DOUBLE GOLD AS THE HOME LADIES CREATE HISTORY

By: Peter Mann Head UK & Eire Editor

History was created on the afternoon of Thursday 9th August in the inaugural finals of the Women’s Boxing. Immortality was etched out for that of Team GB’s Nicola Adams in the 51kg final, and Team Ireland’s Katie Taylor in the 60kg final. Both fighters would be putting to rest ghosts of the past and claimed their place in the echelons of Olympic history amidst a cacophony of noise and a plethora of colour in the Excel South Arena.

The first final of the afternoon would see that of 29 year old, Leeds born, Nicola Adams, take to the ring against her much younger counterpart, the Chinese powerhouse of Ren Cancan. Both of whom had received byes in the round of sixteen.

Cancan then disposed of the Russian Elena Savelyeva in the quarters 12-7, then the American bronze medallist Marlen Esparza in the semis 10-8. Adams on the other hand made light work of the Bulgarian Stoyka Petrova in the quarters 16-7 and then took care of the Indian favourite Mery Kom in the semis 11-6.

For the bout was a Hungarian referee in Veronika Szucs for what was the fourth meeting between the two, Cancan having won the previous two demoting Adams to silver in each World Championships. This was to be the ultimate payback though for Adams as she would lead from the start, only letting up in the fourth and final round (level at 2-2) when she was already in a commanding lead.

For all Adams would take the first round by two points (4-2) it would be the manner that the middle two rounds were dominated that ultimately gave her the gold medal. At the start of the second Adams had Cancan up against the ropes for a good period, then, as she was struggling, Adams proceeded in putting her opponent on the canvas midway through the round. Then, in the third, and with Cancan seemingly trying to edge her way back into the final, Adams held her own well. Her defence in both the third and the last round played a good part in the reason for victory.

It was to be the perfect performance from Nicola Adams as she created Olympic Immortality for herself taking the ever women’s gold medal in an Olympic boxing event with an impressive 16-7 victory. The round by round scores for Adams saw 4-2, 5-2, 5-1 and 2-2 as Ren Cancan was taken apart by a beaming Olympic champion.

The second final, straight after Adams success, came in the 60kg division and was contested between that of Katie Taylor of Ireland and Sofya Ochigava of the Russian Federation. Taylor, the four time world champion having it all to do as both fighters had received a bye from the opening round of sixteen.

Taylor opened with a thrilling victory over Team GB’s Natasha Jonas in the quarters 26-15 and then removed Tajikistan’s Mavzuna Chorieva in the semis 17-9. Her opponent, the former World Bantamweight Champion, took care of New Zealand’s Alexis Pritchard quite easily in the quarters, winning 22-6 and then the Brazilian Adriana Araujo in the semis 17-11.

For the bout was a Dominican Republic referee, Ana Isabel Martinez Almonte and she would witness a quite laboured start from both fighters. Taylor and Ochigava giving it their all from the start as they tried to feel each other out, but for all of Taylor’s hard work she would find herself a point behind at the halfway stage of the bout. Ochigava took the second round 2-1 after a 2-2 draw in the opening round.

However, with the massive Irish support in the Excel Arena firmly behind the Irish legend, Taylor soon got into the swing of things and completely dominated the third round. So much so that, having closed the round on top, Taylor had moved two points in front, winning the round impressively 4-1. In the last round the Russian started to resort to holding tactics but Taylor all but took the bout when they parted from the clinch, catching her opponent with a great left hand. That blow came much to the delight of the crowd whom now smelt gold for their favourite as well.

With some brilliant boxing from Taylor, her punching and movement increasing as the bout progressed the result was surely not going to be in doubt. The final round finished level at 3-3 and as the score was announced with a 10-8 victory, the crowd erupted, welcoming Katie Taylor as an Olympic champion alongside Nicola Adams. Taylor then proceeded to perform a lap of honour around the ring as her smile was as just as wide as Adams’ was minutes earlier.

And that was that. Nicola Adams of Team GB and Katie Taylor, the Irish legend, are now immortalised as Olympic gold medal winners, on top of every other honour the two ladies had accomplished beforehand.

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