Kelly Morgan (athlete)

{{Infobox sportsperson

|nationality= British (English)

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1980|6|17|df=yes}}

|birth_place=Dover, England

|height=5 ft 10 in

|weight=72.5 kg{{cite web|url=http://www.kellymorganboxing.co.uk/kelly-morgans-biography/|title=Biography|website=Kelly Morgan Boxing|accessdate=22 December 2015}}

|sport={{ubl|Javelin throw|Netball|Professional boxing}}

|weight_class=Middleweight

|pb=Javelin: 64.87 m (2002)

|club=Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry|{{ENG}}}}

}}

Kelly Morgan (born 17 June 1980) is a former British boxer. She won the WBC female silver middleweight belt in June 2016. Prior to taking up boxing, she represented the England development team in netball, and represented England and the Great Britain in the javelin throw.

Sports

= Javelin =

Morgan won the English schools junior girls title in 1994, then a year later at age 15 won the AAA under 20 title, resulting in her being called up to the British junior squad. Injury caused her to miss two seasons, but she retook the AAA under 20 title in 1998, and represented the UK in the World Junior Championships.{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010825/http://www.wjah.co.uk/wojc/WJC/WJC1998.html|title=World Junior Athletics History|first1=Lionel|last1=Peters|first2=Tomas|last2=Magnusson|date=19 January 2013|archivedate=3 December 2013|url-status=dead|at=Javelin 600g old spec. (-1998) Women|url=http://www.wjah.co.uk/wojc/WJC/WJC1998.html}}{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/kelly-morgan-echoes-of-sanderson-and-whitbrea|title=Kelly Morgan, Echoes of Sanderson and Whitbread|date=22 July 2002|accessdate=22 December 2015|first=Matthew|last=Brown|website=IAAF}}

In 1999, with a new model of javelin being introduced, Morgan took the UK junior record with a throw of {{convert|54.61|m|abbr=on}}, going on to win the AAA senior title in 2000,{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=5 April 2025 }} when she also broke two British under 23 records. Morgan became the British javelin champion for the second time after winning the AAA title at the 2002 AAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/20020715/375/0027 |title=Weekend results - Athletics |work=The Scotsman |date=15 July 2002 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=5 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=5 April 2025}}

Further injury held Morgan back, but she nonetheless represented the United Kingdom in the 2002 European Athletics Championships and England in the 2002 Commonwealth Games, where she achieved third place. 2002 was by far Morgan's best year for javelin: she broke multiple records, including with her personal best of {{convert|64.87|m|abbr=on}}, and at one point ranked second in the world.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics-year-of-the-big-breakthrough-kelly-morgan-136970.html|title=Athletics: Year of the Big Breakthrough – Kelly Morgan|first=Simon|last=Turnbull|newspaper=The Independent|date=22 December 2002|accessdate=22 December 2015}}

Morgan required multiple cortisone injections to get through the 2002 season, and had an operation to shave away part of the acromion process towards the end of that year. That operation led to a secondary problem, however, and as a result she did not compete in 2003. Instead she intended to focus on the 2004 Olympic Games,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3078443.stm|title=Morgan opts out of season|date=18 July 2003|accessdate=22 December 2015|website=BBC Sport}} but was unable to overcome her injuries to be able to compete.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3129397.stm|title=Injury list grows for Team GB|first=Tom|last=Fordyce|website=BBC Sport|date=7 August 2003|accessdate=22 December 2015}}

= Netball =

In 2001, Morgan competed for the English development team in netball, playing against the world champion Australian team.

= Boxing =

Morgan started amateur boxing while in the British Army in 2007, but only had a small number of fights due to Army commitments. However, in July 2015, she switched to professional boxing, winning her first five bouts, including against world number two Szilvia Szabados, and claiming the World Boxing Council's silver middleweight belt.{{cite news|url=http://www.flicwiltshire.com/morgan-describes-her-triumph-over-szabados-as-her-best-yet/|title=Morgan describes her triumph over Szabados as her best yet|date=21 December 2015|accessdate=22 December 2015|first=Andrew|last=Steele-Davis|website=FLIC Wiltshire|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222195022/http://www.flicwiltshire.com/morgan-describes-her-triumph-over-szabados-as-her-best-yet/|archivedate=22 December 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/14158661.BOXING__Morgan_stuns_world_number_two_Szabados/?ref=arc|title=Boxing: Morgan stuns world number two Szabados|first=Michael|last=Reeves|date=21 December 2015|accessdate=22 December 2015|newspaper=Swindon Advertiser}}{{cite news|url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/14614331.Kelly_keeps_champion_in_vision/|date=13 July 2016|accessdate=4 August 2016|newspaper=Swindon Advertiser|title=Swindon's WBC Silver middleweight champion Kelly Morgan outlines plan for her to battle for full world crown|first=Matthew|last=Edwards}}

