Ebonie Jones has opened up on the “bittersweet” decision to retire from boxing having not achieved all she wanted to in the sport.
The 27-year-old announced on social media, external at the start of November that she would be hanging up her gloves after failing to make weight for a fight against Tysie Gallagher six months prior.
Jones was scheduled to step into what she called “the biggest fight of her career” for British and Commonwealth titles at Doncaster Rovers’ Eco-Power Stadium.
Since the cancelation, the Portsmouth fighter had not posted anything further on the matter before announcing her shock retirement at the start of the month.
In a post on Instagram, Jones teased that “maybe one day” she might return to the sport but for now she wants to live “a normal life”.
“It’s intense training, extreme dieting from a young age and over time obviously that can take its toll not just physically but mentally,” Jones told BBC South Today.
“I’m very hard on myself so it’s like a bittersweet thing for me hanging up with gloves because I feel like I didn’t really sort of go and achieve all that I wanted to.
“Boxing’s only ever done good for me and I’ve got a lot to give back to it, the sport’s given me a lot but I think now it’ll be nice to spend time with loved ones.”
Jones retires with an unbeaten record, winning six times in seven professional bouts and one draw.
As an amateur the featherweight experienced plenty of success, winning 60 of her 65 bouts and claiming multiple national and British titles as well as European under-22 success along the way.