Boxing: Katie Taylor retained her World lightweight boxing title with an emphatic 13-2 win over home favourite Cheng Dong in today's final at the fifth AIBA Women's World Championships in Ningbo City, China.
Following her convincing semi-final win Taylor produced another fine performance this morning as her opponent Dong was no match for the Bray boxer in the 60kg category.
"Katie was 6-0 up at the end of the first round and there was no stopping her after that. It was a brilliant performance from her from start to finish and we are all absolutely thrilled," said Ireland team manager Anna Moore after the bout.
The 22-year-old booked her place in the final with a massive 20-2 semi-final victory over two-time Russian national champion Ayzznat Gadzhieva yesterday.
Taylor won five bouts in all, recorded 68 points and conceded just 10 en route to this year's title.
The reigning World, European and European Union champion came to prominence on the world stage when she landed her first world title after defeating Argentina's Annabella Farias in the 2006 final in New Delhi in India.
It is the second time in just over three months that an Irish boxer met a Chinese opponent in a major international final in China.
In August, Irish captain Ken Egan was unlucky to lose out 11-7 to Xiaoping Zhang in the light heavyweight Olympic final in Beijing but this time there was plenty to cheer about from an Irish standpoint.
Earlier this month, St Anne's Westport teenager Ray Moylett won lightweight gold at the AIBA World Youth Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Minister for Sport Martin Cullen congratulated Taylor on her gold medal win. "I am delighted to congratulate Katie on her gold medal achievement. Katie has proven to be one of the most outstanding boxers at these championships all week and her marvellous victory against local favourite Cheng Dong today has confirmed her status as the world number one. It is another great moment in Irish sport."
"Through all her outstanding achievements at international level, Katie is a wonderful ambassador for Irish sport and a shining role model for young Irish people. Once again Katie has done herself, her coach and father Pete, her family, club, and her country proud," added Cullen.
"Katie's medal-winning performance today maintains the Irish Amateur Boxing Association's remarkable sequence of having won medals at every international tournament this year.
In Beijing Egan's teammates Darren Sutherland and Paddy Barnes also came away with Olympic bronze medals.
"An Olympic medal must be the dream for every competitive athlete and I hope women's boxing will feature at the 2012 Games and that a champion like Katie can compete and win an Olympic gold medal in London for Ireland."