Adams blasts her way to gold after stunning display in historic first ever Olympics final for women's boxing
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Nicola Adams sealed her golden moment with an Ali shuffle as she overwhelmed China's double world champion Ren Cancan 16-7 to be crowned the first ever Olympic women's boxing champion at ExCeL.
Adams decked Ren in the second round on her way to a stunningly comprehensive victory against an opponent who had beaten her in each of the previous two World Championship finals.
Adams made a superb start, producing much the cleaner work in the opening round, firing home a quick combination and a left hook and making it difficult for Ren to find her range as she bounced in and out of reach.
Jumping for joy: Adams was all smiles after her stunning victory in the flyweight final
That's mine: Adams shows off her medal on the podium after her comprehensive victory
Proud on top: Adams stands on the podium after easing to her triumph on home soil
Down and out: Ren Cancan was sent to the canvas by the unstoppable Adams
Royal approval: The Duchess of Cambridge watched the bout as Adams triumphed
A beautiful straight left followed by a right hook towards the end of the round helped Adams into a deserved 4-2 lead, but it was far from over against the Chinese champion who stormed out for the second and landed a big right hand in a furious flurry of action.
Adams was completely unfazed, landing with a beautiful countering left, then a right as she bullied the Chinese fighter into the ropes and unleashed a left followed by a chopping right which dumped Ren to the canvas for a count.
Confidence: Adams was all smiles as she walked to the ring in front of the home fans
Easy street: Nicola Adams proved too strong for China's Ren Cancan at the ExCel
It was a staggering round by Adams, who took a 9-4 lead into the second half of the contest, but will have known to stay on her guard against an opponent who has dominated at the top of her division for four years.
In a quieter third, Adams proved a master at keeping Ren out of range, darting in to score with crisp counters, and at the end of the third the gold medal was at her mercy after establishing a colossal 14-5 lead.
Take that: Adams was simply too strong for her opponent at the ExCel on Thursday
Feel the force: Cancan had no answer to the power from Adams
Packing a punch: Adams was delighted after making history at the Olympics
Utterly dominant, Adams continued to dominate the final round, dancing around the outskirts of the ring and landing counters seemingly at will, celebrating with an Ali shuffle in the final 10 seconds to round off a stunning win.
Adams told BBC1: 'It's a dream come true. I've just wanted this all my life. To think I've finally done it, I'm finally here. All this support has really made my day.'
On the knockdown, she added: 'I didn't even see that coming. It's just was one of those things, it just happened.
'I'd like thank all the supporters here, all the supporters who've followed me. I've brought that gold medal back to Leeds. It's amazing. To have the flag lifted, I just can't wait. I'm just so happy and overwhelmed.'
Nicola Adams' rise to the top...
1982: Born October 26 in Leeds.
1995: Starts boxing age 12 at an after-school class held at a Leeds gym, and has her first fight at age of 13.
2001: Becomes first woman boxer to represent England.
2003: Wins first English amateur title.
2007: Wins European silver in Denmark.
2008: Wins world silver in China.
2009: June - Breaks a bone in her back after falling down stairs in her Leeds home, and has to spend several months recovering in bed.
2010: Wins world silver in Barbados.
2012: Wins world silver in China; qualifies for London Olympics. Wins the first ever women's boxing Olympic gold medal, taking the title in the flyweight division with victory over Chinese double world champion Ren Cancan in London.
1995: Starts boxing age 12 at an after-school class held at a Leeds gym, and has her first fight at age of 13.
2001: Becomes first woman boxer to represent England.
2003: Wins first English amateur title.
2007: Wins European silver in Denmark.
2008: Wins world silver in China.
2009: June - Breaks a bone in her back after falling down stairs in her Leeds home, and has to spend several months recovering in bed.
2010: Wins world silver in Barbados.
2012: Wins world silver in China; qualifies for London Olympics. Wins the first ever women's boxing Olympic gold medal, taking the title in the flyweight division with victory over Chinese double world champion Ren Cancan in London.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2186107/London-2012-Olympics-Nicola-Adams-wins-boxing-gold.html#ixzz234f7SeZg
