Mikaela Mayer Wants 3-Minute Rounds Versus Natasha Jonas and More News

 

By David A. Avila

Leave it to Mikaela Mayer to walk the talk.

The feisty Mayer confronted Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom about staging the upcoming welterweight title fight at 3-minute rounds instead of two.

He tried to balk but was pinned on the ropes.

We’ll see if Mayer (19-1, 5 Kos) vs IBF welterweight titlist Natasha Jonas (14-2-1, 9 Kos) is eventually settled on three-minute rounds when they fight on Jan. 20, 2024 in Liverpool, England.

Don’t blame Mayer if it doesn’t happen.

Back in October, it was boxing queen Amanda Serrano who fired up the Internet with a demand for 12 three-minute round championship fights. More than two dozen former and current champions signed to support the demands. Mayer was one of them.

For decades promoters have instituted two-minute rounds for women. They didn’t ask, they just did it. There is no official rule dictating it must always be two-minute rounds. There is no commission that demands it.

Promoters are one of two guilty parties. The other is the WBC or World Boxing Council.

During the press conference on Wednesday Nov. 29, both Jonas and Mayer appeared on a panel to discuss their upcoming match. Jonas apparently was unaware of Mayer’s request for three-minute rounds.

“I didn’t even know,” said Jonas about Mayer’s request for three-minute rounds. “I’ve never said no.”

Shalom admitted he was the guilty party for establishing two-minute rounds for the upcoming fight, adding that it makes for more excitement.

Why not make men’s fights two-minute rounds if that’s his reasoning. I’ve seen some horrible men’s title fights that needed to be shortened.

“I promise you give us 3-minute rounds and you will still get that work rate,” Mayer said directly to Shalom.

The Boxxer promoter is one of many males that think they know better than everyone else. Though only a handful of female 3-minute round fights have taken place, these promoters are convinced it’s a bad idea.

So far promoters have been wrong on the three-minute rounds that did take place. All have been exciting and successful. Layla McCarter fought twice and scored knockout wins. Seniesa Estrada and Marlen Esparza lit up the ring until a cut forced a stoppage. And Amanda Serrano blazed past Danila Ramos just last month in 12 three-minute rounds.

Mayer insisted the time is now to change things.

“If we don’t do it, we can’t expect any change,” Mayer said.

Incidentally, three-minute rounds would have changed the outcome of several high-profile women’s bouts. This past weekend for example between Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron.

 

Skye Nicolson Aftermath

Featherweight interim titlist Skye Nicolson resorted back to amateur ways of run and hit tactics to defeat Lucy Wildheart by stoppage due to a bloody nose. Now she wants to fight undisputed featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano.

Though the Australian featherweight has athletic gifts, running for two-minute rounds doesn’t excite anyone. It’s about punching, not avoiding exchanges. This is prizefighting, not a track meet. And knowing Serrano wants three-minute rounds, do fans want three minutes of running?

A week earlier, boxing fans saw Shakur Stevenson use the same run and hit tactics for a world title win in Las Vegas that bored the world for 12 rounds. It was excruciating to watch. Nicolson needs more experience learning to fight without running. Using angles like she mentioned is ok, but the running has to stop. That’s amateur stuff.

The pro fight world is about selling tickets or anxious eyes to watch on TV. Right now, I wouldn’t pay a nickel to watch a boxer run around the ring. Man or woman.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Leonela Yudica (20-2-3) beat Carolina Ferrari (3-5-2) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The flyweight match took place at Los Polvorines.

Eugenia Poma (4-0) won by decision after four rounds against Rocio Rodriguez on Saturday Nov. 25. The bantamweight bout took place in Villa Mercedes.

Veronica Ruiz (4-0) beat Sandra Villarruel (1-5-2) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The flyweight match took place in San Miguel.

Maria Mazzarello (5-2) beat Juliana Basualdo (11-4) by majority decision after 10 rounds on Friday Nov. 24. The South American bantamweight title match took place at Villa Maria. Also, Erica Alvarez (5-7) beat Lucia Perez (2-1) for the South American welterweight title by decision after 10.

On Saturday Dec. 2, lightweights Lorena Balbuena (1-0) and Micaela Dominguez (2-1) meet six rounds at Buenos Aires.

