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“Put Her Money Where Her Mouth Is”: Natasha Jonas Gets Real About Being Unbothered by Claressa Shields’ Threats

Published 07/18/2023, 8:45 AM EDT

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In the pantheon of women’s boxing, Claressa Shields stands as one of the true modern-era greats. With her undisputed world champion status at Middleweight and her undeniable pound-for-pound prowess, Shields has proved time and again why she’s considered a force to be reckoned with. However, two-division world champion Natasha Jonas seems unfazed by the champion’s reputation and has her sights firmly set on a showdown with her.

Last year, Jonas decided to test her limits by moving up several divisions to conquer the junior Middleweight division. Moreover, she did so with remarkable success, capturing three world titles. This year, she continued her journey by dropping down to Welterweight, where she convincingly defeated Kandi Wyatt to claim the IBF world title. Now, it seems that the rivalry between the two boxing stars is only set to get more heated as Jonas is certainly not intimidated by the ‘GWOAT’.

Natasha Jonas unfazed by Claressa Shields’ threats

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Shields was present ringside during Jonas’ bout with Wyatt. Moreover, the undisputed champion made it clear that she would get a K.O. victory if the two ever met. Despite this, Jonas, known for her confidence and resilience, brushed off Shields’ threats with a dismissive eye-roll. She challenged Shields’ knockout record, raising doubts about the champion’s claims of overwhelming power. Jonas’ call for Shields to meet her at Welterweight indicated her eagerness to test herself against the best

“Who has she knocked out? Let’s be honest. We’re levels apart? Maybe in weight levels, but we’re getting closer. She says she’ll come down to 147-pounds, put her money where her mouth is and let’s see if she does.she said in an interview with Sky Sports.

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With Shields being the reigning undisputed Middleweight champion, it is essential for both fighters to agree on a weight limit for the potential bout. However, Jonas revealed that Shields’ camp has made negotiations difficult with the constant contradictions in terms of the fight.

Jonas calls out Shields over catchweight contradictions ahead of a potential showdown

According to Jonas, Shields initially indicated that she would be willing to move down to 154 pounds. However, a contradiction emerged as Shields’ promoter Dmitry Salita later suggested a catchweight of 156 pounds due to Shields’ apparent inability to make the 154-pound mark. Jonas also claimed that Shields was now agreeing to face her at 147 pounds despite her camp previously suggesting a bout at 154 pounds.

“She said that before but Dmitriy Salita  also said ‘We want to do it at a catchweight of 156-pounds’, because she couldn’t make 154 and now she’s saying she’ll do 147-pounds. That’s not what her own team are saying. There’s lots of contradictions in what she says.” said Jonas.

 

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While Jonas has blamed Shields for the failed negotiations, the undisputed champ has blasted the IBF champion for failed negotiations. Whether the fight takes place at 147 pounds, 154 pounds, or a catchweight, the potential matchup between Jonas and Shields promises to be a monumental event in women’s boxing. Moreover, the conflicting statements have added intrigue to the potential showdown. As the drama unfolds, only time will tell if we will see two of the best female boxers put it all on the line.

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What did you think about Jonas’ bold response to Shields’ KO prediction? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Sahil Sood

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Sahil Sood is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in covering live events and core sports. Sahil holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has authored over 1300 articles at EssentiallySports. His coverage of Sylvester Stallone's training with Earnie Shavers was widely praised for its depth and insight.
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Edited by:

Snigdhaa Jaiswal