Natasha Jonas is contemplating retiring from boxing after her defeat to Lauren Price at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday night.
Jonas suffered a clear unanimous decision loss to Price, the Olympic champion, who demonstrated her status as one of women’s boxing’s top talents on her path to undisputed champion.
The 40-year-old Jonas relinquished her IBF and WBC welterweight titles as Price added them to her WBA belt, becoming a unified champion in a historic all-female main event.
This defeat could mark the final time Jonas competes in the ring as she considers her next steps.
“Natasha needs time with her family and daughter, a holiday, and she will decide when she returns,” her trainer Joe Gallagher told Sky Sports.
“Whatever she decides, I will support her. A year ago, I suggested she retire after her victory over Mikaela Mayer, so my feelings are clear. Price was just quicker and sharper on the night.”
Jonas hinted at retirement after the fight, having faced questions about her future in the past year.
“Emotions are high right now, and Joe has been asking me to retire for a long time,” she admitted in a post-fight interview.
“I enjoy working with Andy (Scott), Anna (Woolhouse), and Johnny (Nelson) as a commentator, so perhaps that’s an option for the future.
“But for now, I’m going home to spend time with my daughter.”
Price had consistently stated she would be too fast, too young, and too skilled for Jonas. She proved her point decisively, overcoming Jonas’s experience, resilience, skill, and intelligence with a combination of swift footwork, rapid hands, strategic deception, varied attacks, and relentless pressure from all angles.
Ultimately, the fight highlighted Price’s exceptional talent more than any shortcomings of Jonas.
Gallagher commented on the fight: “Lauren Price started quickly. I thought it was 2-1 at one point, Natasha was doing well with her backhand over the lead hand, but then Lauren found her rhythm and started to pull away. Tasha was getting into positions to attack, but Lauren anticipated it and increased her pace.”
“Someone mentioned it was similar to Anthony Crolla, who was excellent in training for his last fight but slightly off with his timing in the actual bout. That’s what happened to Natasha.”
“But credit to Lauren, it was her night, a fantastic performance, and we wish her well in her future career.”
“Towards the end, we managed to land some good backhands, but Tasha couldn’t follow up with a second or third punch, while Lauren was constantly firing. Full credit to her.”
Jonas has already secured her legacy as a pioneer in women’s boxing, becoming the first British female boxer to compete at the Olympic Games in London 2012. She later became a world champion on her third attempt in February 2022.
She was also the first woman to be named the British Boxing Board of Control’s British Boxer of the Year in 2022 and became a two-weight world champion during a successful period in the later stages of her career.
“What a venue. History made. I must thank Tasha, the perfect opponent,” Price said after the fight.
“It was an honor to share the ring with her, and I respect her immensely, not just for her contribution to women’s boxing, but to boxing in general.”
“It’s been an honor sharing the ring, so thank you.”
Price has now set her sights on becoming undisputed champion and aims to fight the winner of the upcoming rematch between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan on March 29.
Mayer previously lost to Jonas by split decision in Liverpool in January 2024 but won the WBO welterweight title by defeating Ryan by majority decision in New York last September.
“I’m unsure if Price can become undisputed,” Gallagher stated. “Mikaela Mayer is a very strong fighter. There’s unfinished business, and Sandy Ryan defeated Lauren in the amateurs, so she would want that fight.”
“Lauren’s performance tonight against a higher caliber opponent will greatly boost her confidence. Who knows, she might become undisputed? But Mayer is a very well-rounded fighter.”
