'Jonas-Mayer can be Hagler-Hearns of women's boxing'

Briton Natasha Jonas says she must beat Mikaela Mayer on Saturday in Liverpool if she is to cement her legacy.

Jonas, 39, defends her IBF welterweight title against former unified super-featherweight champion Mayer, who is considered among the world's best.

Mayer's coach Al Mitchell even compared the fight to the classic 1985 contest between Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns.

"For me to class myself as one of the best in this era, I have to fight the best," Jonas said.

"I look at some of the boxers on the list, the Katie Taylors, the Chantelle Camerons - they've beaten people in that top 10 pound-for-pound list and for me to be able to solidify a legacy for myself, I have to do the same."

Speaking at a news conference in Liverpool on Thursday, Jonas cut a relaxed figure.

It is the first time since Jonas became a two-weight world champion that she has fought in her hometown. Earlier this week, a mural of the former Olympian was unveiled near where she grew up.

"It's been a honour this week and privilege to be celebrated and recognised by the community and city that shaped me into the woman I've become," she said.

Jonas is riding a purple patch in her career, picking up four world titles in two different weight classes in 22 months.

Mayer is on the comeback trail, having been a unified champion at super-featherweight.

The American moved up to welterweight after losing her world titles to Alicia Baumgardner at the end of 2022. This is her first world championship fight at the new weight.

Mayer, 33, says she has had no issues with the move up, saying: "I have the experience. I have the strength. I have the skill."

Sitting beside the two women at the top table were their long-time coaches. Joe Gallagher has trained Jonas since she turned pro in 2017, while Mitchell has coached Mayer since her amateur days on the American Olympic team.

"Natasha isn't just your normal fighter, she's something special. Everything she touches, she turns to gold. She's right up there with the best I've ever trained," Gallagher said of his fighter.

Mitchell was full of praise for Jonas as a champion and suggested Saturday's fight could be remembered in the same way as Hearns and Hagler's 1985 middleweight epic.

"I think this is the Tommy Hearns and Hagler fight, only it's two women," Mitchell said.

"I think this has got a chance of being fight of the year. But I guarantee you, I think this is going to be like Tommy Hearns and Hagler.

"Anybody watched that fight, every minute, every second, everybody going to be watching.

"We should get more boxers like this. They're not throwing anything at each other, they're just focusing on this fight.

"We need more men like these two ladies. They're stepping up. They don't care who they fight."