Natasha Jonas v Ivana Habazin - Tale of the Tape: Weight, height, reach, trainers, records & more

We analyse the credentials and statistics of Natasha Jonas and Ivana Habazin as they get set to square-off in a showdown for the Jonas' IBF title and Habazin's WBC strap in Liverpool this weekend.

This Saturday night Natasha Jonas is looking to become a two-weight unified world champion

A far cry from a career which was on shaky legs in her seventh fight after she was beaten and stopped by Viviane Obenauf. The rebound, however, has been remarkable and the veteran is now, pound-for-pound, one of the best female fighters in the world.

However, as close as Jonas is to a third welterweight title, she is also one loss away from possibly retiring and the woman responsible could be Ivana Habazin.

But will the Croatian finally land the big win she has been craving?

Let’s look at the 'Tale of the Tape'...

Natasha Jonas v Ivana Habazin - Tale of the Tape

	Natasha Jonas	Ivana Habazin
Age:	40	35
Nickname:	N/A	N/A
Height:	5ft 8ins	5ft 8ins
Reach:	68ins	66 ½ins
Weight:	Welterweight	Lightweight
Trainer:	Joe Gallagher	Unknown
Record:	15-2-1 (9 KOs)	23-5 (7 KOs)
Last Fight:	W (SD) v Mikaela Mayer (Jan 2024)	W (UD) v Kinga Magyar (Apr 2024)
Odds:	1/10	6/1

Natasha Jonas - In Profile

After a glittering career, former Miss Team GB Natasha Jonas is writing the final chapter of a story that could still have the happiest of endings

While Saturday night’s unification bout against Ivana Habazin will be foremost in her thoughts, Jonas knows that this next fight is part of a bigger picture.

Victory against Habazin, which everyone expects, will lead the likeable Liverpudlian towards a showdown with WBA champion Lauren Price where three belts would be on the line.

For those that know about the career of Jonas, however, they will recall her rivalry with Irish golden girl Katie Taylor. One which began during their amateur days and culminated at the 2012 Olympic Games where Taylor won before going on to win gold at lightweight.

Their story was not over, though. Nine years later they would meet in the pro ranks for Taylor’s trio of lightweight world titles. The result was the same but not without controversy as some, including Jonas’s trainer Joe Gallagher, believe she won, and to this day he still maintains that.

But first comes Habazin. A points win for Jonas is the safe tip. Only complacency can get in the way.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Work-rate	Sometimes overreaches with shots
Backhand	Carries chin high
Comfortable in exchanges	Open to opponent’s backhand
Good on the front or back foot	Allows opponents back into fights

Ivana Habazin - In Profile

Don’t expect Ivana Habazin to be fazed when she makes her ring-walk on Saturday night inside the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool. The Croatian may be on Jonas’ home turf but Habazin has the type of experience that will make her immune to whatever atmosphere greets her.

The 35-year-old has not only shared the ring with Claressa Shields, which included a hostile build-up, but also Cecilia Braekhus and Terri Harper. Female boxing’s Mount Rushmore could easily feature Shields and Braekhus and there would be little argument about it.

Habazin knows how to fight, compete and hang with the best.

While her resume features this talented trio – a quartet after Saturday – she has lost on each occasion which brings about the phrase ‘Bridesmaid but never the bride’. Yet, despite this, she is a two-time welterweight world champion and will bring the WBC title to the ring on Saturday night.

Like Jonas, her Croatian adversary is nearing the end of her career. Habazin is slowing somewhat and depends a lot on boxing on the backfoot and winning exchanges. Jonas is equally good at the latter and can turn her own front foot boxing into the type of pressure where you have nowhere to run.

Two minute rounds will do Habazin a favour come Saturday night because any longer and she could potentially be dropped and stopped. On paper she is a world champion but that ends on Saturday night.

Stengths:	Weaknesses:
Mobility	Speed
Jab	Defence
One-two combination	Punching technique
Durability	Fourth