Nicola Adams

Nicola Adams (2012)

Nicola Adams , OBE (born October 26, 1982 in Leeds ) is a former English boxer . She became world champion in flyweight in 2016 and vice-world champion in 2008, 2010 and 2012: in 2008 in bantamweight and in 2010 and 2012 in flyweight. In 2012 and 2016 she became an Olympic flyweight champion. In November 2019, Adams ended her career as a boxer for health reasons.

Career

Nicola Adams, nicknamed Nikki, nicknamed "Baby Face", started boxing when she was twelve at the Star and Fitness Gym in Leeds. The local trainers Steven Franks and Leroy Brown were the ones who taught her the first tricks about this sport. She joined the Hard & Fast Police Club in Leeds shortly thereafter , where she was trained by Martin Utley, Fred Gummerson and Alwin Belcher. When she was 13, she fought her first fight in Leeds. In the following years she could only fight a few fights because there were hardly any opponents. She won the few fights that she contested and was therefore accepted into the English national team of amateur boxers in 2001, which was being set up. From then on, English coaches Terry Edwards and David Bins took care of them.

In 2002 she played her first international tournament and took 3rd place in bantamweight at the Norway Cup in Oslo . In 2003 she became English champion for the first time and in 2004 she took part in the so-called Women's World Tournament in Oslo. Up until then she had contested 12 fights and in her 13th fight met the reigning world champion Zhang Zijang from China , against whom she only lost on points. At the Witch Cup in Pécs , Hungary , she then won her first international boxing tournament, defeating Rachel Tillier from France in the final . In 2004 she started at the European Championships in Riccione . She could not win a medal there, but her exact placement is not known.

In 2005, Nicola Adams, who received her BTEC National Diploma in Software and Development from Park Lane College, Leeds, had to limit her training and competitions because of the exams. This year she became English champion for the third time after 2003 and 2004 and beat Giovanna Conti from Italy on points in Sunderland in an international match . At the European Championships in Tønsberg , she was unable to start in top form because of the circumstances described. She lost there in the bantamweight quarter-finals against Ludmilla Christowa from Ukraine on points (10:17) and landed on the 5th place.

In 2006 she took part in the EU championship in Porto Torres on Sardinia , but lost the bantamweight in the quarterfinals against Mihaela Cijewscha from Romania and therefore only came in 5th place. She also took this place at the European Championships in Warsaw , where she lost again to Sofja Otschigawa after defeating Shirpa Nilsson from Sweden in the quarter-finals . That year she was again the English bantamweight champion.

In 2007 she took part in the Ahmet Comert Cup in Istanbul and lost there in the semifinals against Sofja Otschigawa from Russia by clear points (2:15). Against the same opponent, she fought for the tournament victory a few weeks later in the final of the Witch Cup in Pécs and was again defeated on points, but this time only just 3: 4 points. At the 2007 European Championships in Vejle / Denmark, she fought her way into the final with three wins, in which she was again defeated by Sofja Otschigawa, with this defeat falling out again with 7: 9 points. She won an EM silver medal . This was the first medal ever won by an English female boxer in an international championship.

In 2008 Nicola Adams took part in a world championship for the first time in Ningbo / China . In the bantamweight division she won over Ludmilla Christowa (8: 1), Ludmilla Bondarenko, Russia (11: 2), Lorna Weaver, France (7: 2) and Cynthia Moreno from the United States and was thus in the final battle. In this she met Karolina Michalczuk from Poland and lost to this fighter on points (6:10). She won a silver medal again. At the subsequent EU championship in Liverpool, she met Karolina Michalczuk again in the quarterfinals and was defeated again on points (9:13), which is why she only finished 5th in this championship.

In 2009 Nicola Adams was unable to compete due to injury. In 2010 she made a brilliant comeback. She first won the so-called Minoan Womans Cup in Heraklion / Greece in the flyweight division, defeating Elena Sawaljewa from Russia (4: 2), Alexandra Kuleschewa from Russia (7: 5) and Shripa Nilsson from Sweden (9: 4) . At the subsequent World Cup 2010 in Bridgetown / Barbados , she started again in the flyweight division and defeated Mareille Hansen, Norway (8: 2), Virginia Nave, France (8: 2), Jang Eu-na, South Korea (12: 1) and Hanne Mäkinen , Finland (11: 4) safely on points. In the final, she faced Ren Cancan from China, against whom she lost on points (5:10) and thus became vice world champion again.

In 2011 Nicole Adams was European flyweight champion in Rotterdam with victories over Katie Rowland, Ireland, Marielle Hansen, Norway, Stoyka Petrowa , Bulgaria and Sara Ourahmoune , France.

