Boxer Lisa Whiteside is happy to wait before getting back in the ring

The reigning Commonwealth Games champion (right) was hoping 2020 would be the year when she would reach the summit of her sport, having turned professional at the start of 2019.

However, the coronavirus pandemic has put that ambition on the backburner, with all boxing shows – both professional and amateur – postponed.

There is talk that boxers may return to the ring this summer in behind-closed-doors events.

And in the USA, promoter Bob Arum has held the first show since the mid-March lockdown in Las Vegas this week.

Whiteside revealed that she has only just started working again with trainer Mick Day, and is keen to err on the side of caution with regards to a return to the boxing ring.

“I have just been trying to tick over,” said Chorley-born Whiteside.

“I have been training at home and doing runs when we were allowed out for one hour of exercise per day.

“I have just started working with Mick and my training partner Michael Ramabeletsa.

“The main thing is safety, that’s what comes first.

“Yes, it’s been a downer for the sport of boxing, but the main thing is we all stay safe and get through

this. We don’t know what’s going to happen.

“There maybe a second phase of the virus, a second spike, so we’ve just got to make that sure we stay

safe. That’s the most important thing.”