Olympian Jones earns knockout win on boxing debut

Jade Jones' arm is lifted as the winner of the boxing bout against Egypt Criss Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jade Jones knocked out Egypt Criss at the Misfits Duel 2 at Vaillant Live

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Double Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones marked her boxing debut with a second-round knockout victory against Egypt Criss in Derby.

After two decades in taekwondo, Wales' Jones traded sports at the start of last year saying she needed a fresh challenge, setting herself a bold target of becoming a world champion in two sports.

Her maiden bout came against Criss, daughter of hip-hop stars Anthony 'Treach' Criss from Naughty by Nature and Sandra 'Pepa' Denton from Salt-N-Pepa.

Jones, who won Olympic gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016, needed only two rounds to claim victory, with three successive left hooks flooring her opponent.

The 32-year-old from Flint has been training with former professional boxer Stephen 'Swifty' Smith at Liverpool's iconic 4 Corners Gym.

Jones has also taken inspiration from former room-mate, unified world boxing champion Lauren Price, who played football for Wales in addition to being a kickboxer and taekwondo player, prior to her own switch to boxing.

Media caption,

Jade Jones: Boxing the 'fresh start needed' after taekwondo career

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