Jade Jones drops Egypt Criss with brutal knockout as Olympic star impresses in first boxing appearance

Two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones made a strong first impression in the boxing ring this weekend. The Welsh athlete knocked out internet personality Egypt Criss during a Misfits Boxing event at Vaillant Live in Derby, England. The fight ended in the second round after Jones landed a clean series of punches that dropped her opponent along the ropes. Soon after the finish, the moment began spreading quickly across social media.The event was streamed live on DAZN, and clips of the knockout quickly gained attention online. The platform’s combat sports account even posted on X, “KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR CONTENDER? WHAT (A) KO FOR JADE JONES.” The powerful finish stood out on a card filled with crossover fights. Even though it was Jones’ first boxing appearance, her confidence and control were visible from the opening bell.Jade Jones looked comfortable in the ring despite making her boxing debut. Known in her taekwondo career as “The Headhunter,” the Olympic champion showed strong timing and distance control. Egypt Criss, a hip-hop artist and internet personality, does not have a documented background in combat sports. Because of that, the difference in experience became noticeable early in the fight.The end came quickly in the second round. Jones trapped Criss near the ropes and followed up with a quick combination of punches. One clean strike landed on the chin and forced the referee to stop the bout.The knockout drew attention from several well-known fighters. Seven-division boxing champion Amanda Serrano reacted to the moment on X and wrote, “That was Pretty Respectfully! As a fighter, we admire these things without wishing any harm to our opponents. Praying the young lady recovers & is OK.”Former world champion Jamel Herring also reacted while watching the replay. He wrote, “She wound it up too.”Some fans were impressed with Jones’ technique. One viewer commented online, “Pure masterclass. Transitioning Olympic Taekwondo distance control into a clinical Round 2 setup proves elite fight IQ. That lead-hand entry followed by the hook was total divinity.”However, a few fans questioned the matchup. One user wrote, “She used the same left hand like four times. Lame KO. The other girl has poor defense.” Another viewer added, “A child star with no fighting experience vs. a two-time Olympic athlete? And it’s being celebrated.”Even with mixed reactions, Jones’ knockout became the biggest moment from the Misfits Boxing event. Since the bout was promoted as an exhibition, the main goal was entertainment. Still, the performance showed that Jade Jones could draw serious attention if she continues exploring boxing in the future.