Nicola Adams secures unanimous points win over Ren Cancan to advance to the final once again
- Nicola Adams lost the first round but responded superbly from then on
- Adams won a gold medal in London 2012 and will hope to repeat that
- The final will take place on Saturday following a tough semi-final bout
The sweetheart of the London Games became the darling of Rio as she stormed into another Olympic final.
As Nicola Adams laid thumping claim to at least a silver medal the crowd rose to their feet in roaring acclamation and delight.
The atmosphere which embraced her un Pavilion 6 at Riocentro has been surpassed only once, two nights earlier when a Brazilian won gold.
Nicola Adams has her hand raised in the semi-final after a tough win over Ren Cancan
Adams gestures to the crowd and will be looking for her second successive Olympic gold
After recovering brilliantly from a first round scare to defeat Cancan Ren, her long-time Chinese rival, Adams said: ‘The reaction of the crowd came as a nice surprise. They must like my style. I suppose I am exciting.’
Suppose? This audience are in no doubt about that.
The applause which welcomed her into the ring turned to full-throated cheers which increased in volume from round to round.
Ren, who lost to Adams in the London 2012 flyweight final, was intent on avenging that defeat and deservedly won the first round.
Adams advanced to the final of the women's boxing following a points win
Adams, after such a long wait start to her tournament, had been ring rusty in winning her first bout but the urgent time had come to shake off any remaining sluggishness.
She was all aggression from the start of the second and the first heavy right-hand blow she landed visibly shocked the Chinese woman.
Ren, who Adams knocked down four years ago, retreated into a wary shell and Adams kept her locked in there with some smart boxing and sharp combinations.
Although this has been the week of controversial decisions at the boxing nobody is arguing about this one.
China's Cancan (right) won the first round and made the Brit work hard for her win
Adams won the second, third and fourth of these two-minute stanzas on the judges’ cards, my card and the cards of pretty much everyone else in the arena as she racked up a unanimous victory.
Adams is back. Back to her sparkling best as she extended the defence of her Olympic title into this Saturday’s final.
There she will meet France’s Sarah Ourahmoune who, minutes after Adams wowed the hall, overcame Colombia’s Victoria Valencia in her semi-final.
That was a hard-won victory but not one delivered with the class and punching power demonstrated by Adams, who will be a heavy favourite when they meet.
Mademoiselle Ourahmoune seems to know it. Three years younger than Adams, at 30, she says: ‘I have always looked up to Nicola as a pioneer for women’s boxing. I have followed her career for many years. She is a great champion and an idol.
The next few rounds saw Adams land the cleaner shots as she dominated her game opponent
‘Nicola does have a nice style of her own and you can see that boxing is in her blood. She is a natural and that makes a big difference.
‘But I am really looking forward to fighting her. It will be a pure joy for me.’
Adams is looking forward to it, also. She is oozing confidence as she says: ‘Now I want the gold.’
The sassy lassie from Leeds is back, also, in the hearts of her public and she is assured of thunderous reception when she comes out in search of another piece of boxing history.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-3747540/Nicola-Adams-secures-unanimous-points-win-Ren-Cancan-advance-final-again.html#ixzz4HidmSvGy
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