 

Australia

Kaye Scott (1-0) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Connie Chan (3-6) on Saturday Nov. 25. The Australian middleweight title fight took place in Sydney. Also, super lightweight Ella Boot (5-0) beat Macca Jean (1-1) in six.

Natasha Kurene (3-1) defeated Amber Amelia (3-3) by decision after six rounds on Wednesday Nov. 22. The super bantamweight fight was held in Newcastle.

 

Austria

Patricia Lager (1-0) won by decision after four rounds over Nikolett Szabo (0-7) on Saturday Nov. 25. The lightweight bout took place in Vienna.

On Saturday Dec. 2, lightweights Nicole Wesner (18-1) and Nina Pavlovic (8-5-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Vienna. Also, welterweights Michaela Kotaskova (4-0-2) and Maria Maderna (18-15-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title.

On Saturday Dec. 2, lightweights Denise Stanojev (8-0) and Bojana Liebiszewska (7-58) meet six rounds in Vienna. Also, lightweights Songuel Ayten (3-0) and Dunja Bocan (0-7) meet four rounds.

 

China

Featherweights Yuan Wang (0-0-1) and Bowen Wang (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The match was held in Chongqing.

 

Finland

On Saturday Dec. 2, super middleweights Hanna Rousu (2-0) and Elene Sikmashvili (9-10) meet eight rounds at Oulu.

 

France

Selma Renier (4-0) beat Klaudia Ferenczi (20-105-10) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The bantamweight match took place in Sete.

Odelia Ben Ephraim (5-2) defeated Lydie Bialic (2-3-1) by decision after eight rounds on Friday Nov. 24. The French featherweight title fight took place at Cahors. Also, super lightweight Elsa Hemat (5-9-2) beat Anissa Benyoub (5-3) by majority decision after six rounds.

Segolene Lefebvre (18-0) won by majority decision after 10 rounds versus Tysie Gallagher (6-2) on Friday Nov. 24. The WBO super bantamweight title match was held at Douai. Also, super featherweight Licia Boudersa (21-1-2) defeated Eva Cantos (9-15-1) in six rounds.

On Saturday Dec. 2, super lightweights Victoire Piteau (9-2) and Ksenija Medic (3-28-2) meet six rounds at Saint Maur.

 

Ireland

Katie Taylor (23-1) defeated Chantelle Cameron (18-1) by decision after 10 two-minute rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The undisputed super lightweight championship fight was held in Dublin. Also, featherweight Skye Nicolson (9-0) defeated Lucy Wildheart by technical knockout in the ninth round.

 

Italy

Martina Bernile (6-3-1) defeated Snezana Siljkovic (4-17-3) by decision after six rounds on Sunday Nov. 26. The flyweight contest was held at Granozzo.

On Sunday Dec. 3, bantamweights Giulia Lamagna (1-0) and Antonina Cuti (0-5) meet six rounds at Piemonte.

 

Japan

Riho Yoshida (4-0-1) beat Phunnakran Karnjanawong (4-2-1) by decision after six rounds on Thursday Nov. 23. The atomweight fight took place at Tsushima.

Atomweights Sara Ishiguro (2-0-1) and Mao Kamada (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four rounds on Thursday Nov. 23. The fight took place in Kanazawa.

Asako Sugawara (1-2-1) won by knockout over Naoko Mitome (0-1) in the second round on Wed. Nov. 22. The featherweight match was held in Tokyo.

On Thursday Nov. 30, atomweights Mizuki Matsuoka (1-4-2) and Mana Kawaguchi (1-2-1) meet four rounds at Tokyo.

On Monday Dec. 4, super flyweights Tsunami Tenkai (30-13-1) and Wassana Kamdee (9-9) meet eight rounds at Tokyo.

 

Macedonia

On Tuesday Nov. 28, super featherweights Elif Nur Turhan (5-0) and Kirsty Hill (6-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Tetovo. Also, light flyweights Elif Delismen (1-0) and Daisy Preston (0-11-1) meet four rounds; and flyweights Lorena Bunoza (1-0) and Kirsty Footman (0-1) meet four rounds.

 

Mexico

On Saturday Dec. 2, super featherweights Czarina McCoy (11-2) and Alejandra Rojas (4-2-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Colima.