Morgan has been looking to challenge for a world title since July 2016, and after a "very frustrating" time attempting to arrange a title fight, in January 2017 the World Boxing Council ordered its super-middleweight champion, Nikki Adler, to face Morgan.{{cite news|url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/boxing/15051015.UPDATED__WBC_orders_world_champion_Adler_to_face_Swindon_s_Kelly_Morgan/|title=Swindon boxer Kelly Morgan handed boost as WBC orders super-middleweight champion Nikki Adler to face her|first=Matthew|last=Davies|date=26 January 2017|accessdate=10 February 2017|newspaper=Swindon Advertiser}} In February 2017, the WBC told Morgan she could fight for the "vacant title", with her manager stating it was unclear whether Adler had vacated the title or been stripped of it.{{cite news|url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/15075786.BOXING__Morgan_given__all_clear__for_world_title_shot/|title=Swindon boxer Kelly Morgan given 'all-clear' for shot at WBC world super-middleweight title|first=Michael|last=Reeves|date=8 February 2017|accessdate=10 February 2017|newspaper=Swindon Advertiser}} However, before she was able to fight for the title, Morgan was forced to retire from boxing due to a sparring injury leading to fourth nerve palsy.{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/11020547/wbc-silver-champion-kelly-morgan-retires-from-boxing-following-eye-injury|title=WBC Silver champion Kelly Morgan retires from boxing following eye injury|date=4 September 2017|accessdate=18 May 2018|first=Dev|last=Trehan|website=Sky Sports}}

Personal life

Morgan was born in Dover and brought up in Durrington, Wiltshire.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/3031339/Athletics-Morgan-revives-the-good-old-days.html|title=Athletics: Morgan revives the good old days|first=Jim|last=Bruce-Ball|accessdate=22 December 2015|date=21 July 2002|newspaper=The Telegraph}} The daughter of Sarah, who played netball, and Russ, an amateur boxer and Army physical training instructor, she tried a large number of sports before finding a niche with the javelin.{{cite news|url=http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/boxing/12945771.After_javelin_and_netball__Kelly_steps_into_the_ring/?ref=rss|title=After javelin and netball, Kelly steps into the ring|first=Michael|last=Reeves|newspaper=Swindon Advertiser|date=13 May 2015|accessdate=22 December 2015}}

Outside of sport, Morgan was in the Royal Air Force until 2000, when she left to concentrate on javelin. At the end of 2001 she rejoined the armed forces, this time in the British Army, where she served until 2012, reaching the rank of sergeant in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/4777953/Morgan-just-a-throw-away-from-glory.html|title=Morgan just a throw away from glory|first=Brendan|last=Gallagher|date=24 July 2002|accessdate=22 December 2015|newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cite news|url=http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/meet-boxings-real-life-g-i-jane/|title=Meet boxing's real-life G.I. Jane|date=16 November 2015|accessdate=22 December 2015|first=Danny|last=Flexen|website=Boxing News}}

Between leaving the army and beginning her boxing career, Morgan spent some time travelling, including working as a personal trainer in Qatar.

Results

= Javelin =

{{AchievementTable}}
colspan="5"\|Representing {{GBR2}} and {{ENG}}
1998 \|World Junior Championships \|Annecy, France \|18th (q) \|46.58 m (old spec.)
rowspan=2\|2002 \|Commonwealth Games \|Manchester, United Kingdom \|bgcolor=cc9966\|3rd \|57.09 m
European Championships \|Munich, Germany \|12th \|53.89 m

colspan="5"|Representing {{GBR2}} and {{ENG}}

1998

|World Junior Championships

|Annecy, France

|18th (q)

|46.58 m (old spec.)

rowspan=2|2002

|Commonwealth Games

|Manchester, United Kingdom

|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd

|57.09 m

European Championships

|Munich, Germany

|12th

|53.89 m

= Boxing =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan=8 \| 5 Wins (1 knockout){{cite web\|url=http://boxrec.com/boxer/725565\|title=Kelly Morgan\|website=BoxRec\|accessdate=4 August 2016}}
Res. !Record !Opponent !Type !Rd., Time !Date !Location !Notes
{{yes2}}Win \|5–0 \|{{Flagicon\|Bulgaria}} Borislava Goranova \|PTS \|6 (6×2) \|16 September 2016 \|Sir David English Sport Centre, Bournemouth \|
{{yes2}}Win \|4–0 \|{{Flagicon\|Germany}} Lisa Cielas \|UD \|8 (8×2) \|10 June 2016 \|Grand Leisure Centre, Swindon \|WBC Silver female middleweight title fight
{{yes2}}Win \|3–0 \|{{Flagicon\|Hungary}} Szilvia Szabados \|PTS \|6 (6×2) \|20 December 2015 \|Grand Leisure Centre, Swindon \|
{{yes2}}Win \|2–0 \|{{Flagicon\|Hungary}} Melinda Lazar \|PTS \|6 (6×2) \|24 October 2015 \|Oasis Leisure Centre, Swindon \|
{{yes2}}Win \|1–0 \|{{Flagicon\|Hungary}} Klaudia Vigh \|TKO \|1 (6×2), 1:34 \|18 July 2015 \|Bath Pavilion, Bath \|Professional debut

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

colspan=8 | 5 Wins (1 knockout){{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/boxer/725565|title=Kelly Morgan|website=BoxRec|accessdate=4 August 2016}}

Res.

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Rd., Time

!Date

!Location

!Notes

{{yes2}}Win

|5–0