- 31-year-old aims to become first British athlete to win world titles in two combat sports
- Training under former Commonwealth featherweight champion Stephen Smith
- Maintains 57kg weight class alignment between taekwondo and boxing divisions
Jade Jones, who revolutionized British taekwondo with historic gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, has announced a dramatic career pivot to professional boxing. The Welsh athlete, who participated in four consecutive Olympic Games, revealed her decision comes after two disappointing tournament exits in Tokyo and Paris. Industry analysts note only 12% of elite athletes successfully transition between Olympic combat sports.
The move follows Jones' 20-year taekwondo career that saw her become the youngest British competitor to win Olympic gold at 19. Her signature Head Hunterkicking style earned 78% of career victories through precision headshots. Boxing presents new challenges requiring complete tactical rewiring - where hand strikes account for 92% of scoring in professional bouts versus 60% leg techniques in taekwondo.
Stephen Smith's training program focuses on footwork translation between disciplines, capitalizing on Jones' exceptional spatial awareness. Her ability to control distance in the -57kg category translates perfectly to featherweight boxing,Smith noted. Regional case studies show British athletes like Anthony Joshua successfully transitioned from rugby to boxing, winning world titles within 5 years.
Jones' announcement coincides with growing commercial interest in crossover athletes. Marketing experts predict 40% sponsorship premium for dual-sport champions. The athlete's first professional bout is scheduled for Manchester Arena, leveraging her existing UK fanbase from 12 major championship appearances.
