Flint’s Jade Jones swaps taekwondo for boxing career

Flint’s double Olympic champion Jade Jones has embarked on a new sporting journey, swapping taekwondo for professional boxing.

The 31-year-old, who won gold medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016, has been training in the ring for two months under the guidance of former professional boxer Stephen Smith.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Jade admitted the move is both exciting and daunting.

“It is nerve-wracking. Some days I wake up and think ‘am I absolutely crazy?'” she said.

“I am loving it. I love taekwondo, it will always be my first love. But this is an exciting challenge. I’ve only been doing it for two months.”

Jade, who was born in Bodelwyddan, has spent two decades competing in a sport where kicks are the key weapon. Now, she is adapting to an entirely different skill set.

“I don’t know what gave me the idea, I was sat in my kitchen and thought ‘I’ll try boxing’,” she told the BBC.

“My family all think I’m crazy, but people who know me know it is inside me, I love to have a fight and a scrap.”

She acknowledges the road ahead will not be easy but is determined to push herself.

“People can follow my journey, the good, the bad and the ugly. Can I get to the top? Will I fail? The dream is to be a world champion. To be a world champion in two sports would be pretty cool.”

 

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Fresh Challenge

Jade’s decision to step away from taekwondo follows a difficult experience at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she was eliminated in the first round of the -57kg category.

Having aimed to become the first three-time Olympic champion in her sport, she was left devastated after losing on a tie-breaker to Macedonia’s Miljana Reljikj.

Her preparations for Paris had also been overshadowed by controversy when she missed a drugs test in December.

She was later cleared of wrongdoing by UK Anti-Doping.

While her family has expressed sadness over her departure from taekwondo, Jade is embracing the challenge of boxing.

“I’ve never used my hands. After 20 years of using my feet I am switching it up,” she said.

“Boxing is good for me. It started as a distraction but now I am going to go for it, because I am just loving it.”

Stephen Smith, who twice fought for a world title, admitted he was initially surprised by Jade’s decision to switch sports.

“My first instinct was why? Why would someone who kicks with both feet get into a sport where you use your hands?” he told the BBC.

“I wasn’t doubting her, but I was confused. I don’t think it’s ever happened before, I don’t know anyone who has come over from taekwondo.”

Despite his initial doubts, Smith has been impressed by her work ethic.

“It’s a massive challenge but it is made easier by her attitude… she’s improving all the time.”

For Jade, adapting to boxing has been a steep learning curve.

“I’ve learned straight away it’s not like being Rocky, you can’t just get in there and blast away,” she said.

“I’ve come in thinking I’m hardcore and can have a scrap, but it’s the total opposite to be honest. It’s kind of like taekwondo in that it’s a game of chess, but with your hands.”