On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Two of the biggest names in women's boxing will face off in the middle of the ring on Saturday, January 20 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. Natasha Jonas, the reigning two-weight world champion, will defend her IBF welterweight championship against Mikaela Mayer.
Natasha Jonas (14-2-1, 9 KOs) from England, moved down a weight class to become a two-weight champion after winning the IBF title at 147 pounds and comes into the battle having won three world titles at super-welterweight.
Mikaela Mayer (19-1, 5 KOs) from the United States, prior to the fight declared that if she wins, they will square off again in a rematch and that she is prepared to take the spotlight in Jonas' hometown.
“This is a big fight, you definitely have that big fight feel but these are the fights that I want to be in. I want the name Natasha Jonas, I want to be in her hometown, I want to be in a huge arena like the M&S Bank Arena, I want the spotlight because I feel like that brings out the best in me,” said Mayer in media reports.
"It [opens the door] of a rematch, contractually, so there is that but one fight at a time. I have got to beat Natasha Jonas twice. That is my main focus," she added.
Mayer, who has competed in the 130lbs class in the past, has stepped up to the 147lbs class for this fight. She says the change has had a great impact on her health, helping her to enjoy boxing again and getting rid of severe calorie deficits.
"I am a lot more natural at this weight. I think a lot of people are taken back by how big I look but what they don't understand is it took a big toll on my body to keep cutting down to an unnatural weight at 130," said Mayer.
“This is the best I have ever felt and we are close to the weight already. I am just excited to get in the ring and show what the new weight does to me,” she added.
More must-reads:
- Denny Hamlin suffers vicious crash in Brickyard 400 qualifying
- Bears GM speaks out after superstar goes down with injury
- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
TODAY'S BEST
Bears GM speaks out after superstar goes down with injury
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is expected to miss most of training camp due to a leg injury, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Johnson was placed on the non-football injury list when veterans reported to Chicago for camp. He suffered the injury during offseason training, according to Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Johnson is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl and is headed into the second year of a four-year, $76 million deal. He has dealt with a number of injuries over his career, playing no more than 15 games in a season over the first four years of his career. In 2024, he played a full season for the first time, starting all 17 games with a career-high 1,032 snaps. An extended absence into the regular season would force Chicago to find another starting cornerback among their veteran depth, but Poles said that the team is not “overly concerned” about a long-term injury. “We’ve got a lot of faith that he’s going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back,” said Poles on Tuesday. 2023 fifth-rounder Terell Smith will likely step into a first-team role in Johnson’s absence. Chicago largely relied on a cornerback trio of Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon last year; Smith is the only remaining defensive back on the roster who played at least 150 snaps on the boundary for the Bears in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Offseason signings Nick McCloud and Tre Flowers may also see a bump in reps over the coming weeks as Johnson rehabs his leg with his eyes on returning for the Bears’ Week 1 opener against the Vikings.
Green Bay Packers: Former 7th Rounder Has Only Solidified Depth Chart Status in Impressive Training Camp
Three days of Green Bay Packers training camp are in the books and cornerback Carrington Valentine has reinforced his status as the default CB3. It’s only a minute sample size, of course, and the team hasn’t even moved to padded sessions yet. Nonetheless, it’s encouraging to see the former 232nd overall pick put down some roots in a cornerback group that will need meaningful contributions from a slew of less than household names. Carrington Valentine starts strong in Green Bay Packers training camp Writing for Packers Wire, Mark Oldacres observed that Valentine has already picked off a pair of passes in the early going. Stats don’t much much in training camp, but it’s a reflection of Valentine’s keyed-in performance thus far, which included matching up well with standout rookie receiver Matthew Golden. Each player has impressed so far in camp. The Packers are counting on Valentine to backup Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs on the depth chart, or take the field with them in nickelback formations. While he is still developing his overall tools, he already has a place on an NFL field due to his coverage skills. Says Oldacres, “Arguably Green Bay’s most gifted cover corner, Valentine is showing signs of hitting his upside in coverage specifically, although proving he is reliable enough in defending the run will still be crucial for him to truly become a full time player.” Valentine enjoyed a decent chunk of playing time last season as a sophomore, taking advantage of Jaire Alexander’s extended injury absence to amass 546 snaps. He notched the first two interceptions of his career and earned a PFF grade of 70.4, which ranked in the 80th percentile of qualified cornerbacks. With Alexander released and Eric Stokes leaving in free agency, Valentine will have an even greater opportunity in 2025. The players behind him on the depth chart are fringe reserves, draft picks, or ex-receivers (Bo Melton). The job behind Nixon and Hobbs is his to lose. If the latter hits the injured list again – Hobbs missed 17 games across his last three seasons in Las Vegas – Valentine could step into an elevated role. Promoting him naturally at some point, injuries or not, might not be such a bad thing. For his part, Oldacres is pretty high on Valentine’s potential. “Entering year three in the NFL and soon to turn 24, Valentine is probably the best bet to lift the ceiling of Green Bay’s cornerback group as a whole.”
