Mayer vs. Jonas – ESPN+ – January 20 – 2 pm ET

January 20: Natasha Jonas Defends Welterweight World Title Against Mikaela Mayer in Liverpool LIVE on ESPN+

Two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas wil defend her IBF welterweight world title on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. You can catch all the excitement live on ESPN+ in the U.S. and Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.

Jonas, with a record of 14-2-1 and 9 KOs, is stepping into the ring to make the first defense of her IBF crown, which she secured with a spectacular stoppage victory over Canadian Kandi Wyatt earlier this year. Prior to that, she had unified the WBC, WBO, and IBF junior middleweight world titles.

Her opponent, the U.S. star Mikaela Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs), is no stranger to the limelight. She’s a fellow Olympian and former IBF, WBO, and Ring Magazine junior lightweight world champion. Mayer made waves last year during BOXXER’s historic women’s night, and after clinching the WBC interim lightweight world title earlier this year, she’s ready to step up in weight once more.

Newly crowned British champion Jack Cullen is also making his return to action in Liverpool. He’ll be defending his Lonsdale strap against former foe Zak Chelli. Cullen, with a record of 22-4-1 and 10 KOs, scored a memorable third-round TKO win over Mark Heffron in September to claim the British and Commonwealth titles. Now, ‘Little Leaver’s Meat Cleaver’ is gearing up for a rematch against former English Champion Chelli (14-2-1, 7 KOs) in a repeat of their thrilling 2020 contest that ended in a draw.

Natasha Jonas herself expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m so thrilled to be back in Liverpool headlining my first show and facing the biggest fight of my career. It’s my fifth world title fight with BOXXER, right here in my hometown, and I’m absolutely ready for it. It’s Natasha ‘Miss GB’ versus Mikaela ‘Miss USA,’ and may the best woman win!”

Mikaela Mayer added, “These are the kind of matchups that the world of boxing craves. I’m feeling better than ever at my new weight, and I’m confident that 2024 is the year I reclaim it all.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO, Ben Shalom, chimed in with excitement about 2024 and said, “We’re kicking off 2024 with a monumental night for women’s boxing. Natasha Jonas defending her world title against Mikaela Mayer is a matchup that will epitomize the pinnacle of the sport. These two fantastic athletes, former Olympians and world champions, are ready to lay it all on the line to secure their legacies.”

And even Top Rank chairman Bob Arum had words of praise, stating, “Mikaela Mayer is beloved in the UK, and we are thrilled that she will get an opportunity to become a two-weight champion against a sensational fighter in Natasha Jonas. These are two of the best pound-for-pound females in boxing.”