s unloading a number of heavy pictures now. He reins it in, although, earlier than backing off.
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:36
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Aaron McKenna vs Mickey Ellison
Ellison comes ahead once more. Plenty of feints from him, however McKenna isn’t biting.
Tidy jab from vary by McKenna. Ellison misses with a wild proper and left as he surges ahead.
McKenna has extra success with a one-two to the top. And once more. Good head motion from him to evade Ellison’s subsequent mixture.
Ellison goes to the properly with a number of uppercuts however can’t discover the mark. McKenna turns up the stress late within the spherical, backing Ellison up towards the ropes.
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:32
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Aaron McKenna vs Mickey Ellison
McKenna presses ahead fastidiously. Quickfire one-two from him, as Ellison appears to be like to come back ahead now.
Ellison, a short-notice opponent right here, catches McKenna on the top of his jab. McKenna returns fireplace by concentrating on the physique of Ellison.
Ellison with a good spell on the entrance foot right here. Good jab to the physique by him, however McKenna replies with one other one-two to the top.
Ellison assaults the physique of McKenna once more with some crosses from vary; he’s missing a little bit of accuracy however does land at shut vary within the closing moments of the spherical.
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:28
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Aaron McKenna vs Mickey Ellison
Each males stand orthodox. McKenna flicks out his jab early, whereas Ellison tries a few one-two mixtures to check his opponent’s guard.
Ellison ultimately will get by means of with a proper cross upstairs, earlier than lacking with a pair to the physique. McKenna comes again with some first rate jabs upstairs.
Ellison lands a pair of hooks to the physique, although they’re fairly laboured, it should be mentioned; McKenna is the faster puncher in there.
Ellison along with his personal jab now, then a grazing uppercut. Oh! One other uppercut, stiffer this time, by means of Ellison’s guard! McKenna’s nook loves that.
Ellison misses wildly with a left hook to finish the spherical.
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:24
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Aaron McKenna vs Mickey Ellison
We kick issues off with a middleweight bout between Aaron McKenna and Mickey Ellison!
Ten three-minute rounds scheduled right here.
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:19
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Principal-event preview
In a single nook will likely be Liverpool’s personal Jonas, greeted by a hometown crowd. Within the different will likely be Mayer, having crossed the pond for the fourth time in as many fights. Each roar from the stands and the ground might show essential to Jonas if the bout reaches the ultimate bell and the judges are wanted. Her American opponent, in the meantime, will look to wrest away the IBF welterweight title in enemy territory.
Then there may be the matter of expertise, age, or each: At 39, Jonas has much less in entrance of her than 33-year-old Mayer but in addition extra behind her to attract upon. An Olympic veteran, Jonas caught by means of the game by means of “horrible occasions”, as she admitted to The Impartial, to lastly obtain her world-title dream on the third time of asking. On a fateful February night time in 2022, the Briton battered Chris Namus to grow to be a world champion at super-welterweight.
Earlier than the top of the 12 months, she had collected two extra belts within the division, earlier than dropping down in weight to grow to be a two-division champion. All of this, eight years after she retired from boxing.
Learn our full main-event preview, proper right here:
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:13
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Sean Strickland belittles ladies’s fight sports activities
On the subject of the UFC, one half of tonight’s major occasion had some alternative phrases for ladies’s MMA this week.
Sean Strickland, who defends the middleweight title versus Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, launched a derisive assault on the ladies’s facet of the game.
Right here’s what the controversial American needed to say:
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:09
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Extra fights later tonight at UFC 297
If you happen to’re additionally a fan of MMA, don’t neglect to comply with our reside updates from UFC 297 tonight.
Under is all it is advisable to know concerning the battle card – from the story behind Sean Strickland vs Dricus Du Plessis in the principle occasion, to TV particulars, timings and odds:
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:06
Jonas vs Mayer LIVE: Principal card beneath means!
The primary card is upon us! Our round-by spherical updates will start shortly.
Alex Pattle20 January 2024 19:03