Natasha Jonas: Boxing champion's Liverpool mural tribute

Natasha Jonas is proud of the mural in the streets where she grew up

A mural celebrating the achievements of a world boxing champion has been unveiled in Liverpool.

Created by British Street Art collective, MurWalls, the mural is close to Natasha Jonas's childhood home in Toxteth.

She said it has been an "honour" to be recognised with the mural.

"The streets of Toxteth made me. I'm proud to be from these streets. I'm proud to be from Liverpool," Ms Jonas said.

The 39-year-old makes the first defence of her IBF welterweight world title on Saturday in Liverpool.

Ms Jonas said: "Growing up there were a lot of stereotypes about Toxteth and what you could be if you were from there.

"I was just a little girl from these streets chasing my dreams. There's been a lot of hard work and ups and downs along the way, but I've made those dreams come true"

The mural on Elway Road is just a training run away from the home where Ms Jonas grew up and she has never forgotten the support she received locally.

'You can achieve your dreams'

"Without these streets and without the support of the community, I would never have grown into the person I am now," she said.

"I hope this mural can help inspire more people like me and show that no matter where you're from, what your circumstances are or what people say, you can achieve your dreams. Don't let anyone tell you who you can become, that's on you!"

Ms Jonas was the first woman to represent Great Britain in boxing when she entered the ring at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the first woman to win the prestigious British Boxer of the Year award from the British Boxing Board of Control in 2022.

Having previously unified the WBC, WBO and IBF super welterweight world titles, Jonas became a two-weight world champion when defeating Kandi Wyatt for the IBF welterweight world crown in July.

In October she became the first black woman to obtain a British Boxing Board of Control manager's licence.