In May 2012 the 7th AIBA World Boxing Championships for women took place in Qinhuangdao / China. Nicola Adams started again in the flyweight division and defeated Jana Levankowa, Belarus (19: 7), Karla Magliocco, Venezuela 20: 7), Mary Kom (Chungneijang Marykom), India (13:11 and Elena Saweljewa , Russia (11: 6) respectively In the final battle, she faced the Chinese Ren Cancan again, to whom she lost just on points (10:14). She was thus again vice world champion. In 2012, at the Olympic Games in London for the first time women Competitions in boxing took place. Nicola Adams had the right to start and defeated in London in the flyweight (up to 51 kg body weight) Stoyka Petrowa, Bulgaria (16: 7), Mary Kom (11: 6) and in the final also Ren Cancan (16: 7) and won the gold medal in a convincing manner, the first gold medal ever won by a woman boxing at the Olympic Games.

In July 2013 Nicola Adams won the 7th EU flyweight championships in Keszthely / Hungary. She defeated Terry Gordini, Italy (3-0 RS), was demolition winner in the 2nd round over Abbygail Deekman, Netherlands and then defeated Sandra Drabik , Poland (3-0 RS) and Stoyka Petrow (3-0 RS) ).

The next start at an international championship by Nicola Adams was in June 2014 at the 9th European Women's Championship in Bucharest. She won there in the flyweight over Julia Caroli, Moldova (3: 0 RS) and Jana Burim, Belarus (3: 0 RS), but lost in the quarterfinals against Stoyka Petrowa 80: 3 RS), with which she only came in 5th place . In July 2014, she won the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which is very important for British athletes. She defeated the flyweight Oluwatoyin Oladeji, Nigeria (3: 0 RS), Erandi de Silva, Sri Lanka (3: 0), Mandy Bujold, Canada (3: 0) and Michaela Walsh, Ireland (2: 1 RS) each after Points. At the 8th AIBA World Boxing Championship for women in November 2014 in Jeju / South Korea, she was not at the start.

Her next important win came in June 2015 at the 1st European Games in Baku. Nicola Adams defeated there in the flyweight Katalin Ancsin, Hungary (3: 0 RS), Stoyka Petrowa (2: 0 RS), Elif Nur Coskun, Turkey (3: 0 RS) and in the final Sandra Drabik, Poland (2: 0 RS) .

In May 2016, Nicola Adams won the 9th AIBA women's flyweight boxing world championship in Astana for the first time. On the way to this success she defeated Dilnosachon Odilschonowa, Uzbekistan (3-0 RS), Anna Alimardanowa, Azerbaijan (3-0 RS), Lin Yu-Ting, Taiwan (3-0 RS), Jana Scherbekowa, Kazakhstan (3: 0 RS) 0) and Peamwilai Laopeam , Thailand (2: 1) each on points. In August 2016, she achieved her second Olympic victory in Rio de Janeiro. In the flyweight category, she beat Tatjana Kob , Ukraine (3-0), her old rival Ren Cancan (3-0) and Sarah Ourahmoune, France (3-0) on points and won the gold medal again.

In November 2019, Adams announced her withdrawal from active boxing for health reasons. She pointed out the danger of permanent blindness if she suffered further hits in the eye area.

