Jade Jones: Boxing the 'fresh start needed' after taekwondo career
After an emotional farewell to taekwondo, the sport that defined her life, Jade Jones found herself at a natural retirement point, having reached the pinnacle of success. However, the Flint native chose a different path, embarking on a boxing career less than a year after her first-round exit at the 2024 Olympics.
"It was difficult because I am taekwondo, that's made my life and I'll forever be grateful to the sport," she said.
"I still absolutely love taekwondo, I still train and throw a few kicks.
"The way the Olympics went... I needed a fresh start.
"Most people would have retired whereas I've still got the fire in my belly and I'm craving the challenge."
Ex-Olympic champion Jones quits taekwondo for boxing
Jones, 32, secured Olympic gold medals at both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Having achieved the highest honors in taekwondo, she now aims to rise from the bottom to the top in a new sport.
Her boxing debut is scheduled for 7 March in Derby, where she will face Egypt Criss, daughter of hip-hop artists Anthony 'Treach' Criss from Naughty by Nature and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton from Salt-N-Pepa. Jones herself described the crossover as "crazy."
Despite training for just over a year, Jones has quickly recognized boxing's demanding nature.
"I think one of the hardest challenges that people don't realise is going from being at the top of one sport and going to the complete bottom of another sport. It's very humbling," Jones told Wales.
"I remember first walking into this gym, I'd never thrown a punch before.
"I said I was going to be a boxer and everyone laughed at me and looked at me as though I was crazy."
Under the mentorship of former professional boxer Stephen 'Swifty' Smith at Liverpool's renowned 4 Corners Gym, Jones has made significant progress ahead of her first fight.
"Bit by bit, the coaches have seen how quickly I've improved," she said.
"I've been putting in the work, it's still only a short time to learn a completely new sport, but I learn really fast and I'm just excited to see the progress and how it's going to transition going into the ring.
"Swifty and the other Smith brothers have been amazing with me, and everybody here at 4 Corners Gym.
"They've built me up from scratch, they've not tried to rush it. A lot of people could have thrown me in and just tried to make a bit of money out of me.
"The team I've got behind me now, everybody's there for the right reasons. They've been amazing."
Why Jade Jones is swapping taekwondo for boxing
Reaching for the stars... again
Despite her success in taekwondo, Jones is fully aware of the challenges ahead in boxing.
"Whatever I do, I'm here to be the best," said Jones, who earned Team GB's first Olympic gold medal in taekwondo at age 19 in 2012.
"I'm not shy of hard work, I know how to become the best."
"Now I'm in it, it's a very tough sport. But I'm here to take it one fight at a time.
"It's a big a call, to be world champion, it's going to be tough. But I'm just enjoying the journey, we'll see how this fight goes, and we'll keep building from there."
Delving into the unknown
Jones is preparing for many firsts in Derby, from the pre-fight weigh-in to the ring walk.
"It feels even more crazy, the fact I'm going to get in a boxing ring, doing the walk-on that everyone talks about, no head guard, a full on fight, it is crazy, but I am crazy and I absolutely love it," she said.
"The ring-walk, the lights, the ring, even things like getting your hands wrapped, I'm really trying to embrace everything and try to enjoy it.
"Life's about making memories and new experiences. Not many can say that they've done that walk. I'm really proud of myself for committing to the challenge."
Nicknamed 'The Headhunter' during her taekwondo career for her head kicks, Jones is familiar with combat intensity but acknowledges she may need to improve her pre-fight demeanor.
"I've had a little practice with the guys in here and I just always end up bursting out laughing," she said about learning to square up to an opponent during pre-fight preparations.
"Hopefully I can be a more serious on the night and a bit more scary."
Representing granddad and inspiration from Price and 'Team Crazy'
Jones draws inspiration from former housemate and unified world boxing champion Lauren Price, known for her tenacity and multi-sport background including football, kickboxing, and taekwondo before switching to boxing.
She will be supported in Derby by friends and family, collectively known as 'Team Crazy'.
Although her late grandfather Martin Foulkes, who introduced her to taekwondo as a teenager, will not be present, Jones carries his memory with her.
"My granddad who got me into the sport sadly passed away a few months ago," said Jones.
"I've got his name on my shorts, I'll be doing my granddad proud and I'll be there to represent him."
