Nicola Adams and Lisa Whiteside rivalry good for boxing, says Jonas

Natasha Jonas has likened the rivalry between Nicola Adams and Lisa Whiteside to the tempestuous relationship between Carl Froch and George Groves.

The pair were on a collision course to meet at the recent England Elite Boxing Championships before a burglary at Adams’ home forced her to withdraw from the event in Liverpool.

Whiteside went on to take the 51kg title and later admitted she was devastated she could not face Olympic champion Adams, who she said she was confident of beating.

“Everybody loves rivalries like that,” Jonas told Sky Sports. “Look at Benn and Eubank, Froch and Groves and Brook and Khan.

“People will always get behind a good domestic rivalry and a good domestic bout where they think something will happen.

“I think so many people were looking forward to that fight between Nicola Adams and Lisa Whiteside but unfortunately, certain things happened and it wasn't to be.

“But it actually got people talking about women’s boxing more than the men's even though they were on the same show. It was interesting to see that, as well as the media coverage around it because of Nicola's profile from the Olympics.”

Adams and Whiteside had both earned selection for Team GB boxing at the inaugural European Games in Baku before Whiteside’s enforced withdrawal due to a head injury. Adams begins her quest for gold at the inaugural games on Thursday.

Everybody loves rivalries like that. Look at Benn and Eubank, Froch and Groves, and Brook and Khan. People will always get behind a good domestic rivalry and a good domestic bout where they think something will happen.

But Jonas believes it could just be a matter of time until we see the British flyweight fighters square off to determine which boxer will represent Team GB at Rio 2016.

“I think the majority of people were thinking whoever won the fight between them would earn selection and get the Olympic spot. Now people will be wandering what happens next,” Jonas said.

“Nicola has won a few medals since the Olympics but she didn’t medal at the Europeans and Lisa went to the Worlds - because Nicky was injured - and came back with a silver medal. Lisa is also the English champion.

“I don’t know what the selection criterion is for Rio but how do you decide between the current Olympic champion and the current world No 2? 

“Maybe they are going to have to box-off in the future. That would be interesting and that’s what people want to see.”