Katie Taylor wins European Gold

Iaba press officer Bernard O’Neill
Katie Taylor claimed her fifth European  lightweight title on-the-trot with a composed victory over Sofya Ochigava at the  8th European Women’s Championships in Rotterdam this  evening.
The Irish three-time World  champion was rarely troubled before being handed a 10-5 decision over  the Russian two-time World champion after four,two minutes rounds of  tonight’s 60Kg final.
Tonight’s verdict was a case  of high fives all round for Taylor – who had the entire Irish squad singing  her down to victory this evening –  as the win was her fifth  in six days at the Championships.
The 10-5 decision was also sweet  revenge for Taylor as she was somehow adjudged to have been “beaten” 8-1 by  Ochigava at the Usti na Labem Grand Prix in the Czech Republic in March  2010.
“Sofya is one of the best opponents I  have ever met and I’m absolutely thrilled with the win. I can’t believe it  really. I would like to thank my dad and coaches and the entire Irish squad for  all their fantastic support all week, ” said Taylor.
Tonight’s win is also the third gold  medal that Ireland has won at European Senior Championships level this year as  Joe Ward and Ray Moylette won double gold at the European Men’s  Championships
in Turkey in  June.
“Katie is boxing at another level  than what she was at last year and she was absolutely exceptional. The entire  squad are on a high after this win and we’re absolutely thrilled, ” said Irish  team manager
Anna Moore.
Taylor, who led 1-0 after the first  against her Russian opponent courtesy of a flashing right early in the frame,  resisted the temptation to engage with Ochigava, who was “extending invitations”  to mix it, and stretched her lead to 4-1 by the end of the second.
The third frame was another cagey  affair. However, Taylor, once again showing remarkable composure, patiently  build on her advantage en route to a unprecedented haul of European gold  medals for an Irish athlete.
The Bray woman, who was boxing out of  the blue corner tonight,  has now won three World, five European and four  European Union titles – all in-a-row.

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