Natasha Jonas retained her IBF welterweight title with a close split-decision win over at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena.
Both women enjoyed success in a terrific back-and-forth, all-action encounter, in a result which will divide opinion.
The scorecards read 96-94, 96-95 to Jonas, with one judge scoring it 97-93 to Mayer.
Perhaps it was home advantage which ultimately proved the difference.
“She is in the top two people who I have fought. Please use this as motivation to get the title you deserve and become a two-weight world champion.”
In front of her home crowd in Liverpool, Jonas continued a golden period in the twilight of her career.
After her win the 39-year-old two-weight world champion said this will be her last year in boxing after she extended her record to 15 wins, two defeats and one draw.
American Mayer, 33, lost on points for the second time in her 21-fight career. Having felt she did enough to win, she called for a rematch.
“It’s disappointing but what am I going to do?” she said.
“I just hope that Tasha will be the stand-up champ that she is and give me another shot.”
