Natasha Jonas Opens Up About Traumatic Birth and Return to Boxing After Having a Child

Natasha Jonas, the two-weight world champion, has shared her emotional journey of becoming a mother and returning to boxing stronger than ever. After suffering an injury that kept her out of the 2016 Rio Olympics qualifiers, Jonas decided it was the right time to have a child. However, she initially believed that giving birth meant saying goodbye to her boxing career.

“I think the reason for the pregnancy was because I’d made my mind up to retire, and that was the hardest decision I had to make because there was no professional scene at the time, so I was effectively saying goodbye to boxing,” Jonas revealed.

The birth of her daughter, Mila, was not an easy one. Jonas went into labor a month early and had to endure a traumatic experience where her daughter had to be manually turned around before she had a C-section. Despite the challenges, Jonas found strength in her daughter and used her as motivation to make a comeback to the sport she loves.

“I’ll always train because that’s just a part of who I am and what I’ve done my whole life. But I was never training like an athlete. I was just training to half keep fit or get back to some form of shape,” Jonas shared.

Now, as a mother, Jonas believes she is mentally stronger in the ring. She has found a new perspective that allows her to separate her home life from her work life, giving her the balance she needs to excel in both areas.

Jonas’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by pregnant athletes and the need for a better understanding and support system within the boxing community. Her journey is a testament to the strength and resilience of women in sports, proving that motherhood can indeed make them stronger both inside and outside the ring.