Natasha Jonas pushed Katie Taylor hard on Saturday night but was unable to defeat the undisputed lightweight champion.
The fight at the AO Arena in Manchester was said by some to have been the fight of the year, and Taylor acknowledged her rival’s talents despite beating her once as a professional and before that in the amateurs on the Olympic circuit.
BoxingScene.com reported Jonas paying tribute to her team, saying: “If Carlsberg did teams, friends and families it would have made mine. What a camp, it had to be the best because I was fighting the best!
“Not the result I wanted, but I continue to prove world level is where I belong.
“Thanks to all my sparring partners, my two cousins, mum and nan who were run ragged all bubble week by my little girl. My uncles who let me use their gyms and equipment, Vicki for her helping hand, Oli for the pics, Melissa for the kit, my sponsors which goes without saying, Tom, Mike and Anto for getting me the opportunity in the first place, everyone at the gym for dragging me through sessions, and Jonny, Scott and Pri for all of the mental and physical changes.”
“Lastly, because the man never gets the credit he deserves, the sacrifices he makes camp after camp, time and effort putting plans together, always going above and beyond his role, to Joe, as nobody gave me a chance or believed in me after Obenauf.”
At 36, Jonas is not entertaining thoughts of retirement as says that she will continue to search for a world title - and has already said she wants a rematch with Taylor.
“We dissected every part of me and built me back up to that fight. I will be a world champion, the journey continues,” she continued.
“I’m forever grateful for all of the messages and support from the fans too. We go again!”