Photos: Katie Taylor Tested, Overcomes a Game Natasha Jonas

At the Manchester Arena in Manchester, Katie Taylor (18-0, 6 KOs) retained the IBF, WBC, WBA, WBO lightweight titles with a ten round unanimous decision over amateur rival Natasha Jonas (9-2-1, 7 KOs). (photos by Mark Robinson)

The scores were 96-94, 96-95, 96-95.

A chess match in the first round. Both were having some trouble with the distance. Taylor was dictating the pace and getting a lot busier in the second.

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Taylor was firing with both hands in the third. Jonas was fighting back, but wasn't having the same amount of success. Jonas was tentative in the fourth as Taylor controlled the action. They were trading during the fifth, with Taylor holding the workrate advantage.

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Jonas was doing well in the sixth, landing some good punches. Taylor took them well and was firing back in bunches. Jonas continued to rally in the seventh with combinations to the head and body. In the eight, Jonas was looking to catch Taylor with counters. She was digging well to the body as Taylor came inside. Taylor had her moments as well with combinations.

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Both were taking a breather in the ninth. Taylor was doing most of the accurate work. The nose of Jonas starting to bleed. They were swinging away at the start of he tenth and final round. Both were landing well. Several hard hooks landed on Taylor and she kept coming. Taylor was throwing punches in bunches to steal the last round.

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