Nicola Adams - Leeds hero and New World Champion

Nicola Adams is another of our Leeds born and bred heroes and she can now add world titleholder to her list of accolades and honours.

Nicola has just been crowned WBO world flyweight champion after being promoted from mandatory challenger Arely Mucino was unable to defend the title due to injury.

Nicola herself has had five professional fights since winning the second of her two boxing gold medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and has already stated a desire to defend her title at Tokyo in 2020 when she will be 37 years old.

Nicola started boxing at school having her first competitive fight at just 13 and she has been at the forefront of developing women's boxing in the UK ever since. In a measure of how far the sport has developed, after that first fight, it was another 4 years before a new opponent could be found!

She suffered from a lack of funding and had to work on a building site and as a TV extra to support her training until after much lobbying, the International Olympic Committee backed funding for women’s boxing in 2009.

As well as all her boxing honours which you can read through here, she has also been awarded the MBE in the 2013 New Years honours list and given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Leeds University.

Nicola also campaigns tirelessly for LGBT rights and often tops lists of 'most influential' LGBT people in the UK.

Nicola is Leeds and Leeds love her. She has the most amazing smile and infectious personality and absolutely deserves the fruits of her hard labour.

I for one can't wait to see her back in boxing action once again.

Marching On Together

@nathen007 #lufc #mot #leedsheroes

All images and videos are used without the express authorisation of the copyright holders. They are used under what's known in British law as "Fair Dealing" or under US law as "Fair Use" exceptions. For example, exceptions relating to research and private study, criticism or review, or news reporting. For more information visit the UK Gov website or the US Gov website.