Olympic champion Nicola Adams eyes world title after turning professional

Leeds's Nicola Adams with her gold medal following victory over France's Sarah Ourahmoune in the women's flyweight final at the Rio Olympics (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire).

Leeds flyweight Adams had been contemplating the possibility of bidding for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2020.

But the 34-year-old has instead signed a long-term promotional deal to turn professional with Frank Warren, who is to launch his own new platform on BT Sport.

Adams will make her professional debut on April 8 at the Manchester Arena and is also scheduled for a ‘homecoming’ fight at Leeds’s First Direct Arena on May 13.

Her opponents are yet to be announced, but the Yorkshire fighter’s intentions are already clear.

“I want to take women’s boxing to the next level, become a world champion and do great things,” said Adams.

“It’s going to be quite different; no headgear for one.

“I have to create my own team now, but I’m really excited about doing that.”

The development also comes despite 64-year-old Warren previously criticising women’s boxing.

Decorated Irish amateur Katie Taylor last year made her professional debut with Warren’s rivals Matchroom.

Warren admitted: “I’ve not been the greatest advocate of women’s boxing. My head’s been turned.

“I’ve had to eat humble pie, and thought, ‘Are you a dinosaur?’ I’ve always appreciated any ladies who are fighting. But what she (Adams) has done for me is turn my head.

“Who am I to be the person to say I’m not going to do women’s boxing? She could probably win a world title now, but it’s about coming through and learning her trade.”

Adams became the first British boxer since 1924 to retain an Olympic title when she won a second gold medal in Rio last summer. She secured a clean sweep of major titles in the amateur ranks earlier in 2016 when she defeated Thailand’s Peamwilai Laopeam to win her first world title in Kazakhstan.