Taylor, the 26-year-old from Bray, has been an overwhelming favourite for the lightweight title since the tournament begun and the four-time world champion and five-time European champion did not disappoint as she cruised into the gold medal match with a 17-9 win over 19-year-old Mavzuna Chorieva of Tajikistan.

The best female pound for pound boxer on the planet put on a masterclass of speed and movement as she used her jab to dominate a bout that saw her cheered on by a deafening crowd at the ExCeL in London's Docklands as she secured at least a silver medal.

"I think I am in heaven right now," she said after the win.

"Hopefully there are a lot of young girls sitting at home watching this and they will realise this is what they can work towards.

"This is amazing for women's boxing."

Katie Taylor of Ireland in action against Mavzuna Chorieva of Tajikistan during the lightweight division at London's ExCeL arena

It marked a special day for the sport where the first ever Olympic medals were awarded in the discipline.

The first female to actually secure a medal in women's boxing was Marlen Esparza of the United States, who lost to Cancan Ren of China 10-8 at flyweight and claimed a historic bronze medal by virtue of losing in the semi-final, with fighters losing in the last four claiming a bronze medal.

"I can't be angry about getting any medal at all," said Esparza after picking up the first ever women's boxing medal.

"But bronze wasn't my goal."

It was also a day that saw Britain's Nicola Adams secure at least a silver medal by reaching tomorrow's final of the women's flyweight competition with an impressive 11-6 victory over India's five-time world champion Mary Kom to book a gold medal bout with Ren.

"Words can't express how I'm feeling right now," said Adams.

"To reach an Olympic final, I've dreamt of this since I was 12 years old, I'm really happy.

"Against Ren, I'll do everything the same and treat it like a normal tournament."

Marina Volnova of Kazakhstan (red), defends against Claressa Shields of the USA during the middleweight division at London's ExCeL arena

Meanwhile in the middleweight division, the third and final weight class for female boxing at the Olympics, Claressa Shields kept America's hopes of a boxing gold medal alive with a convincing 29-15 victory over Marina Volnova of Kazakhstan, who upset Britain's Savannah Marshall in the previous round.

The Americans brought a team of 12 to London but none of their men won a medal, for the first time in Olympic history.

But 17-year-old Shields, the youngest boxer in the tournament, will be favourite to beat Russia's Nadezda Torlopova in the final tomorrow.

"I am here because this is my dream and tomorrow I am going to fight my heart out," she said.

"At the end I wanted to cry because it means a lot to me.

"I also wanted to put on a good show to boost the chance of more women's weight categories being added at the next Olympics."

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