A regional daily landed a world exclusive after a champion boxer revealed her retirement from the sport via the newspaper.

Nicola Adams announced in the Yorkshire Evening Post that she would be retiring from professional boxing due to fears over her eyesight.

The Leeds-born pugilist, who currently holds the WBO world female flyweight titles, thanked the YEP’s readers for sticking with the for their “years of unwavering support” throughout her career.

The YEP splashed on the announcement yesterday and ran a special wraparound front page, as well as five pages of coverage inside the paper.

Ms Adams was the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal at London in 2012, and the first female double Olympic champion in the sport after winning a second gold in Rio de Janeiro four years later.

She turned professional in 2017 and has held the WBO belt since July.

YEP editor Laura Collins told HTFP: “As Nicola’s local title we’ve obviously followed her career very closely and the whole city is so immeasurably proud of everything she’s accomplished both in the ring and as an ambassador for Leeds.

“She’s a true sporting superstar and that smile is recognised all over the world now, but for us she’s also a lass from Leeds and an incredible inspiration for young people in the city, showing them what they can achieve through hard work and determination.”