Natasha Jonas announces her retirement

Natasha Jonas, the first woman to box for Great Britain at the Olympic Games, has decided to hang up her gloves.  With Rio 2016 less than 500 days away she has decided to retire and look to move into coaching.

The Liverpudlian won bronze at the 2012 World Championships and reached the 2012 Olympic quarter finals.  She only took up the sport in 2005 to lose weight and rose through the amateur ranks to compete for Britain alongside Nicola Adams and Savannah Marshall.

 

On her retirement, she said "London 2012 will never be matched, it was surreal.  I remember saying to my mum when I was 4 and watching the Olympics on TV: 'Mum, mum, I'm gonna be there.  It took me 24 years but I still achieved it."

All the best Natasha - hope the coaching goes well.

Team England reveal Boxing squad for Commonwealth Games

Nicola Adams looks to make history for a second time as female boxing makes its debut in the Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games England have today announced the boxing team that will compete for England at the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (23 July – 3 August 2014).

The team is made-up of eight men and three women who will make history by competing in the first ever Commonwealth Games to feature female boxing.

The three female selections are 2012 Olympic flyweight (51kg) champion, Nicola Adams, 2014 European championship silver medallist, Natasha Jonas, who will box at lightweight (60kg), and the 2012 world champion, Savannah Marshall, at middleweight (75kg).

The male picks include the 2013 world championship bronze medallist, Antony Fowler, at middleweight and two European championship bronze medallists in Charlie Edwards at flyweight (52kg) and Joe Joyce at super-heavyweight (91kg).

The team is completed by bantamweight (56kg), Qais Ashfaq, lightweight (60kg), Pat McCormack, light-welterweight (64kg), Sam Maxwell, welterweight (69kg), Scott Fitzgerald and heavyweight (91kg), Warren Baister.

 Antony Fowler, Liverpool, 75kg

 Charlie Edwards, Croydon, 52kg

 Joe Joyce, London, 91+kg

Natasha Jonas, Liverpool, 60kg

 Nicola Adams, Leeds, 51kg

 Pat McCormack, Washington, 60kg

 Qais Ashfaq, Leeds, 56kg

 Sam Maxwell, Liverpool, 64kg

 Savannah Marshall, Hartlepool, 75kg

 Scott Fitzgerald, Preston, 69kg

 Warren Baister, Sunderland, 91kg