Boxing: Britain's most celebrated female boxer becomes most decorated

Nicola Adams poses with her gold medal during the Olympics. Photo / Getty Images

She is Britain's most celebrated female boxer - and now will be its most decorated.

For Nicola Adams will today be named as the recipient of an OBE in the New Year's Honours List.

And she is celebrating her success, the Daily Mail can reveal, with her new girlfriend, Marlen Esparza, 27 - an American boxer who competes in the same flyweight category.

It means the couple, who both won medals at the London 2012 Olympics, could conceivably fight each other at any given time.

Indeed, earlier this summer, the pair sparred together - weeks before they began dating.

A friend said today: 'Nicola was absolutely made-up when she got the letter informing her of the OBE.

'She is thrilled and feels deeply honoured.

She feels privileged to be in the position she's in and wants to continue to raise the profile of women's boxing.

'She told Marlen about the honour, and obviously she was absolutely thrilled for Nicola.'

Miss Adams, 34, who has spoken frankly of her bisexuality, won gold in both the 2012 and 2016 Games.