Tasmanian Krystina “Mousey” Jacobs wins boxing world title
Krystina “Mousey” Jacobs is flying the flag for Tassie women in sport after delivering a knockout blow in her world title bout.
Tasmania
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- She hasn’t done her research ... but it’s all part of the plan
- Krystina Jacobs has opened up on her upcoming world title fight
TASMANIA has a new world champion after pocket-rocket Krystina “Mousey” Jacobs took down experienced Victorian Lorrinda Webb for the WIBA super-featherweight crown at City Hall on Saturday night.
The first women’s world title fight in Tasmanian history was almost all over in the second round when the home-grown hero dropped Webb with a savage left hook and the crowd erupted.
But the 33-year-old southpaw from Bendigo took the standing count and recovered, and the pair set about an epic battle over 10 rounds.
Jacobs controlled the fight using her straight right and left hook to great effect, leaving Webb the worse for wear.
When the bell ended the contest, the crowd roared as the judges unanimously gave the fight to “Mousey”, a 24-year-old kitchen bench-top builder from Hobart.
Jacobs doesn’t say much, but the smile and relief on her face said it for her as she proudly displayed the world title belt.
Jacobs‘ trainer Adrian Lovell could not be more proud of his tenacious Tasmanian tiger.
“When ’Mousey’ dropped her in the second round, I thought she was gone,” Lovell said.
“To Lorrinda’s credit, she is very tough.
“As a boxing match, it’s probably one of the best you will ever see – from both girls, they came to fight.
“I very proud of ‘Mousey’. It hasn’t sunk in yet.
“It has been a long process but we couldn’t be happier.”
Jacobs will take a well-earned break before considering a title defence in Hobart.
‘Mousey’ primed for shot at world title (Saturday, March 27)
POCKET-SIZED wrecking ball Krystina Jacobs hopes to create history in Hobart tonight by winning the first women’s boxing world title fight held in Tasmania without doing a scrap of homework over her Victorian opponent Lorrinda Webb.
Apart from knowing Webb is a hard-nosed southpaw, home-grown hero ‘Mousey’ Jacobs knows little else about the tenacious 30-year-old from Bendigo heading into their sell-out WIBA Super Featherweight showdown – and that’s the way she likes it.
After weighing in at the fight venue City Hall, Jacobs revealed what she knew about Webb.
“Nothing. I don’t do that,” Jacobs said.
“I’ll just see what it is when I get in there.
“I don’t want to over-think it and keep replaying it over in my head.
“I just worry about myself and what I need to do.”
Only hours before the weigh-in Jacobs needed to shed 200g, which she took care of with a sauna and a bath.
Then it was time for a sports drink and plate of carbonara.
“I can’t wait to have a Gatorade, that’s what I’ve been hanging out for, and a bit of pasta – it’s sitting there ready to go,” she said.
“My body is in the best shape it has ever been in.”
Promoter Grant Brown said more big-ticket bouts would come to Hobart if ‘Mousey’ wins.
“It is the first women’s world title fight in Tasmanian history so if she wins the title she will defend it here,” Brown said.
“They are both very talented fighters – it’s a 50-50 fight. It’s going to be great.”
Bo Belbin, who featured on the undercard of the Jeff Horn-Michael Zerafa clash in August 2019, will take on Queenslander Peter De Groot in his 43rd professional fight and first at home in eight years.
“I’m used to it now – it’s now just the anticipation and waiting to get it on,” Belbin said.
Tasmania’s former Australian cruiserweight champion Jayden “Plugger” Joseph takes on heavy-hitting veteran Uria Afamasaga.
The 44-year-old says if he loses to Joseph he will never fight again, and 27-year-old “Plugger” looks forward to speed up the gentle giant’s retirement.
“Kudos to Uria for taking the fight but I think I can win,” Joseph said.
EARLIER: IT’S already a sell-out bout and local hero Krystina Jacobs and her opponent Victorian Lorrinda Webb are determined to make their WIBA Super featherweight world title stoush a block-buster in Hobart on Saturday night.
‘Mousey’ Jacobs is fit and firing on the eve of the historic event, and Webb says she has never been more ready to fight.
Both say they are ready to take down the other and claim the women’s world crown – the first women’s world title fight in Tasmania.
“It’s the best I’ve ever felt and my body is in the best shape it has ever been,” Jacobs said.
The hard-working local, who works at Vos Construction building benchtops, has a few new tricks up her sleeve.
“I’ve added in a lot of different stuff that you’re going to see on the night – I’m not going to say what it is though,” Jacobs said.
Webb is also at peak fitness.
“I just can’t wait to get back in there and do my thing,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity. It’s not all about the bout it’s about getting back to doing what I love and showing everyone what I can do.”
Jacobs’ trainer Adrian Lovell said ‘Mousey’ had “lived, eaten and breathed” her lead-up to the fight.
“Whoever wins this is looking at top 10, top five in world boxing. It will boost them up the rankings. This is the most prestigious belt for women in boxing,” Lovell said.
Fight promoter Grant Brown said there would have to be a lock-out at City Hall on fight night.
“There is so much buzz around the fight. We sold out days ago,” he said.
“The COVID limit was 860 people. I’ve promoted Daniel Geale and Luke Jackson fights, but this is a world title fight so it’s a dream for me and it’s great Tasmanians are supporting it.
“I can’t even get a ticket for my mother.”
There is a 10-fight amateur undercard before the pros step on the canvas.
Originally published as Tasmanian Krystina “Mousey” Jacobs wins boxing world title