With 6th Worlds title, Mary Kom has attained status of greatest ever woman amateur boxer in world; Indian sets sight on 2020 Games
She had already earned the nickname of Magnificent Mary. On Saturday, MC Mary Kom attained the status of the greatest ever woman amateur boxer in the world, beating Ukraine's Hanna Okhota in the 48kg light flyweight final to win her sixth World Championships gold here at the KD Jadhav Stadium.
With this gold, the 35-year-old Manipuri also etched her name alongside Cuba's Felix Savon as the joint most successful boxer – male or female – in World Championships history. Savon had also won three Olympic gold medals during his illustrious career.
This victory was even more special for the mother of three kids as it came after a gap of eight years. Winning her first Worlds medal in 2001 – a silver – Mary Kom went on to win five yellow metals in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010 editions and was tied at five golds with Katie Taylor of Ireland.
With gold No. 6, the current Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha has set her sight on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold.
"Thank you for your love and support," a teary-eyed Mary Kom said after the bout.
"I don't have anything to give to the country except for a gold medal. I know it will be a bit difficult for me to win a gold in Tokyo (2020 Games) as I will have to fight in the 51kg. I am still dreaming about winning the gold at the Olympics," said Mary Kom, who was also adjudged the best boxer of the championship.
No nerves
In front of nearly packed crowd on Saturday, Mary Kom showed no nerves and was successful in keeping her opponent on the move with calculated counter offensive strikes.
She started off by landing a couple of right jabs early to take control of the bout. It was only towards the end of first round that the Ukrainian managed to connect a straight punch against Mary Kom.
Okhota, who lost to the Indian in Silesian Open in Poland two months ago, looked more prepared in the second round as she employed her quick hands to force Mary Kom on the backfoot.
The round was so intense that both pugilists even got on to wrestle in between to rattle each other.
However, the Indian champion came back strongly and displayed her best effort of the day, a powerful hook in the second that shattered Okhota's gameplan to lower her guard and lure the Indian to attack.
The third round was more or less about the Ukrainian's desperate tactics to find ways to land her straight punches on Mary Kom's face. She found only a little success when her left-handed flick pushed Mary Kom a little backwards, and yet the Indian came back strongly to score a few points. It was enough to ensure a unanimous result from all five judges.
This was Mary Kom's second successive victory over her Ukrainian opponent, whom she recently beat at the Silesian Women's Open semifinals in Poland.
It was also the India's second Worlds crown on home soil and second in the light flyweight category. Her first four gold medals in her 17-year international career had come in pinweight category.
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