By Elliot Foster

Nicola Adams has been crowned a world champion without even having to step into the ring.

The two-time Olympic champion is now the WBO world flyweight champion.

Adams, 36, was interim champion and mandatory challenger to Arely Mucino.

But Mucino –– who was due to meet Adams at the Royal Albert Hall in London back in March before ‘The Lioness’ was injured in the build-up –– has since suffered head and ankle injuries and was not able to "participate in active competition”.

The Mexican, who defended the title twice after winning it in February 2018, can request mandatory challenger status when she is able to fight again.

She is said to have suffered a head injury in her last bout in April.

Mucino, 30 then hurt her ankle in a car crash, ruling her out until at least November and beyond the time during which she was obligated to defend her belt.

Adams has fought five times in more than two years as a professional –– but has been out of action since claiming the aforementioned interim belt in Leicester last October against Isabel Millan.

She has hinted she could bid for a third Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 but is expected to return to the professional ring sooner rather than later.