Jonas retains IBF belt by split decision
IBF female welterweight champion Natasha Jonas (15-2-1, 9 KOs) won a hometown ten round split decision over former unified junior lightweight world champion Mikaela Mayer (19-2, 5 KOs) on Saturday night at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. Good action bout with good exchanges throughout. Mayer pressed the action and closed strong. After ten see-saw rounds, Jonas, 39, prevailed by scores of 96-94 (Frank Lombardi, USA), 96-95 (Michael Alexander, UK) on two cards, while Mayer was up 97-93 (Diana Drews Milani, Germany) on the third card.
Super middleweight Zak Chelli (15-2-1, 7 KOs) outworked and dethroned British and Commonwealth titleholder “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen (22-5-1, 10 KOs) over twelve uneventful rounds in a rematch of their 2020 draw. Cullen never got untracked as Chelli pulled away to a 116-113, 116-112, 115-114 verdict.
2020 Olympic boxing medalist Karriss Artingstall (6-0, 1 KO) outpointed Lila Dos Santos Furtado (9-2, 1 KO) over eight rounds in a women’s featherweight match. Artingstall dropped Furtado at the end of round one en route to a 77-75 win.
Unbeaten super middleweight Aaron McKenna (18-0, 9 KOs) won by sixth round referee’s stoppage against late sub Micky Ellison (14-7, 5 KOs). Time was 2:21.
Unbeaten super middleweight Mark Jeffers (17-0, 4 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Germaine Brown (13-3, 4 KOs) in a clash for the English title. Scores were 98-93, 99-92, 98-93.
Cruiserweight Jack Massey (21-2, 12 KOs) stopped Steve Eloundou Ntere (8-2, 3 KOs) in the first round.
Local amateur hero Stephen Clarke won his pro debut via third round TKO when Vasif Mamedov (3-47-5, 0 KOs) turned his back and walked away.
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