MC Mary Kom has created history by becoming the first woman to win six boxing world titles after clinching the 48 kg gold at the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi.
The 35-year-old Indian legend faced up to Ukraine’s Hanna Okhota, knowing victory in the summit clash would see her overtake Ireland’s Katie Taylor, with whom she had been level on five gold medals. Buoyed by a packed home audience, Mary was awarded the bout by a unanimous verdict by the officials.
16 years after winning her maiden World Championship crown – and eight years since her last – Mary becomes the most successful female in the history of the competition, and the joint-most successful pugilist overall along with Cuban all-time great Felix Savon.
When the Manipur-hailing Mary won the first of her six titles, in Turkey in 2002, her opponent in Saturday’s final was six years old. The gulf in experience showed up in the bout, with all five judges scoring against Okhota.
It was a second meeting between the two in as many months, with the veteran having beaten the 22-year-old in the semis en route a title at the Silesian Boxing Championships in Poland in September. The domination continued in Delhi.
Three of the judges awarded the bout to Mary by a three-point margin of 30-27, with the other two scoring the bout 29-28 in her favour.
A visibly emotional Mary broke down while speaking to host broadcasters Star Sports immediately after her record-breaking triumph.
I would like to thank all my fans.. they came specially for me, to cheer our Indian contingent. Since last many years, I haven’t been able to fight in the 48 kg category, because there is no (such) weight category in (the) Olympic Games. I have to jump to the other category. The effort was very challenging for me. Thank you so much for your love and support. I cannot give you anything back (in return)... what I can give you is gold for the country.MC Mary Kom to Star Sports
The victory gives India their first gold medal at the 2018 Worlds, and third overall, in addition to bronze medals for Lovlina Borgohain and Simranjeet Kaur. That medal tally later swelled to four, with 21-year-old Sonia Chahal claiming a silver after going down in the 57 kg final.
Mary’s five previous World Championship titles had come over five successive editions from 2002 to 2010, after a silver medal at the inaugural Worlds in 2001. She remains the only Indian female boxer to have won an Olympic medal, a bronze at the 2012 London Games, and also the only one with a Commonwealth Games gold, won in Gold Coast earlier this year.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)