TWO-TIME Olympic Taekwondo champion Jade Jones will be using her hands instead of her feet in the future.
The 31-year-old won gold medals at 57kg but also a host of others including gold at the 2019 World Championships in Manchester, the 2015 European Games in Baku and the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.
Jones, who will need to apply for a British boxing licence to compete, is learning the ropes of her new discipline under trainer and former two-time super featherweight world title challenger Stephen Smith. The Liverpudlian is fast gaining a reputation for himself as one of the best up and coming coaches in the UK with a stable of fighters at the Rotunda ABC in Liverpool.
Speaking to BBC Wales Jones, from Bodelwyddan, says she got the idea of moving into boxing while sitting in her kitchen one day.
“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 said.
“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 champ.”
Jones suffered a disappointing early exit at the 2024 Paris Olympics where she hoped to become a three-time champion but says she’s loving her time learning the sweet science.
“My family have been a little bit sad about me giving up taekwondo,” she added.
“I’ve never used my hands. After 20 years of using my feet I am switching it up.
“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.”
Smith, who won the British title at feather and super featherweight, knows what it takes to not only become a professional boxer but a successful one as well. Giving his reaction to Jones’ decision, he said: “My first instinct was why? Why would someone who kicks with both feet get into a sport where you use your hands,” he said.
“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.
“It’s a massive challenge but it is made easier by her attitude… she’s improving all the time.”
Jones told the BBC she has noted the rise of female boxing in recent years and wants a piece of the action. If her application for a licence is successful she could compete in the featherweight division where her addition would be a welcome one.
“Where women’s boxing is at the minute, it’s just going from strength to strength,” Jones said.
“Women are on the main card now and they’re in Saudi (Arabia) and fighting there. I think if ever a time is to get into women’s boxing, it’s now.”
Later tonight the women take centre stage at The Royal Albert Hall on a Boxxer card topped by welterweight world champions Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price. Jones may be paying attention to the undercard, however, where the first ever women’s British featherweight title fight takes place between Karriss Artingstall and Raven Chapman.
