Nic: I’ve been to Ell... but I’m back
BOXING
NICOLA ADAMS has had the year from hell.
From her mother Dee’s diagnosis with breast cancer, to her break-up with fiancee Marlen Esparza, adversity has never been too far away in a rotten 12-month spell.
Adversity outside the ring has toughened the 35-year-old double Olympic gold medalist, who is now preparing for what she hopes will be her final fight before a world super-flyweight shot.
She sounds fresh and excited at the prospect of fighting on Saturday at Elland Road in her home town of Leeds.
Adams, who will face Argentina’s Soledad Del Valle Frias, said: “There’s definitely a feeling that I now know I can dig so deep that nothing in the ring can faze me.
“I’ve overcome many obstacles in my career and in my life, and I know that anybody who is put in front of me in that ring, I know I’m going to take them out. I can dig deep. I’ve been through worse.
“I’m in fantastic shape and I can’t wait to get going. At Elland Road, it will mean everything to have the support from everyone there – from Leeds, Yorkshire, the rest of the country.
“It’s going to be epic. I went to Elland Road when I was a kid, and the atmosphere has always been amazing.
“So to think I’m getting the chance to walk out in front of a home crowd, hear the roars, hear the cheers and know that everyone is backing me all the way, that’s going to be a really fun night.
“I’ll be enjoying the moment and enjoying the energy of the crowd.”
The Leeds lass had to switch trainers during camp for what will be her fourth professional outing, after Virgil Hunter took ill – but her work with Nonito Donaire Snr has already paid dividends.
Adams added: “We’re all just wishing Virgil all the best and hope he gets better soon. After he fell ill, I moved on to Nonito Donaire, and I’ve been working with him for the past few weeks.
“We’re getting on really well and I’m sitting down even more on my punches now for the power shots.
“He’s showing me how to land those really heavy shots to finish people off and get the KO that everybody, all the fight fans, wants to see.
“We have been working on a lot of strengthening, a lot of sitting down and really trying to sink the power shots.
“In my last fight, everybody could see – and I could see myself – that I have started to develop as a professional. I’ve just been practising day in, day out, just trying to get everything right, and it’s starting to pay off now.
“I feel really close to the world title now, but I’m just focusing on getting May 19 out of the way and putting on a good performance.”