Double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones has revealed her arrival in professional boxing with a stunning second-round knockout victory. The Welsh athlete, 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 consecutive left hooks. The 32-year-old from Flint made the daring transition from taekwondo after 20 years in the sport, pursuing an ambitious target of achieving world champion status in two different disciplines. Her first fight marks the start of an extraordinary new chapter in her athletic career.
From Taekwondo Dominance to Boxing Glory
Jade Jones’ move from taekwondo to boxing showcases one of sport’s most intriguing career pivots. After spending two decades mastering her craft in taekwondo and achieving 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 brave decision to exchange her taekwondo gloves for boxing ones at the beginning of last year, starting a completely new professional journey in a sport where she had no earlier competitive experience.
Jones has built a team with expert guidance to speed up her growth in the sport of boxing. Learning from ex-pro boxer Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith at the renowned 4 Corners Gym, she has gained access to world-class coaching. Additionally, Jones looks up to her former room-mate Lauren Price, a world title holder in boxing who effectively managed her own multi-sport career before focusing exclusively on boxing as a career. Price’s track record of competing at the highest levels in multiple combat sports and football before finding ultimate success in boxing has offered Jones a roadmap to her ambitious goals.
- Olympic gold medals earned in London 2012 and Rio 2016
- Training at Liverpool’s iconic 4 Corners Gym with Swifty Smith
- Motivated by unified champion Lauren Price’s success across multiple sports
- Ambitious target of becoming world champion in multiple sports
A Stunning Performance 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 displayed the explosive power and technical precision that marked her taekwondo career. The Welsh champion’s performance indicated that her move across disciplines would not be merely ceremonial but authentically challenging, as she dismantled her opponent with precise execution and powerful striking.
The fight showcased Jones’ innate physical prowess and her ability to translate her combat sports expertise into the boxing ring. Despite lacking any previous boxing credentials, she displayed the composure and ring awareness typical of a seasoned fighter. Her triumph was far more than a close decision but rather a commanding performance that demonstrated beyond question her credentials as a legitimate boxing competitor. The speed and power of her punching combinations hinted that her Olympic experience would work in her favor in this next phase of her athletic path.
The Crucial Second Round
The pivotal moment came in the second round when Jones launched a brutal series of strikes that ended the contest. Three consecutive left hooks were too much Criss, with the closing strike dropping her to the mat and compelling the referee to stop the bout. The KO win was decisive and precise, highlighting Jones’ skill in recognizing and take advantage of her opponent’s vulnerabilities with exact timing. This spectacular ending embodied the nature of her boxing debut—swift, decisive, and completely dominant.
Jones’ second-round knockout strengthened her ambitious goal of becoming a world champion in two different sports. The striking quality of her debut victory indicates that her target is not merely aspirational but realistically attainable considering her commitment and elite-level coaching. The pace at which she defeated Criss indicated that the transition from taekwondo to professional boxing may be easier than many expected, creating the foundation for an compelling path toward championship glory in her new discipline.
Training and Inspiration Behind the Victory
Jones’ rapid success in the boxing ring did not stem from a vacuum but rather from a meticulously planned training program under the guidance of seasoned experts. Since beginning her boxing journey 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 working relationship has been crucial in translating her taekwondo skills into proficient boxing form, allowing her to maintain the sharpness and dynamism that defined her Olympic career while adapting to the unique challenges of professional boxing contests.
The decision to take up boxing represented a deliberate decision to pursue new challenges following two decades of dominance in taekwondo. At 32 years old, Jones demonstrated exceptional courage in abandoning a sport where she had achieved the pinnacle of success—Olympic gold medals in both London 2012 and Rio 2016—to begin anew at a beginner’s level in a distinct discipline. Her lofty target of becoming a world champion in two sports provided the motivation to embrace this significant shift in her career, turning what could have been a retirement into an exciting new chapter 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 comparably varied sporting background. Price’s own path across multiple combat sports—including Welsh football, kickboxing, and taekwondo—before moving into professional boxing provided a compelling blueprint for success. This mentorship from someone who had already traversed a similar path proved invaluable, offering practical insights and mental support as Jones embarked on her own boxing career with resolve and self-assurance.
- Working out at 4 Corners Gym under coach Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith’s expert guidance
- Learning from from unified world champion Lauren Price’s multi-sport experience
- Leveraging 20 years of Olympic taekwondo expertise to boxing at the professional level
Ambitious Goals in a Fresh Sporting Venture
Jones’ decision to pursue boxing came with a remarkably bold objective: to become a international champion in multiple sports. This ambitious target served as the primary motivation behind her transition from taekwondo, where she had already achieved the sport’s highest honours. At 32 years old, rather than basking in her Olympic achievements, Jones elected to push herself in an completely different arena, showcasing the competitive fire that had defined her lengthy career spanning two decades in taekwondo. Her goal reveals not merely a longing for a different chapter, but a commitment to establish her legacy as one of athletics’ most well-rounded and successful performers across different fields.
The journey to world championship status in boxing offers a significantly different challenge from her earlier successes. Unlike taekwondo, where Jones had spent decades mastering technique and building experience, she enters the boxing world as a newcomer to the sport competing against fighters with extensive professional records. However, her dominant inaugural performance—a second-round KO victory featuring three consecutive left hooks—suggests she possesses the natural talent and foundational technique necessary to move swiftly through the ranks. If Jones can maintain this trajectory while further refining her boxing skills under expert coaching, her ambitious dual-championship dream may prove significantly more realistic than originally looked.
