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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor O'Neill

Natasha Jonas successfully makes weight as she bids to become a two-weight world champion

Natasha Jones successfully made weight as she bids to write her name into the boxing history books by becoming a two-weight world champion.

Jonas, who is already the unified WBC, IBF and WBO super-welterweight champion, is moving down to welterweight to fight Kandi Wyatt for the vacant IBF championship at 147lbs at the AO Arena tonight. The first female British boxer to qualify for an Olympic Games, Jonas, who hit the scales at 10st 6lbs 5oz, now has the chance to enhance her legacy with a win over Wyatt, who came in at 10st 6lbs.

"I've always been comfortable at super-welter; that extra pound is really nothing in the grand scheme of things," Jonas said after coming off the scales.

"I had to build myself up to be able to compete physically with the 154lb females I was competing with, so I think I'll bring that strength back down with me.

READ MORE: Natasha Jonas eyeing history-making win and opens up on frustrating time out of the ring

READ MORE: Connor Butler beats Matt Windle to land European title and reveals what's next

"It puts everything into perspective, everything we do in the gym and the sacrifices we all make to make it worth it."

Before she added: "I know what she will be coming with. She will have real determination. She has nothing to lose, and like I said, she’s tough and durable.

"She’s just admitted what her game plan is, and that is to make it untidy and make it scruffy. So I have got to be on my toes to combat that. For so long I was going with my begging bowl asking for fights, and I was taking a lot of risk for no reward.

"Now when you have the titles, you are taking a big risk, but you also have a big reward. As soon as you pick up a title, you have a target on your back.

"Everybody wants a piece of you, and it is nice to be in that position. It has been a long, hard road, and I’m in a privileged position to be able to choose who I want to box. I don’t take that lightly, and I am grateful for it."

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