Lauren Value dismissed Natasha Jonas’ jibe at her Olympic medal profitable effort.
Rival world champions Jonas and Value combat for the IBF, WBC and WBA welterweight world titles on the Royal Albert Corridor on Friday, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Value was an Olympic gold medallist on the Tokyo Video games in 2021, however Jonas was not intimidated by that accolade.
“When all the great individuals had left,” Jonas stated of Value’s Olympic win.
“You might need the credentials on paper, however relating to the skilled ring, I do not assume she’s had that.”
Whereas Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall had turned skilled by the point Value received her middleweight gold medal, the Welsh star nonetheless needed to overcome a roster of elite opponents to succeed in the highest of the rostrum in Japan.
On the Tokyo Video games, Value needed to beat boxers like Atheyna Bylon (a World champion and Olympic silver medallist), Nouchka Fontijn (an Olympic silver medallist) and Qian Li (gold medallist at Paris 2024).
Responding to Jonas’ barb, Value advised Sky Sports activities: “She would not know what she’s speaking about.”
Value, who additionally received World, European and Commonwealth Video games gold medals as an beginner, stated: “On the finish of the day she’s solely saying that to attempt to get underneath my pores and skin. It isn’t going to work. It is all she’s bought actually.
“To get to the Olympics and to face on high of the rostrum, there is not any simple method, there is not any simple route. Even to qualification, even to get there. So she’s chatting a little bit of garbage there.
“I respect her. She’s an Olympian,” Value added of Jonas. “I respect anybody who will get within the ring. however you have a look at my beginner background, most embellished beginner to come back out of GB, I’m going to have individuals who envy me just a little bit.
“I do not take any discover of that. I deal with what I am good at, at what I can obtain. And she will assume what she needs.”
Value is satisfied that she is going to rise to the event towards Jonas.
“I get pleasure from being underneath the lights. Some individuals do not prefer it. I like it. Do not get me unsuitable, the coaching’s arduous however evening’s like that, underneath the lights, while you win and also you get your hand raised, it is particular,” she stated.
“I really feel like I have never actually been examined examined but. I really feel like Tasha brings one other degree out of me, if I am sincere.
“However I imagine there’s a lot extra to come back from me.”
She is anticipating Friday’s combat to be a milestone in her skilled development.
“We discuss concerning the evening – it is going to be historic. However the opponent Jonas is, the identify that she is, I imagine it makes me greater in and out of doors of the ring,” Value stated.
“So I am excited for that. I really feel prefer it’s a turning level in my profession as properly. However it’s a combat that I do know I’ll win properly. I am simply too good.
“I discuss my legacy, greatness, and it is a stepping stone to getting there with this combat. It is a large combat. An enormous British combat and it begins March 7.”
Watch Natasha Jonas combat Lauren Value on the Royal Albert Corridor reside on Sky Sports activities on Friday March 7.