Jade Jones makes boxing debut with knockout victory
Jade Jones marked her boxing debut on March 7, 2026, in Derby, England, achieving a second-round knockout victory against Egypt Criss. This significant event has garnered attention as Jones transitions from her celebrated taekwondo career to the boxing ring.
In her debut match, Jones needed only two rounds to secure the win, delivering a series of three successive left hooks that ultimately led to the knockout. The bout was part of the Misfits promotion, known for staging influencer fights, highlighting the evolving landscape of sports entertainment.
Jones, a double Olympic taekwondo champion, previously won gold medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games. She has been preparing for this boxing debut for the past 12 months, training under the guidance of former professional boxer Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith at Liverpool’s 4 Corners Gym.
The choice to switch sports came after a challenging period in her life, as Jones expressed feelings of being lost following her taekwondo career. “I thought I could be the greatest of all time and win a third Olympic gold and for it to just go up in flames… it was a hard time,” she reflected.
Jones’s first opponent, Egypt Criss, is notable in her own right, being the daughter of hip-hop stars Anthony ‘Treach’ Criss and Sandra ‘Pepa’ Denton. This matchup added an intriguing layer to the event, drawing interest from both sports and entertainment fans.
At 32 years old, Jones’s transition to boxing has been met with excitement from her hometown of Flint. “It’s lovely to see my small town getting really excited again. I didn’t realise how much of an impact it has on people; it gives them a purpose and I can feel them buzzing,” she stated.
Jones’s journey into boxing marks a new chapter in her athletic career, and she has embraced the experience. “When you win the Olympics there is always a new goal whereas now I’ve learned the best bit was actually the journey,” she noted, emphasizing the personal growth she has experienced through this transition.
As Jones continues to navigate her new path in boxing, the sports community is eager to see how her skills from taekwondo will translate into the ring. The successful debut has set a promising tone for her future endeavors in this sport.