Natasha Jonas picked up another belt at super welterweight with a win over Marie-Eve Dicaire, making it three belts from three fights in the divison.
Jonas once again proved that skill trumps size in the ring as she outboxed the bigger Dicaire. The Canadian southpaw had previously only lost to Claressa Shields, but came up short tonight against ‘Miss GB’ and her stiff jab.
ππ'π πππππ πππππ ππππ! π¬π§
The three-belt unification clash awaits π₯#FightNightManchester | @Boxxerpic.twitter.com/QnMuCGvDRS
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 12, 2022
Natasha Jonas can't miss with the backhand π₯#FightNightManchester | @Boxxerpic.twitter.com/WoCyHXaGW6
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 12, 2022
The Liverpool fighter worked the distance well and tested Dicaire’s chin with some good power shots in the first half of the fight, but from the fifth the away fighter’s strength came into play and made things uncomfortable for Jonas, who started to get caught here and there over the next few rounds.
Those FIERY exchanges! π₯ #FightNightManchester | @Boxxerpic.twitter.com/d2b4w24oun
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 12, 2022
The action packed seventh round saw both women trading big punches, with neither looking to step back or out of the firing line. Jonas kept the pace in the eighth, her on the button shots drawing blood from the nose of Dicaire. The ninth round belonged to Canada, though – her short left hook one of the best shots of the fight.
π€ That @TashaJonas power β’οΈ#FightNightManchester | 12 Nov | AO Arena, Manchester | @SkySportsBoxingpic.twitter.com/FvGt84gGYc
— BOXXER (@boxxer) November 12, 2022
Both fighters shared their respect before going to war in the tenth – white tops stained red with the blood from an entertaining main event which was scored in Jonas’ favour 100-90, 98-92, and 97-93. She now must make room in her trophy cabinet for the IBF belt to sit alongside her WBC and WBO.
Jonas, who was a decorated amateur, follows the likes of Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Claressa Shields, and Savannah Marshall by headlining her own show. Shields, incidentally, was one name ‘Tasha’ mentioned for a fight in 2023.
Elsewhere on the card, Viddal Reilly stopped Ross McGuigan with third round KO and there was disappointment for Dylan Cheema as Jordan Ellison took their four-rounder on points.
An πππππππππ KO win for Viddal Riley! π₯π₯ pic.twitter.com/ayedLwp6SQ
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 12, 2022
Tyler Denny weathered a late fight back from Brad Rea in a contender for British round of the year. The English Middleweight Champion claimed the victory via unanimous decision over a disappointed but extremely gracious Rea. Denny’s impressive performance even won over some of Rea’s hometown fans, who had booed him before the bout.
WHAT A TURNAROUND. WHAT A FIGHT! π€―
One of the rounds of the year ππ pic.twitter.com/L1HYGAERuz
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 12, 2022
Frazer Clarke beat Kamil Sokolowski over the full six rounds. The decision win represents a good measuring stick for ‘Big Fraze’, who will look to continue to step up his opposition in 2023. Dalton Smith retained his British Super Lightweight title with a unanimous decision win against Kaisee Benjamin.
The heavy hands of @BigFrazeBoxer hit the target and hurt Kamil Sokolowski π―π₯#FightNightManchester | 12 Nov | AO Arena, Manchester | @SkySportsBoxingpic.twitter.com/mtR6gh9Vpp
— BOXXER (@boxxer) November 12, 2022
π¬π§ Up close and personal in The Battle of Britain π₯#FightNightManchester | 12 Nov | AO Arena, Manchester | @SkySportsBoxingpic.twitter.com/IivUKGvIwb
— BOXXER (@boxxer) November 12, 2022
The BOXXER card, from a packed AO Arena in Manchester and broadcast on Sky Sports, presented a great mix of home talent.