Nicola Adams Announces Her Retirement From Boxing, Due To Worries Over Further Damage To Eye

Just a couple of months into her first world title reign, Nicola Adams has retired from the sport. 

The WBO flyweight champion announced her retirement on social media, stating fears that further impact to her eye could potentially lead to permanent loss to her eyesight. Adams is coming off a split draw against Maria Salinas in her first title defense back in September at Royal Albert Hall.

Here is part of Adams’ retirement statement, where she discussed her injury history and the current eye injury that forced her to retire.

“After my first win in a major tournament in Denmark and a Silver in the world championships in CHina, I sustained a back injury that I thought was going to end my career. These setbacks pained my heart, I was incredibly disappointed. But can honestly say if it hadn’t been for my fans, friends and family, I would not be where I am today.

I’m immensely honoured to have represented our country – to win double Olympic gold medals and then the WBO championship belt is a dream come true… But it’s not without taking its toll on my body, and aside from the expected aches and pains – I’ve been advised that any further impact to my eye would likely lead to irreparable damage and permanent vision loss.

Hanging up y gloves was always going to hard, but I have never felt luckier. I’m so immensely proud of how far the sport has come.”

I’ve made the very difficult decision to step down from the ring. I wrote a letter for my hometown in today’s paper who have championed me from the beginning but also wanted to say an enormous thank you here, for all the love and support #newbeginnings #DreamBig —- pic.twitter.com/9lmQYIjOZC

— Nicola Adams (@NicolaAdamsOBE) November 6, 2019

Adams won two Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, joining Claressa Shields as the only two female boxers in history to win multiple gold medals. Adams made her pro debut in 2017, retiring with a 5-0-1 record.