Olympic 2012 boxing: Ireland`s Taylor beats Russia`s Ochigava to gold

London: Irish boxer Katie Taylor won Olympic gold Thursday, beating Russia`s Sofia Ochigava 10-8 in a close final in the women`s lightweight category here.

For Taylor, it was a rematch against the woman she defeated 11-7 for the world title in May. The first round ended 2-2 before Ochigava took a 4-3 lead in the second. Taylor stormed back in the third round, taking the score to 7-5 as a large contingent of Irish fans roared their support before Ochigava narrowly won the final round, but not by enough margin for victory. Tajikistan`s Mavzuna Chorieva became the first woman to win an Olympic medal for her country after she and Brazil`s Adriana Araujo won bronze Wednesday. Taylor`s win over Chorieva was another repeat from the World Championships, as the Irish boxer mimicked her dominant semi-final performance from May with a 17-9 victory on points in which she won every round. Ochigava`s fight against the quick-moving Araujo was closer, but the Russian still won three of the four rounds as she emerged victorious by a score of 17-11. Women`s boxing is making its debut in the Olympics this year. Bouts consist of four two-minute rounds, as opposed to the three three-minute rounds for the men. Both semi-finals losers are awarded bronze medals, with the semifinal winners battling it out for gold and silver. IANS