International success

year	space	competition	Weight class	Result
2002	3.	Norway Cup in Oslo	Bantam
2004	not known	Womens World Tournament in Oslo	Bantam	after losing points to Zhang Zijang , China
2004	1.	Witch Cup in Pécs / Hungary	Bantam	after beating Rachel Tillier, France in the final
2004	not known	EM in Riccione / Italy	Bantam	was not among the medalists
2005	5.	EM in Tønsberg	Bantam	after losing points in the quarterfinals against Ludmilla Christowa, Ukraine
2006	5.	EU championship in Porto Torres / Sardinia	Bantam	after losing points in the quarterfinals against Mihaela Cijewscha, Romania
2007	3.	Ahmet Comert Cup in Istanbul	Bantam	after the demolition win in the 2nd round over Yeliz Koblay, Turkey , point win over Sunita Yadav, India (14: 2) u. Point defeat against Sofja Otschigawa , Russia (2:15)
2007	2.	Witch Cup in Pécs	Bantam	after winning points over Csilla Nemedi, Hungary (21: 5) and Hanne Mäkinen , Finland (14: 5) and a point defeat against Sofja Otschigawa, Russia (3: 4)
2007	5.	EU championship in Lille	Bantam	after a point loss in the quarterfinals against Lorna Weaver , France (13:15)
2007	2.	EM in Vejle / Denmark	Bantam	after the demolition victory in the 2nd round over Athina Melefaki, Greece , demolition victory in the 3rd round over Stojka Petrowa, Bulgaria and points victory over Ludmilla Christowa (7: 6) u. a point defeat against Sofja Otschigawa (7: 9)
2008	1.	Witch Cup in Pécs	Bantam	after winning points over Gyongi Moskotaly, Hungary (15: 2), Ramilal Pavitra, India (14:11) and Lorna Weaver (11: 4)
2008	2.	World Cup in Ningbo / China	Bantam	after winning points over Ludmilla Christowa (8: 1), Ludmilla Bondarenko, Russia (11: 2), Lorna Weaver (7: 2) and Cynthia Moreno , USA (10: 0) and a point defeat against Karolina Michalczuk , Poland (6:10)
2008	5.	EU Championship in Liverpool	Bantam	after a point defeat in the quarterfinals against Karolina Michalczuk (9:13)
2010	1.	Minoan Womans Cup in Heraklion / Greece	To fly	after winning points over Elene Sawaljewa, Russia (4: 2), Alexandra Kuleschewa, Russia (7: 5) u. Shipra Nilsson, Sweden (9: 4)
2010	2.	World Cup in Bridgetown / Barbados	To fly	after winning points over Marielle Hansen, Norway (8: 2), Virginia Nave, France (8: 2), Jang Eu-na, South Korea (12: 1) and. Hanne Mäkinen (11: 4) and a point loss to Ren Cancan , China (5:10)
2011	1.	European Championship in Rotterdam	To fly	after an abandonment victory in the 3rd round over Katie Rowland, Irlan and points wins over Marielle Hansen (14: 6), Stojka Petrowa, Bulgaria (15:11) and Sarah Ourahmoune , France (15: 8)
2012	1.	43rd Grand Prix in Ústí	To fly	after winning points over Vanlal Duati, India (13: 4), Stoyka Petrowa, Bulgaria (9: 5), Athina Malefaki, Greece (21: 3) and Elena Saweljewa, Russia (9: 8)
2012	2.	World Cup in Quinhuangdao / China	To fly	after winning points over Jana Levankowa, Belarus 819.7), Karla Magliocco, Venezuela (20: 8), Mary Kom (Chungneijang Marykom), India (13:11) and Elena Saweljewa (11: 6) and a point defeat in the final against Ren Cancan, China (10:14)
2012	gold	OS in London	To fly	after winning points over Stojka Petrowa (16: 7), Mary Kom , India (11: 6) and Ren Cancan (16: 7)
2013	1.	7th EU women's championship in Keszthely / Hungary	To fly	after a points win over Terry Gordini, Italy (3: 0), a demolition win in the 2nd round over Abbygail Deekman, Netherlands and points wins over Sandra Drabik, Poland (3: 0 RS) and Stoyka Petrowa (3: 0 RS)
2014	1.	31. Feliks Stamm Memorial in Warsaw	To fly	after winning points over Jana Schekerbekowa, Kazakhstan (3: 0 RS), Mona Mestiaen, France (3: 0 RS), Stoyka Petrowa (3: 0) and Sajana Sagatajewa, Russia (2: 1 RS)
2014	5.	EM in Bucharest	To fly	after winning points over Julia Caroli, Moldova (3: 0 RS) and Jana Burim, Belarus (3: 0 RS) and a point defeat against Stoyka Petrowa (0: 3 RS)
2014	1.	20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow	To fly	after winning points over Oluwatoyin Oladeji, Nigeria (3: 0 RS), Erandi de Silva, Sri Lanka (3: 0 RS), Mandy Bujold, Canada (3: 0 RS) and Michaela Walsh, Ireland (2: 1 RS)
2015	1.	1st European Games in Baku	To fly	after winning points over Katalin Ancsin, Hungary (3: 0 RS), Stoyka Petrowa (2: 0 RS), Elif Nur Coskun, Turkey (3: 0) and Sandra Drabik (2: 0)
2016	1.	World Cup in Astana	To fly	after winning points over Dilnosachon Odilschonowa, Uzbekistan (3: 0 RS), Anna Alimardanowa, Azerbaijan (3: 0 RS), Lin Yu-Ting, Taiwan (3: 0 RS), Jaina Scherbekowa, Kazakhstan (3: 0 RS) and Peamwilai Laopeam, Thailand (2-1 RS)
2016	gold	OS in Rio de Janeiro	To fly	after winning points over Tatjana Kob, Ukraine (3: 0 RS), Ren Cancan (3: 0 RS) and Sarah Ourahmoune, France (3: 0 RS)

English championships

Nicola Adams was the English bantamweight champion in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008

Explanations

• OS = Olympic Games, WM = World Championships, EM = European Championships, EU = European Union
• Fly weight, up to 51 kg, bantam weight, up to 54 kg body weight
• RS = judges votes (until 2012 scoring machines were used for scoring; these were abolished at the end of 2012, since then judges have been making judgments again)

literature

• "Box Sport" magazine

Web links

Commons : Nicola Adams  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Nicola Adams in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
• Website Amateur-boxing.strefa.pl
• Portrait of Nicola Adams on Womenboxing.com (English)
• Official website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ First Olympic boxing champion ends her career - because she fears for her eyesight. Spiegel Online , November 6, 2019, accessed on the same day.