OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Jonas concentrating on the boxing

By Sportsbeat staff, London 2012

NATASHA Jonas, the first ever Great Britain female boxer at the Olympic Games, insists she is not at London 2012 to just be a pub quiz answer.

DETERMINED: Great Britain women's boxer Natasha Jonas is not at London 2012 to make up the numbers, she claims

The 28-year-old Liverpool boxer, who was the first woman to fight in Great Britain's colours, beat USA fighter Quanita Underwood 21-13 at lightweight level over four two-minute rounds at ExCel.

But Jonas will be concentrating on her own boxing and knows that with Katie Taylor, who is world champion, next up, she can't afford to look beyond that.

"I am here to box," said the southpaw fighter.

"Anything more, like making history or breaking records, is an added bonus.

"I am not here to make up the numbers - I have been inspired by the men's team. I am going to do it bout-by-bout and when I win a gold medal I will tell you about it at the end.

"It is unfortunate I am fighting the world champion this early but one of us has got to win."

Jonas entered the ring to a deafening welcome from the home crowd as she became the first British female to fight at the Games.

She soaked up some early pressure but landed some well-aimed combinations before using her feet to dance away - however she trailed 4-3 after the first round.

The southpaw started round two with a superb jab that rocked Underwood on her feet, and while the American counter-punched well, Jonas used her right hook to overturn the deficit and lead by a point going into the third.

Jonas was starting to land her punches and she increased her lead to four points as she headed into the fourth and final round.

Underwood had to take a standing count in the final round as Jonas landed a number of uppercuts, and despite a late barrage, the British progressed to face Ireland's Taylor.

Despite the margin of victory, Jonas was disappointed with her start, but believes the home crowd helped get her going.

She said: "It was disappointing in the first round.

"She came out very strong - I just had to box.

"The crowd got behind me - that settled me down - and were amazing. It makes a change to fight with 10,000 people behind you rather than your ten teammates. How can you not want to perform?"

© Sportsbeat 2012