On Saturday Dec. 2, flyweights Gloria Gallardo (14-2-2) and Danna Maldonado (4-2) meet eight rounds at Rosarito.

On Saturday Dec. 2, welterweights Prisca Vicot (14-8) and Beatriz Aguilar (7-8-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Veracruz.

 

New Zealand

On Saturday Dec. 2, super bantamweights Mea Motu (17-0) and Chandni Mehra (12-4-1) meet 10 rounds at Whangarei for the IBO world title. Also, light heavyweights Lani Daniels (9-2-2) and Desley Robinson (5-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBF world title. Plus, heavyweights Roseanna Cox (1-0) and Trish Vaka (1-6) meet six rounds.

 

Nigeria

On Sunday Dec. 3, super flyweights Lulu Kayage (8-10-4) and Mary Aina Abbey (10-0) meet six rounds at Lagos.

 

Panama

Sofia Rebolledo (3-0) beat Claudia Zarco (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The featherweight match was held in Panama City.

 

Spain

On Saturday Dec. 2, light flyweights Keylin Maradiaga (5-0) and Silviya Vasileva (0-3) meet five rounds at Alcorcon.

On Saturday Dec. 2, featherweights Fabiola Aggio (3-0) and Cristina Garganese (0-1) meet six rounds at Alicante.

 

Thailand

Weerawan Kedsukkee (7-0) defeated Suphattra Aunruean (6-2) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The light flyweight bout took place in Bangkok. Also, bantamweight Suwanan Akapunya (3-2) knocked out Wraphon Jaiteang (0-3) in the first round; and welterweight Suphannika Tanchoem (2-0) knocked out Suchaya Bualuang (0-3) in one round.

Kanyanat Chotchun (5-6) knocked out Sirintip Wuychaiphoom (0-7) in the first round on Saturday Nov. 25. The super flyweight bout took place at Pattaya.

Ketsara Jatpukdee (5-2) beat Kewalin Homhual (0-3) by decision after eight rounds on Wednesday Nov. 22. The super flyweight bout took place at Pathum Thani. Also, Ranee Klinratree (2-4) knocked out Thanasinee Sailor (0-1) in two rounds; and atomweight Muthita Iamsaard (8-1) knocked out Jiraporn Chompuwiset (0-7) in two rounds.

Nattarat Prempida (4-4-1) knocked out Ketmanee Chasing (2-4) in the fourth round on Wednesday Nov. 22. The light flyweight fight took place at Rangsit. Also, Netnapa Sunthorn (2-0) knocked out Kannika Bangnara (1-11) in the third round.

 

Turkey

On Saturday Dec. 2, flyweights Aleyna Nigar Geloglu (0-0) and Griselda Torollari (2-2) meet six rounds at Turkiye.

 

United Kingdom

Elizabeth Oshoba (6-0) beat Martina Righi (5-2) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 25. The IBO super featherweight title fight took place at Swindon. Also, super featherweight Victoria Perkins (1-0) beat Jamillette Vallejos (2-10-2) in six.

Kristina O’Hara (4-0) won by decision over Cristina Navarro (3-2) after six rounds on Friday Nov. 24. The minimumweight fight took place at London.

On Friday Dec. 1, flyweights Chloe Watson (6-0) and Justine Lallemand (9-2-1) meet 10 rounds for the EBU title at Bolton.

On Friday Dec. 1, featherweights Raven Chapman (7-0) and Lucie Sedlackova (15-1-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at London.

On Saturday Dec. 2, super flyweights Lauren Parker (7-1-1) and Giuseppina Di Stefano (7-1-1) meet 10 rounds for EBU title at Bethnal Green.

 

USA

On Friday Dec. 1, super welterweights Elia Carranza (5-1) and Yamila Reynoso (13-14-3) meet six rounds at Miami, Florida.

On Friday Dec. 1, super middleweights Nisa Rodriguez (0-0) and Jozette Cotton (0-3-1) meet four rounds in New York City.

On Friday Dec. 1, super featherweights Mia Ellis (7-1) and Angelica Rascon (10-2) meet six rounds at Houston, Texas.

On Saturday Dec. 2, super featherweights Miranda Reyes (7-1-1) and Wendellin Cruz (6-10-1) meet eight rounds at Phoenix, Arizona.

 

(Photo by Team Natasha Jonas)