​Two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones is set to challenge Sheena Bathory for the Misfits super middleweight title in Newcastle on September 12. Jones, now 33, has impressed in boxing since making the switch, scoring two wins and most recently delivering a brutal stoppage of Argentine fitness and combat sports influencer Federikita in June. Bathory, a 34-year-old Hungarian mixed martial artist, also tasted victory on the same event bill in Manchester, defeating Tina Snows on the undercard of the Tommy Fury versus Eddie Hall showdown. Bathory had initially asserted her intent to pursue a rematch after her own triumph; upon Jones’ win, Bathory leapt into the ring and told the Welsh fighter, “I’m coming for you for my next fight.” Jones’s concise reply was, “Definitely.”
The bout will occur on the undercard of Jordan McCann versus Big Stacks at the Utilita Arena. Misfits, the promotions outfit established by influencer KSI in 2021 to promote sports entertainment, operates outside the traditional, widely recognized world sanctioning bodies, presenting a distinct pathway for crossover athletes and aspiring stars. Jones’s upcoming clash with Bathory continues her transition from Olympic glory to professional boxing, highlighting the growing crossover appeal between combat sports disciplines.
As Jones advances in boxing, her track record of knockouts and decisive finishes has drawn attention to her potential to excel beyond taekwondo’s Olympic arena. Her career shift also underscores broader trends in combat sports, where athletes leverage existing fame and athletic prowess to pursue new stages and audiences. Bathory’s progression into the spotlight on a Misfits card mirrors Jones’s evolving career, underscoring a rising interest in high-profile crossovers that blend elements of martial arts, entertainment, and street-level hype.
This matchup stands as a notable moment in Misfits’ ongoing effort to stage compelling, mainstream-friendly battles that can attract casual fans and hardcore followers alike. It also serves as a test case for the viability and appeal of non-traditional sanctioning bodies in presenting competitive bouts featuring well-known athletes from various disciplines. The Newcastle event, headlined by Jordan McCann versus Big Stacks, promises a stacked card that could propel both Jones and Bathory further into the public consciousness, reinforcing Misfits’ place within the current sports entertainment landscape.
Jones’s boxing debut featured a knockout win, adding momentum to her athletic narrative as she contends with Bathory in a bout that could shape perceptions of what crossover champions might achieve in a sport that values speed, power, and marketability. As fans anticipate the September 12 clash, the broader conversation about athlete versatility, branding, and the evolving rules of modern combat sports continues to grow, with Jones and Bathory at the center of a rising wave of cross-disciplinary competition.