Natasha Jonas has topped off her incredible year by beating Marie-Eve Dicaire on points to win IBF light-middleweight title – her third world title this year!
Unified champion Natasha Jonas outclassed Marie-Eve Dicaire in Manchester to add the IBF title to her WBC and WBO light-middleweight belts.
The Liverpudlian, 38, won her first world title in February and then unified the division in September.
And she capped a memorable year for herself and women’s boxing by claiming her third world title in nine months.
Jonas claimed a unanimous win on points to condemn Canada’s Dicaire, 36, to just her second professional defeat.
The judges scored the fight 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93 in favour of Jonas.
“It was very tough, I knew it would be tough,” Jonas told BBC 5 Live after the fight.
“This has by far been my best year in boxing and to think at one stage it was almost over and I nearly walked away from boxing.
“Now, 12 months on I’m here as unified champion with three belts and a Ring (Magazine) belt.”
Jonas’ jab helped keep Dicaire at range before the pair traded blows in a more expansive fifth round, with the Canadian perhaps getting the better of it.
But Jonas began to unload in the sixth, throwing more combinations and landing an uppercut as well as a right hook.
Several body shots in the seventh kept Jonas firmly on top and while Dicaire kept coming forward, Jonas continued to pick her off to end an unforgettable year on another high.
“I’ve had a tough year, I’m going to have a holiday and then we’ll discuss the best options in 2023,” Jonas said.
“I have to win to keep all my options open and alive and I did that tonight.”
A rematch with Ireland’s undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor would be appealing after Jonas’ close points loss in May 2021, also at Manchester’s AO Arena.