Destiny fulfilled as cool Katie takes place on top of world

Women’s boxing at London 2012 was all about Katie Taylor and yesterday the woman who played such a big role in getting it added to the Olympic programme was rewarded by having a gold medal hung round her neck.

All week in London she insisted she would not be happy or satisfied until she stood on the podium to the sound of Amhran na bhFiann and she claimed the honour and the gold medal in a tense final which saw her come from a point down at the end of the second round to win the third 4-1 and then hold on to her two-point lead in a dour struggle with world No 2 Sofya Ochigava to win the contest 10-8.

In total contrast to Monday’s quarter-final against Natasha Jonas, which was a bit of Ali-Foreman-Frazier all rolled into one, this was a tense and dramatic affair.