Luigi Semele (second left) claimed World Cup gold in Mexico ©FIE

Luigi Samele claimed a maiden triumph on the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Grand Prix circuit after winning sabre gold in Cancun.

The Italian won 15-11 against South Korean rival Lee Jong-hyun in the final to improve upon four previous bronze medals.

It marked the 29-year-old's greatest individual success in a career highlighted largely by a London 2012 Olympic bronze and three European titles in the team event.

He also claimed a Chicago World Cup gold medal in May 2014.

Semele had earlier won 15-9 against Hungarian Csanad Gemesi to secure a spot in the final.

Luigi Samele (left) pictured en-route to his maiden World Cup triumph ©FIE
Luigi Samele (left) pictured en-route to his maiden World Cup triumph ©FIE

Lee prevailed 15-10 over Russia's Ilya Motorin in the other last-four clash.

Italy's Enrico Berre and South Korea's Gu Bon-gil were two of the losing quarter-finalists along with Germany's Domenik Koch and another Hungarian in Nikolasz Iliasz.

It came in the final Grand Prix event of 2016.

The event is now due to resume in Long Beach, California, on March 17 and 18.