Inspired by Amir Khan's Olympic success and with childhood heroes such as Muhammad Ali, Nicola Adams proved to any remaining doubters that women can be just as technically sound a pugility as their male counterparts. Unphased by the occasion in the first ever Olympic final for women's boxing, Adams' performance will have issued a statement. Not only is women's boxing here to stay, but it may yet throw the ailing sport a lifeline with what is a new and unfamiliar dimension for many. It became evident in the opening round just why Adams considered her opponent, China's Ren Canan, to be her nemesis.
It was the Chinese southpaw who was victorious in their previous meeting and early indications were that this would be a competitive encounter when an impetuous Adams found her left root inside the right southpaw's lead, walking square on to a stern left cross. Canan had moderate success on the frontfoot, thanks in part to Adams not moving quickly enough to her own left in order to negate the angles for Canan's left hand. Alas, it wasn't long before Adams talent came into play when she started to land good, clean counter shots towards the end of the round, punishhing Canan for whenever she came came forward in straight lines. In truth, the score of 4-2 seemed flattering score for what seemed a very even round overall, but there would be no such room for debate in round 2 on wards. Canan plodded forward with intent, but her efforts to reduce the deficit were in vain with Adams' lateral movement opening up good angles for which to land her combinations. The left hook and straight right are the classic counters against the southpaw, and Nicola was able to land plenty of both. Indeed, it was a right cross followed by a left hook which floored Canana towards the end of the round, opening up a 9-4 lead.
With an ever-increasing deficit in the scores, Canan had no choice but to take risks and it soon became clear that just like many southpaws, Canan is much more comfortable on the backfoot and at holding the center of the ring than she is at coming forward. Adams was able to keep her opponent off-balance with her superior handspeed and accuracy, controlling range seemingly at will, as well as working much more effectively on the inside. With a score of 14-6, Adams commanded what would proved to be an insurmountable lead going into the fourth, but rather than remain on the backfoot, Adams, was even content to trade in the second half of what proved to be another dominant round.
An excellent overall performance for Nicola Adams, the first ever Olympic gold medalist in women's boxing, and such a worthy winner on the night!
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