Nikki Adams, born in Leeds, England,
October 26, 1982, first began boxing at the age of 12 years old.
Adams began going to the Star and Fitness gym in Leeds, to keep fit,
with her mother.
Adams told WBAN, “I first saw the two people who would soon be my
first coaches Steven Franks and Leroy Brown. I saw other kids having
fun and I decided to join in and I have been boxing ever since. I am
now boxing for Hard & Fast Police Club with Coaches Martin Utley and
Fred Gummerson, and also Alwin Belcher an England National coach.”
Adams boxing against a Russian in
the European championships
Warsaw Poland in September 2006
When Adams is not boxing, for work
she does “walk on” parts for a for a soap opera called Emmerdale.”
Adams told WBAN, “I had my first bout when I was 13. It was an
exhibition bout in Leeds against Clair Newton from a rival gym. It
was a great experience and I wanted to do more but as keen as I was
to fight again, my coaches couldn’t find any other girls for me to
box. It wasn’t until I turned 17 when my coaches found me an
opponent in Newcastle. I won by knockout in the second round.”
Two years later, in November 2001 there was a selection training
camp for England, where she trained alongside David Hay, who
inspired her to train harder, and aim higher. Adams said, “After
this I was picked to be the first female to box for England in a
dual international against Ireland, I won the bout in the second
round on the outclass rule, I was over the moon, both for winning
and representing my country for the first time. In 2002, I got the
chance to represented England again in a box cup in Norway where I
won a bronze medal. In May 2003 I won my first England Amateur
boxing National title, which I have gone on to win four times
since.”
Adams with the England Amateur
boxing National title
In April 2004, Adams boxed in the
Women’s World Tournament in Norway, Adams told WBAN, “To be honest I
didn’t think I was ready to go to such a big tournament at the time,
as I had only had 12 bouts and to make matters worse I drew the
world champion in the fist round, but to my amazement I didn’t do as
bad as I thought I would, It went three rounds and I lost on points
but gained a world of experience.”
Later on that year in September Adams boxed in the Witch cup
International Tournament in Hungary, where she won gold. “You can
imagine I was ecstatic, and I remember, I couldn’t stop smiling I
was so happy” added Adams.
In October of that same year, Adams was selected to box in the
European Championships, in Italy. Adams said, “I was filled with
confidence after winning gold in Hungary---I felt more than ready
for the European championships, unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be
I lost to a girl with a lot more experience than I had, and she went
on to win gold.”
Adams Training in the gym
In September 2005, Adams boxed in her
first home dual international against Italy in Sunderland. She won
on the outclass rule in the second round.
In June 2006, she boxed in the European Union in Porto Torres,
Sardinia, losing in the quarter finals. In that same month she won
the England Amateur boxing National title for a third time,
In July of the same year, Adams boxed in a dual international,
Yorkshire Vs. Canada, at the Niagara falls Casino where she won by a
unanimous decision. Adams said, “I couldn’t believe my luck first
for being selected to go to Canada and then to win, a tough bout, It
was exciting,.”
In February 2007, Adams’ Boxing Club and her mother raised the funds
for a boxer to come to England so that she could box in front of her
hometown crowd. Adams boxed a girl from Denmark and won by a
unanimous decision. It was the first time that she had ever boxed in
front of her hometown crowd in Leeds.
In May 2007, Adams boxed in the Ahmet Comert box cup in Turkey where
she won a bronze medal.
Adams and his old coach Steve
Franks in the England Amateur
boxing National Tournament
Adams said, “that is one of my
greatest achievements so far, I’m improving all the time and I’m
looking to doing bigger and better things with the support of my
sponsors Hilton Hotel and Livingwell heath club Leeds and Mike
Thorpe Properties Leeds. My coaches, my mum and partner Ray have
helped me and supported me a lot along the way and I couldn’t ask
for a better mum. “
Top Photo: Adam poses
with a belt she won in Yorkshire vs Canada, at the Niagara fall’s
casino July 2006
