Jade Burden: “I want to compete on the biggest stage, and I want to test myself.”

Jade Burden: “I want to compete on the biggest stage, and I want to test myself.”

Jade Burden is no stranger to the big stage. Burden graced the 2022 Commonwealth Games, going out in the quarter-finals to the talented and now unbeaten professional Gemma Richardson. But the Isle of Man native has now turned her attention to the world of professional boxing. The 34-year-old has found frustration in her new world. Injuries. Fights falling through. In truth, it’s a familiar tale. Jade Burden is one of many who found boxing in the pro ranks, not everything they imagined it would be.

Burden turned over in 2024, but sadly, only two fights currently sit on her resume. A points victory over Kerry Orton last December was her last appearance inside a boxing ring.

“I have just turned 34, and I was hoping by now I would be 5-0 and fighting for titles,” a clearly frustrated Burden told me over Zoom. “It is the hardest part of the sport. The easiest part is doing the training. But then you have to sell tickets and then wonder if you are going to get to actually fight. To be honest, if this fight doesn’t go ahead, I’ll probably just jack it in. I don’t think I could go ahead with the whole heartache of it again. My life is on hold. I am doing all these back-to-back camps. Nothing is lost because it is experience gained, and I have improved. But your mentality is that you want to go in there and put it to use and showcase your skills and what you have learned. I want to go into fights where I am in deep waters. That’s what I want out of the sport. That’s why I got into it.”

Jade Burden is beyond dedicated. Leaving her Isle of Man base three days a week to train in
Liverpool at the No Limits Gym, alongside the former UFC star Molly McCann, who will shortly be making her professional debut in the coming weeks. It is a journey that started very late in life for the unbeaten prospect.

“I started boxing when I was 25 just for a bit of fitness,” Burden relayed to me. “My best mate’s dad ran the local boxing gym. I was going to boxercise twice a week. Her dad came in and said, “You pack a bit of a punch. Why don’t you come to the actual boxing nights?” I did it, and he asked if he would fancy a fight as an amateur. I did it, and I absolutely loved it. I got the bug for it.”

Boxing has brought Burden many things. “Prior to that, I played football, so I was always into team sports. What I loved about boxing was that it was just me. What I put in, I got out. It ignited a fire in me. You can’t mess about when it comes to boxing. You can’t play boxing; otherwise, you get hurt. It brought out a lot in me. I used to have a bit of a temper, a short fuse when I played football, but boxing has calmed me down. It’s been the making of me. Boxing has given me a sense of belonging. It’s brought out the best in me. I am so grateful to boxing.”

After twenty-three amateur fights, Burden decided to test the waters in the paid ranks. “I turned pro because, as an amateur, I was really struggling to get fights,” Burden says, explaining why she left the amateur side of the sport behind. “Stylistically, I plant my feet and let my hands go. I am not a typical point-scoring amateur. I like to set my shots up, and it takes me a round or two to get going. I just thought that at a time when women’s boxing was absolutely booming, there would be opportunities out there for me. I haven’t seen any yet, but maybe if I just stay patient, keep working my ass off, then hopefully, something will come.”

Women’s boxing took a bit of a hit in 2024. Progress and momentum were lost. Fights were hard to come by. Like many, Burden believes it was because of Riyadh Season. “It’s because of the Saudi shows,” Burden says. “If you go back two years, and you look at the Matchroom and Boxxer cards, most of the shows had a female fight on there. But they are few and far between now. Money speaks, of course. It turns heads. But you can’t forget your own. If you have a good social media following, it’s easier to get on a big show. I am not very good at the social’s, I just go to the gym and work out. I can’t be arsed with it, but unfortunately, it’s a sign of the times. But what Jake Paul is doing is great; he has seen a bit of a gap in the market. MVP are signing everybody, and rightly so, and he is paying these women what they deserve.”

Burden hopes to have fight number three in September. Sydney Chambers, a debutant, is listed on Boxrec as the opponent. But Burden, while not looking past Chambers, has her eyes fixed on one name in particular going forward. “I want to compete on the biggest stage, and I want to test myself. I fully believe in myself, and I am not an easy night’s work for anyone. With a good camp behind me, who knows what I can achieve? I just want to box more regularly. Let’s get this fight out of the way, but personally, I would love to box Kirsty Hill at super-featherweight. She’s been sitting on that Commonwealth title since last year, so let’s have it.”