A former unified IBF, WBC, and IBF junior middleweight champion, Jonas will be making the first title defense of the IBF 147-pound belt, which she won against Canada’s Kandi Wyatt in July this year.

Returning to her birthplace, the 39-year-old Liverpudlian, who had also contested against undisputed lightweight champ Katie Taylor back in 2021, revealed to the media that she sees the upcoming fight against Mayer as the biggest in her career.

“I’m so excited to be fighting back in Liverpool in my first headline show and in the biggest fight of my career so far. It’s my fifth world title fight with Boxxer, in my backyard and I’m ready for it. It’s Mikaela Mayer, she stretches above and beyond the UK shores. ‘Miss GB’ versus ‘Miss USA’ and may the best woman win,” said Jonas.

A former IBF and WBO champ at 130, Mayer is currently on a two-fight win streak since her maiden professional defeat to Alycia Baumgardner in October last year where she lost her super featherweight belts. Since then, the American star has defeated Lucy Wildheart for the WBC interim lightweight title and Silvia Bortot, in April and September this year respectively.

“These are the types of matchups boxing needs. I am feeling better than ever at my new weight and confident that 2024 is when I take it all back,” Mayer told the media. [H/T SI.com]

I’m not sticking around at 140-pounds: Mikaela Mayer

Coming off a unanimous decision win over Lucy Wildheart in April, Mayer is set to return to the ring this coming Saturday against Silvia Bortot in Manchester, making a jump from lightweight to junior welterweight.

While she’s switching from 135 to 140, Mayer stated that she has no plans to remain at junior welterweight and her ultimate goal is set at 147- to take on the IBF world champion Natasha Jonas.

“Natasha Jonas is at the top of my list because it’s the most realistic, immediate fight for me,” Mayer said during a recent interview with Sky Sports. “Hopefully we can get that fight done sometime in December or early January. That’s where I want to go immediately after this fight. I’m not sticking around at 140-pounds, I’m going to 147-pounds after this fight. I’d like to step right into a world title fight because that’s where I believe I’m at.”

The Bortot fight, featured on the undercard of Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr 2 at the AO Arena, will be Mayer’s second outing since her maiden career defeat to Alycia Baumgardner- against whom she lost her WBO and IBF belts in October last year in London.

“I’m more determined and motivated now than ever. I want to show my boxing skills. I want to show my power and my strengths from the outside. Just a little bit of everything, put it all together. But I really want my strengths to come through,” she went on, “It’s just to stay busy, gradually get ready for the 147-pound weight class that I plan to go to. And yes, we have a plan. So bigger fights are coming.”

“I have the experience, I have the skill, I have the size to be fighting at a more comfortable weight. Now training at this heavier weight, I feel so much better, and I enjoy training more because it’s not so exhausting. It’s not so mentally taxing. My body feels good. I feel energized. As a result, I’m reaping the benefits of all my hard work,” added Mayer. [H/T Boxingscene.com]