Natasha Jonas and Ivana Habazin agree on 'disrespectful' talks as unification fight prediction made

Natasha Jonas cut a cool and composed figure on the scales on Friday afternoon - but Ivana Habazin had already let her feelings be known. There was only one thing on Habazin’s mind when she arrived at Boxpark in Cains Brewery Village on Thursday afternoon.

She had one fight on her mind, but it wasn’t the one she is taking part in this weekend. The bout in question is Natasha Jonas’ proposed showdown against Lauren Price.

Jonas has already confirmed to the ECHO that she has agreed to a fight with the former Team GB star. But first, she has the small matter of a unification showdown with Habazin at the Exhibition Centre tonight.

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Habazin, who weighed in at 10 stone 6lbs, had already claimed earlier this week that Jonas only beat Mikaela Mayer because of 'a hometown decision', then, on the eve of the fight, she hit out at the 'disrespectful' talk surrounding an all-British affair between Jonas and Price.

"Let me tell you, I have been fighting in many big fights and promotions, but this is kind of disrespectful because all these talks of Jonas and Price, I'm a f****** world champion," she said.

"All this talk is like nobody respects me; that should never happen; it's disrespectful to me and Tasha because we are fighting. I came here to fight. I believe in myself. I'm here to flip the script!"

Jonas, who also weighed in at 10 stone 6lbs, expressed sympathy to her Croatian opponent as she admitted that all the talk about a fight with Price, which is expected to take place early next year, was indeed disrespectful.

"I'm contracted to do that fight; that's the fight I've signed up for, but so many things happen, and you have to win the fight in front of you," she said.

"Like Habazin said, it's disrespectful to keep mentioning me and Lauren in front of her before Saturday.

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Pressed for a prediction, Jonas added: "I'm going to get the win, that's it. I think she's a great boxer with great fundamentals, but everything she does, I think I'm better at."

Meanwhile, Frankie Stringer has vowed to make a statement when he takes on Tatenda Mangombe on the undercard tonight.

He said: "I can’t wait to show people what I am about. I hope he [Liam Smith] can just keep guiding me the right way, and hopefully we can push on and get to the top.

“Expect a statement on Saturday, and at the start of next year I am going to be pushing on for titles. I will put on a show.”

While Mikie Tallon, who is managed by Jonas, has the chance to end his second year as a professional on a high when he takes on Benn Norman.

“I expect to come out of this weekend's fight with a win," he said. "It doesn't matter how I get it, stoppage or points; I expect to come out with a win.

“I take a lot from Tasha. I watch everything she does in the training camps, what she goes through; it is inspiring to think that is what I should be doing and shouldn’t be doing.”