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Taylor is announced the winner. INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Golden girl: Katie Taylor is Olympic champion

The Bray boxer beat Sofya Ochigava of Russia 10-8 at the ExCel Arena today.

IT’S OFFICIAL – KATIE Taylor is an Olympic gold medallist.

The 26-year-old Bray fighter defeated Russian opponent Sofya Ochigava by a score of 10-8 in her women’s lightweight final at the ExCel Arena this evening to secure her status as the best female boxer on the planet.

On an historic day for Irish sport and in front of 10,000 screaming fans, Taylor and Ochigava drew the opening round 2-2 before Ochigava took the second by a single point.

Taylor had a strong penultimate round and went into the final two minutes ahead by just two points.

“I’m Olympic champion,” Taylor told RTE Sport after the medal ceremony. “I dreamt of this so many times.

I’m the most nervous that I’ve ever been going into a fight. It was hard to relax.

“It’s always a close fight between me and Sofya, she’s a great fighter.”

The four-time world champion clinches the second ever women’s Olympic boxing gold after Nicole Adams of Team GB won the flyweight title earlier today.

In pictures: Ireland’s fight fans turn the ExCel Arena green ahead of Katie’s gold run

LIVE: London 2012, Day 13

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