Adams wins flyweight gold

Britain’s Nicola Adams won the first ever women’s Olympic flyweight final with a 16-7 win over China’s world champion Ren Cancan yesterday to claim the hosts’ first boxing gold.

After losing May’s world championships flyweight final to Ren, Adams controlled the Olympic gold-medal bout from the first bell and attacked Ren, who has won the last three world titles.

The Briton made a bright start, working her jab effectively, to take the first round 4-2 at London’s ExCel Arena.

The home favourite had the London crowd chanting ‘Nicola!’ when she pinned the world champion to the ropes at the start of the second, then floored Ren with an upper-cut midway through the round to extend her lead to 9-4.

Ren responded with a fiery start to the third, a fast combination had Adams boxed in a corner, but the Briton held her own and picked up points to convincingly win the third 5-1 for an overall 14-5 lead.

The fourth round ended 2-2, but Adams was punching the air and celebrating with crowd long before the referee raised her arm as the victor to crown her Olympic champion.

“It is a dream come true. I am so happy and overwhelmed with joy right now. I have wanted this all my life and I have done it,” said Adams.

“The feeling when I step on the podium will be amazing and taking the gold medal home to Leeds will be special.”

Having lost Wednesday’s semi-final bouts, Marlen Esparza of the United States and India’s M.C. Mary Kom were both awarded bronze medals as women’s boxing made its Olympic debut in London.

Ireland’s four-time world champion Katie Taylor took gold in the lightweight division with a 10-8 win over Russia’s Sofya Ochigava to claim her country’s first London gold.

Having defeated Ochigava in May for her most recent world crown, the 26-year-old Taylor added the Olympic title to her world titles.

Taylor had a nervy start as the first-round finished 2-all while the Russian took a 4-2 lead after the second with some solid blows, causing anxious looks in the Irish corner.

But an impressive display in the third saw Taylor up her work-rate to win the round 4-1 and take a 7-5 lead in the gold medal bout.

Ochigava worked hard in the fourth and final round to try to close the gap and raised her arm in triumph at the final bell. But Taylor was not to be denied, claiming the Olympic crown as the fourth round finished level at 3-3.