Natasha Jonas v Lauren Price: Liverpudlian on ‘sliding doors’ moments which led to glory

Jonas called time on her amateur career in 2014 with a record of 57 wins and 26 defeats. She gave birth to her daughter, Mila, and was happy to never box again.

That soon changed after the pro debut of a trailblazing Irishwoman and a phone call from a former Team GB team-mate.

“I did some punditry work for Katie Taylor’s debut and Tom Stalker phoned me afterwards,” Jonas explains.

“He said there will be a lot of opportunity for pro females now and asked if I’d ever think of coming back? I said ‘shut up, Tom’.”

Jonas says she was “happy with her routine”. Mila had turned two and was in nursery and the media work was keeping her busy.

But Stalker’s words kept ringing in her ear. After speaking to her immediate family, Jonas realised the boxing fire was still burning.

“I phoned two cousins, my mum and dad,” Jonas adds. “I trusted their judgement and they knew the good and bad side to boxing.

“They were there for me when I cried for two days, after losing to Katie in the amateurs.

“But they all gave me their support and said I had nothing to worry about, especially as far as the baby is concerned.”

Turning pro was a decision that paid off. In February 2022, Jonas stopped Chris Namus to become light-middleweight world champion and has since won all five world-title level fights.

“If I could go back and talk to myself in some of those hardest moments earlier in life, I’d say ‘chin up, kid, it all works out in the end’,” she says.