KATIE Taylor has booked her place in the Olympic Lightweight by beating Mavzuna Chorieva of Tajikistan.
The 26-year-old, cheered on by a massive Irish contingent in East London's ExCel Arena, won by 17-9.
"Today was such a tricky fight, she was a great counter-fighter. I'm into an Olympic final, it's amazing," Taylor said.
"I have to refocus now before tomorrow because it's going to be a completely different fight. The support here is incredible. I know I've the whole nation praying for me as well."
The final will be at 4.45pm tomorrow. Taylor will fight either Brazilian Adriana Araujo or Sofya Ochigava from Russia.
Two days ago Taylor guaranteed herself an Olympic bronze with a 26-15 defeat of British lightweight hope, Natasha Jonas.
Jonas expects Taylor to win the gold medal now. "I think she will and hope she does," Jonas said. "Katie's the best in the world and probably deserves it."
*See next week's Irish Post for the best coverage of Katie Taylor's Olympic campaign.
