Former unified super-featherweight world champion Mikaela Mayer left the UK empty-handed following a valiant challenge of Natasha Jonas for the IBF welterweight world title.
Mayer took on the popular Liverpudlian in her home city of Liverpool.
Mayer and Jonas battled from the first to last bell in a high-octane, attritional affair which kicked off British boxing’s calendar for 2024 with an early candidate for female Fight of the Year.
The 10-round title contest went to the judge’s scorecards, which saw Mayer on the wrong end of a narrow split decision.
Mayer believed that she did more than enough to snatch the IBF title away, with social media opinion agreeing with her thoughts too.
Jonas, post-fight, credited Mayer for her performance, and told the American that she would be a world champion again and that Mayer was the best win on her record.
Meanwhile, Mayer called for a rematch.
On Monday, she took to social media and reiterated her claim for a rematch and increased the pressure on Jonas by saying that the IBF champion's legacy now depends on fighting Mayer again.
“It’s highly frustrating to leave empty-handed when I felt I did more than enough to solidify a win on Saturday,” the American posted on Instagram.
“I know a lot of you [supporters] stand with me on this, so thank you for having my back. I’m hoping Natasha feels the pressure and does what a stand up Champion would do in this situation…and that's to agree to a rematch.
“I deserve it, the fans deserve it and I believe her legacy depends on it.”
