Natasha Jonas Stops Kandi Wyatt In 8 Rounds To Claim The Vacant IBF World Welterweight Title
Natasha Jonas threatened to end the fight in the opening seconds. The stoppage finally came in the 8th round, and Jonas can now call herself a two-weight champion of the world.
The Canadian Kandi Wyatt was incredibly tough and was never off her feet despite soaking up plenty of heavy punishment from Jonas. The left back hand found its target all night long. In truth, it couldn't miss.
Jonas and Wyatt were levels apart. The Canadian needed to get close and rough Jonas up and make it a dirty fight. Her fight. But Jonas boxed to orders, never allowing Wyatt to find any sort of rhythm. As expected, Wyatt never stopped advancing. But as she did, Jonas just picked her off.
A thunderous ovation awaited Jonas as she entered the ring in the Manchester Arena, and she nearly rewarded her vocal faithful with a stunning 1st round stoppage. A solid left hand seemed to stagger her opponent, and Jonas went for the finish. But Wyatt survived, and Jonas settled into her boxing.
It was one-way traffic until the referee Marcus McDonnell waved the fight off with a bloodied Wyatt taking more heavy shots from Jonas in the 8th. Almost the perfect stoppage.
Wyatt was limited but deserves credit for her toughness. After three previous failures on the world stage, it wasn't to be for any fourth time lucky narratives. A fifth attempt is unlikely.
Jonas will take a well-earned holiday and return towards the end of the year. A fight with the winner of Jessica McCaskill and Sandy Ryan is possible, but improbable. Lauren Price will likely be next.
At 39, the new IBF world welterweight champion is showing no signs of walking into the sunset quietly. But the end is coming, two more fights, and Jonas will likely then walk away. But with Jonas, you just never know. Her fighting obituary has been written many times. There might be a few more chapters to write.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
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