Natasha Jonas’ trainer Joe Gallagher has put up a strong defence of his fighter in response to the controversy surrounding her victory over Mikaela Mayer.
The IBF welterweight world champion successfully defended her world title on Saturday night in Liverpool, though there were more than a few dissenting voices when the result was read out.
Jonas beat Mayer by a debatable split decision, which talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan did not agree with.
“I think it was a harsh decision on Mikaela Mayer,” he said on White and Jordan on Monday.
“I’m a huge Natasha Jonas fan, I think she does most things right in the way she articulates, the way she’s performed, and the way she’s gone on and got her world titles.
“But I think it’s a difficult case to argue that she won that fight.”
Gallagher joined the show after Jordan made these comments and responded: “Listen, Natasha Jonas obviously defended her world title, she’s the champion, she was in Liverpool.
“And when you’re a challenger in someone else’s back yard then you’ve got to rip the title away, and she didn’t rip the title away the other night.
“Natasha Jonas stuck to the game plan, got rounds banked early on, we knew it would be hard down the straight and we hung in there and we got the win.
“I think the controversy is 97-93 for Mayer, I don’t know what that judge was watching.
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“If Mayer had won by one round, not a problem. If Tasha had won like she has done, not a problem.
“But to say it’s a robbery, it wasn’t a robbery, it was a hard-fought contest between two girls.
“Dan Rafael had Natasha Jonas winning, Timothy Bradley had Natasha Jonas winning. People who know boxing know what they were looking for.”
One of Sky Sports’ commentators on Saturday night was Gallagher’s fellow British trainer Dave Coldwell, who famously used to coach Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora.
After receiving criticism for his narration in Jonas’ favour, Coldwell took to social media on Monday and said: “Looking at Twitter comments I was about to leave the country, but decided to watch #JonasMayer back.
“I’m fairly happy with the first seven rounds! Felt Mayer was winning and was calling her good work. Round eight I found so hard to split and as we don’t score think I got wrapped up in all the drama of a brilliant battle. My mistake.
“Went quiet on the last couple rounds and that’s where I think I lost it. I never said Jonas won. But I’ve been around ringside enough times to sense a different outcome to what I expect and I said on air I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a draw.
“Watching back – where I had the feeling Jonas pulled it back, I got that wrong. Mayer closed strong and I had her wider than what I thought on the night.”
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Gallagher hit out at Coldwell on Monday as he said: “Mikaela Mayer came over, she gave it a good effort, but she didn’t rip the title away and she didn’t win it.
“If you go back, sit down and look at it – who landed the cleaner shots?
“Mikaela Mayer, alright, she came forward, she landed some good shots, she won some rounds. But every time she threw, Natasha responded back.
She counter-punched her, she check-hooked with her, and everybody should be talking about what a great performance it was from Natasha Jonas and what an inspirational figure she is for the city of Liverpool.
“Even Sky’s commentary, they’re backtracking on it now, Dave Coldwell, why was he commentating? Where was Carl Froch, Matthew Macklin, guys that know their boxing.”
Jonas spoke for herself on Monday also, giving her reflection on the talkSPORT Breakfast.
“I think we always knew it was gonna be a hard, tough fight, she admitted, “That’s why I said I wanted to get a good start and finish strong.
“I did give away a few of the middle rounds because she adapted and that’s what highly skilled, elite athletes do.
“That just kept on happening and it made for a great fight.”
Jonas continued. “I genuinely thought I had it.
“I haven’t watched it back yet and I can never score a round perfectly when I’m in there, so I always rely on what Joe’s telling me.
“There’s been times against Terri Harper and Katie Taylor when he’s said, ‘You’re behind, you need to go and have a big round.’
“So I was listening to his instruction and I believe I was ahead.”
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