Commonwealth Games: Adams aims for history books

Nicola Adams books hereself a place in tomorrow's final. Picture: TSPL

Adams served up a classy display to comprehensively outpoint Mandy Bujold of Canada and is one win away from being crowned the Games’ first women’s boxing champion.

Adams will take on Northern Ireland’s Michaela Walsh at the 10,000 capacity Hydro Arena today – a venue twice the size as the one in which she claimed Olympic glory in London.

Adams said: “I am looking forward to the finals. It is going to be exciting fighting in front of such a big crowd – it is going to be amazing. I am prepared and ready and I hope you guys are ready for the action.

“It [the Hydro, venue for the final] is bigger than the ExCeL [boxing venue for the London 2012 Olympics] and I have got the experience. I know what it is like to fight in front of a big crowd like that and I’ll take all that experience into the final. I am a lot more experienced, a lot more grown up and I know what to expect.”

But Adams could not be persuaded to give her thoughts about her opponent. She said: “I don’t really do that much talking about my opponents outside of the ring, I just let everything get resolved in there. It would mean everything to me to win.”

“It’s going to be exciting boxing in front of such a big crowd but I know what it’s like and I will be taking that experience into the ring with me. The first time round it was all new to me but now I’m a lot more experienced and I’m prepared for it.”

Walsh edged a tight and absorbing contest against India’s Pinki Jangra to realise her long-held dream of a gold medal clash with Adams. The Belfast 21-year-old struggled initially to get to grips with her opponent’s come forward style, but looked more at ease in the later stages and did just enough to deserve her victory.

Walsh said: “Months ago I said my dream was to fight Nicola Adams in the Commonwealth final and when I go to bed tonight I will dream of that gold medal hanging round my neck.

“I know if I perform to the best of my ability I can beat her. She is the golden girl and I’m only a baby but in the ring it’s a different story.”