ESPN Predicts Mets-Twins Trade One Week Before Deadline
The New York Mets are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East, but their pitching staff is still injury-ravaged despite the recent returns of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. Brandon Waddell (hip), Dedniel Nuñez (elbow), Max Kranick (flexor), Paul Blackburn (shoulder), Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (Achilles), Drew Smith (elbow), A.J. Minter (lat), Danny Young (elbow), and Christian Scott (elbow) are alll on the Mets' IL. The MLB Trade Deadline is July 31 at 6 p.m. EST, so the front office has one week to add healthy arms from around the league this season. ESPN's David Schoenfield predicted on Thursday that New York would trade for a Minnesota Twins reliever. "One guarantee of the trade deadline: The Mets will add to the bullpen, probably with more than one trade. Though the rotation still ranks fifth in ERA, that was built off a hot start," he wrote. "More importantly, the only Mets starter to complete six innings since June 7 has been David Peterson. As a result, manager Carlos Mendoza has run relievers Reed Garrett, Huascar Brazoban, Jose Butto and Ryne Stanek into the ground. The bullpen had a 2.78 ERA through May, but that figure is over 5.00 since the beginning of June (ranking near the bottom of the majors)." "The Twins have two high-profile relievers in [Jhoan] Duran and [Griffin] Jax, both of whom are under team control through 2027, so they'll be much more expensive than your usual short-term relievers if the Twins decide to trade one or both," he continued. "Duran would be harder to deal -- but bring more in return -- so we'll say Jax will go. Don't be fooled by his 4.09 ERA: He has 68 strikeouts and 12 walks in 44 innings with a 97-mph heater. He's an elite strikeout reliever, the type you want on the mound in October." The Mets are hot despite their injuries, as they're on a four-game winning streak and just swept the Los Angeles Angels. Next up is a road trip against the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. New York right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will face Giants right-hander Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA) on Friday.
Astros Star Pitching Prospect Named Top Trade Chip Ahead of Deadline
After coming off a brutal loss to the Athletics, the Houston Astros have seen their edge in the American League West start to shrink. It has been a fantastic season so far for the Astros, but with the competition in the AL West getting tougher, Houston must think about making some upgrades before the trade deadline. The recent deal that sent Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners was a clear signal they are looking to improve and make a run at the Astros in the division. The Mariners are a very good team that needed offensive help, and that is starting to come. More News: Astros Place Another Starting Pitcher on IL With Concerning Injury Houston likely will try to be aggressive to make some improvements as well. When looking at the roster, they could use a left-handed bat to help the offense, along with a middle-of-the-rotation pitcher. Depending on how aggressive the team will try to get, it could cost them some of their best prospects. Fortunately, their farm system has coveted pieces, with one prospect standing out as a potential trade option. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com recently wrote about the best trade chip for the Astros being right-handed pitching prospect Miguel Ullola. “The 23-year-old possesses a strong fastball and a solid slider, projecting as a mid-rotation starter. Houston is looking for a left-handed bat and suddenly has an opening at third base following Isaac Paredes’ recent injury.” More News: Astros Should Target Ryan O'Hearn Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline Even though Houston knows there is no such thing as too much starting pitching, Ullola is a great trade chip after the 23-year-old has posted a 3.50 ERA across 69.1 innings pitched in Triple-A. With an elite strikeout per nine rate of 11.6, there is a lot to like about the potential of Ullola going forward. As arguably the best trade chip the Astros have, they wouldn’t move him, more than likely, for just a rental player. The right-hander would be far too valuable to give up for a player for just a couple of months. More News: Astros Must Improve Offense Following Mariners Acquisition of Josh Naylor Due to the injuries to Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez, help in the lineup seems like it would be the most pressing area for them to try to upgrade. This is a unit that hasn’t been great for most of the year, but a lot of that is because of the injury to their star slugger. If it is Ullola who is dealt at the trade deadline, that would mean more than likely an impact player is coming back in return. For more Astros news, head over to Astros On SI.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
