Lisa Whiteside convinced she would have beaten Nicola Adams in Liverpool

World silver medallist Lisa Whiteside admits she was devastated at being denied the opportunity to face Olympic and Commonwealth champion Nicola Adams at last month’s England Elite Boxing Championships.

The 29-year-old from Preston was crowned English champion at Liverpool’s Echo Arena with a dominant performance in the 51kg weight division.

But Adams was forced to pull out of the event after a burglary at her Leeds home where Olympic and Commonwealth mementos, as well as the kit she was due to compete in, were stolen.

I have the utmost respect for Nicola. She’s the Olympic and Commonwealth champion but I do believe it’s my time now.

“I’d been training for that final with Nicola and it was hard then to hear that she had to pull out, particularly under the circumstances which obviously weren’t nice,” Whiteside told Sky Sports News HQ.

“After being on a high I came tumbling right back down by not being able to have the opportunity that myself and everyone wanted.

“I do believe I would have won that bout and it would have proven to the public where I am. I’m currently ranked No 3 in the world, I’m world silver medallist and now I’m elite ABA champion so I’ve proved myself at 51kg.

“I believe in my ability now and I think that World Championships really gave me that confidence. I have the utmost respect for Nicola. She’s the Olympic and Commonwealth champion but I do believe it’s my time now.

“I’m not a big-headed person but I do believe that I’m the best 51kg fighter in the country. On current form I’m the No 1 at 51kg in Britain now and I believe that I have proven that.”

Whiteside and Adams will feature for Team GB alongside Sky Academy Sports Scholar Savannah Marshall at next month’s inaugural European Games in Baku.