Natasha Jonas speaks to Boxing News about going through Mikaela Mayer in January, how a fighter combats anxiousness, her causes for acquiring a supervisor’s licence, and her exit technique
BN: What does the combat towards Mikaela Mayer imply to you and how huge is it on your profession?
NJ: There’s no subsequent combat if I don’t get previous Mayer so I’ve obtained to win. I’m totally centered. I believe she’s a nice fighter, she brings a lot to the desk. She’s a former champion and brings the entire of the USA and obtained a good beginner pedigree. Katie [Taylor] apart it’s in all probability one among my hardest fights.
BN: Was it the very best combat for you subsequent?
NJ: It’s a combat that we each stated we needed. No one made any secret of that. There’s the entire enterprise facet of boxing that followers don’t at all times get. This combat retains the followers blissful, retains promoters blissful, retains the platform [Sky Sports] blissful and retains me blissful. There’s only a few fights for me that tick all of them [boxes] however Mikaela Mayer is unquestionably one among them.
BN: What do you suppose are a few of Mikaela’s strengths?
NJ: Her boxing mind. Her lengthy levers and her footwork. And she’s obtained good shot choice.
BN: Her solely loss is a contentious one towards Alycia Baumgardner. Do you suppose Mayer deserved the win or was it the fitting consequence?
NJ: I used to be doing the commentary for Sky on that day, and I assumed she was unfortunate. Some rounds had been shut and it may’ve gone both manner. But the best way I scored it was Mikaela had received.
BN: When you look again by yourself 2023 to date how do you mirror on it?
NJ: It hasn’t been nice; it’s been very sluggish. I anticipated to be out a lot extra and I needed this [Mayer] combat this facet of the New Year as a substitute of rolling into 2024. It wasn’t potential. I’m glad I’ve obtained it now and obtained the ball rolling. We’ll have a good 2024 as a substitute.
BN: What was it that prompted you to get your supervisor’s licence?
It was simply to handle myself. I by no means supposed to handle anyone else and then little Mikie [Tallon] got here with the chance that I couldn’t flip down.
BN: Do you see this as a huge a part of your future particularly as soon as your individual profession is completed?
NJ: Potentially. At the second, it’s solely Mikie however I’ve being giving recommendation and serving to different boxers out for a very very long time and not taking the accolades for it, and I didn’t need it. It was simply serving to my mates out. It was stuff that was a part of a supervisor function anyway. I used to be doing the function with out really realising I used to be doing it.
BN: I spoke to Nathan Heaney lately and requested him how his fanbase helps throughout a combat. So, together with your subsequent combat being in Liverpool on the Echo is that a hindrance or assist?
NJ: There’s a fine line between pleasure, motivated and anxiousness. As lengthy because it’s within the excited and motivated line it’s good. Once you begin changing into anxious then it’s detrimental to your efficiency. If you’re on it and you’re motivated, then you definately’re pushed. And if you happen to’re excited and on it then you definately’re in your optimum zone. But then as soon as it creeps over into anxiousness then it turns into a downside, and you begin worrying which isn’t a constructive factor.
BN: Has anxiousness crept into any of your fights previously?
NJ: A bit of bit with Katie Taylor and a little bit with [Chris] Namus as a result of Namus was actually final likelihood saloon [for me]. It was the third world title on the third completely different weight and if I didn’t win it there was nowhere else to go. That was strain.
BN: So, beating Namus meant extra than simply successful a belt.
NJ: It was aid. Everyone stored on asking me what the very first thing was I felt and the very first thing I felt was aid. The feelings had been One: It’s over and Two: It’s achieved. I’ve at all times stated every part that comes after Namus is a bonus. So, now I really feel all that strain and stress is gone as a result of I’ve proved that I’m world stage. Everything that comes with that’s a bonus. My final couple of performances a lot of individuals have stated, “You seem to be getting better” however I believe it’s as a result of that strain and stress is off. And I’m again to having fun with it and enjoyable and doing what I can do and what I wish to do.
BN: Does that imply you wish to lengthen your profession, or have you ever set your self a date to name it a day?
NJ: The take care of Boxxer is a three-fight deal. We’ll see what occurs after that. If I can get the fights that I need in that deal, then I don’t suppose there’s any want to increase it.
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