Double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones has revealed her arrival in professional boxing with a stunning second-round knockout victory. The athlete from Wales, who claimed Olympic gold medals in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeated Egypt Criss in her boxing debut at Misfits Duel 2 in Derby. Jones required only two rounds to secure victory, dispatching her opponent with three successive left hooks. The 32-year-old from Flint made the bold switch from taekwondo after two decades in the sport, pursuing an ambitious target of achieving world champion status in two separate sports. Her first fight marks the beginning of an remarkable new phase in her athletic career.
From Taekwondo Supremacy to Boxing Triumph
Jade Jones’ move from taekwondo to boxing showcases one of sport’s most intriguing career pivots. After spending two decades perfecting her craft in taekwondo and reaching the sport’s pinnacle with back-to-back Olympic gold medals, the Welsh champion decided she needed a new challenge. At 32 years old, Jones made the courageous decision to exchange her taekwondo gloves for boxing ones at the beginning of last year, embarking on a completely new professional journey in a sport where she had zero previous competitive experience.
Jones has built a team with professional mentorship to advance her progress in the boxing ring. Working with former professional boxer Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith at the renowned 4 Corners Gym, she has received world-class coaching. Additionally, Jones finds motivation in her ex-training partner Lauren Price, a world title holder in boxing who successfully navigated her own diverse athletic pursuits before focusing exclusively on professional boxing. Price’s track record of competing at elite levels in multiple combat sports and football before achieving peak performance in boxing has offered Jones a blueprint for her ambitious goals.
- Gold medals at the Olympics earned in London 2012 and Rio 2016
- Working out at Liverpool’s renowned 4 Corners Gym with Swifty Smith
- Inspired by unified champion Lauren Price’s multi-sport success
- Ambitious target of achieving world champion in two sports
A Impressive Showing in the Ring
Jade Jones’ boxing debut at Misfits Duel 2 in Derby was a striking display of ambition. Facing Egypt Criss, child of music legends Anthony ‘Treach’ Criss from Naughty by Nature and Sandra ‘Pepa’ Denton from Salt-N-Pepa, Jones showcased the raw power and technical skill that characterized her taekwondo career. The Welsh champion’s performance suggested that her transition between sports would not be merely ceremonial but truly competitive, as she dominated her opponent with clinical efficiency and devastating striking ability.
The match demonstrated Jones’ natural athleticism and her ability to translate her fighting background into the squared circle. Despite possessing no professional boxing experience, she exhibited the composure and ring awareness expected of a seasoned fighter. Her victory was far more than a close decision but rather a overwhelming showing that made clear her standing as a genuine boxing contender. The quickness and strength of her combinations hinted that her Olympic background would serve her well in this fresh stage of her professional journey.
The Critical Second Round
The pivotal moment came in the next round when Jones launched a powerful sequence of punches that ended the contest. Three back-to-back left hooks overwhelmed Criss, with the final blow dropping her to the mat and compelling the referee to stop the bout. The KO win was dominant and controlled, highlighting Jones’ ability to identify and capitalize on her opponent’s weaknesses with perfect timing. This dramatic conclusion embodied the nature of her boxing debut—quick, definitive, and utterly convincing.
Jones’ second-round knockout reinforced her lofty aspiration of becoming a world champion in two different sports. The impressive nature of her debut victory suggests that her objective is not merely aspirational but realistically attainable considering her commitment and world-class instruction. The speed with which she dispatched Criss indicated that the transition from taekwondo to professional boxing may be easier than many expected, creating the foundation for an intriguing journey toward championship glory in her adopted sport.
Training and Inspiration Behind the Victory
Jones’ rapid success in the boxing ring did not stem from a vacuum but rather from a carefully structured training regimen under the guidance of veteran coaches. Since starting her boxing career at the beginning of last year, she has been partnering with former professional boxer Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith at Liverpool’s iconic 4 Corners Gym. This collaboration has been crucial in translating her taekwondo skills into proficient boxing form, allowing her to preserve the sharpness and dynamism that marked her Olympic career while acclimating to the unique challenges of professional boxing sport.
The decision to pursue boxing represented a deliberate decision to seek fresh challenges after 20 years of dominance in taekwondo. At 32 years old, Jones demonstrated remarkable courage in abandoning a sport where she had attained the peak of success—Olympic gold medals in both London 2012 and Rio 2016—to start again at a beginner’s level in a distinct discipline. Her lofty target of achieving the status of a world champion in two sports gave her the motivation to embrace this major career transition, turning what could have been a retirement into an exciting fresh beginning of athletic achievement.
Studying with Professional Boxers
Jones has gained substantial inspiration from unified world boxing champion Lauren Price, who was her former room-mate and shares a similarly diverse sporting background. Price’s own path across multiple combat sports—including football for Wales, kickboxing, and taekwondo—before transitioning to professional boxing provided a compelling blueprint for success. This mentorship from someone who had already navigated a comparable path proved invaluable, offering actionable advice and psychological encouragement as Jones started her own boxing career with resolve and self-assurance.
- Training at 4 Corners Gym under coach Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith’s professional instruction
- Receiving guidance from unified world champion Lauren Price’s diverse athletic background
- Utilizing two decades of Olympic taekwondo knowledge to boxing at the professional level
Lofty Objectives in a Emerging Athletic Discipline
Jones’ move into boxing came with a strikingly ambitious objective: to become a international champion in multiple sports. This ambitious target served as the driving force behind her transition from taekwondo, where she had already achieved the competition’s greatest achievements. At 32 years old, rather than resting on her Olympic success, Jones elected to push herself in an entirely new arena, demonstrating the competitive spirit that had shaped her lengthy career spanning two decades in taekwondo. Her goal demonstrates not merely a desire for a fresh start, but a resolve to solidify her legacy as one of sport’s most versatile and successful performers across different fields.
The journey to global championship standing in boxing presents a markedly distinct challenge from her earlier successes. Unlike taekwondo, where Jones had spent decades mastering technique and accumulating expertise, she enters the boxing world as a newcomer to the sport competing against fighters with substantial professional experience. However, her impressive debut showing—a second-round KO victory featuring three successive left hooks—suggests she possesses the innate ability and technical skillset necessary to advance quickly through the ranks. If Jones can keep this momentum while continuing to develop her boxing skills under expert coaching, her lofty dual-title ambition may prove far more achievable than first seemed.