AFTER becoming the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal in 2012, Nicola Adams repeated the feat at Glasgow 2014, winning the first women’s boxing final to be contested at a Commonwealth Games when she beat Michaela Walsh, the flyweight from Northern Ireland, on a split decision.
Scotland celebrated two gold medals in the finals, with Josh Taylor triumphing at 64kgs where he beat Nambia’s Junias Jonas by unanimous decision and Charlie Flynn outhustled Northern Ireland’s Joe Fitzpatrick, also winning unanimously.
After his unanimous victory over Devendro Laishram, Northern Ireland’s Paddy Barnes has now won two consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals at 49kgs.
Liverpool’s Antony Fowler, 75kgs, hurt Indian star Vijender Singh in their first two rounds and made sure of his win in the third third, taking a unanimous victory.
Scott Fitzgerald was a surprise selection for England at welterweight but has fought magnificently throughout this tournament, a campaign which culminated in a dominant, unanimous win over India’s Mandeep Jangra in the 69kgs final.
Savannah Marshall won a middleweight gold medal for England when she edged out Canada’s aggressive Ariane Fortin on split decision.
Super-heavyweight Joe Joyce secured the English side’s fifth gold medal. Australia’s Joseph Goodall couldn’t keep the “Iron Giant” off and Joyce took a clear unanimous decision.
Michael Conlan, Northern Ireland, had been badly cut on his forehead in the semi-final but it held together and he beat Qais Ashfaq, England, by unanimous decision for the 56kgs gold medal.
Shelley Watts picked up a 60kgs gold medal for Australia when she went to war with India’s Laishram Devi and emerged with a unanimous win. Flyweight Andrew Moloney delivered Australia’s second boxing gold medal when outpointed Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem, also on a unanimous decision. New Zealand light-heavyweight David Nyika handled the strong charge of Kennedy St. Pierre, winning unanimously though it was a close fight. However his countryman, heavyweight David Light lost a split call to Canada’s Samir El-Mais.
