(UPDATES with quotes)
Tajikistan’s Mavzuna Chorieva became the first woman to win an Olympic medal for her country after she and Brazil’s Adriana Araujo won bronze the Olympic 60 kilogram boxing category.
In the Olympic final, Ireland’s world champion Katie Taylor will face off against the women she defeated 11-7 for the lightweight world title in May, Russia’s Sofya Ochigava.
Taylor’s win over Chorieva was another repeat from the world championships, as the Irish boxer mimicked her dominant semifinal performance from May with a 17-9 victory on points in which she won every round.
"I think I am in heaven right now," Taylor said after the fight, adding that she hoped she would inspire girls to follow in her footsteps.
Chorieva was stoic about her performance but vowed revenge on Taylor.
"I had wanted to get the bronze and Katie is very experienced and a difficult opponent," she said.
"We are the same standard and next time I will take her, but she will win the gold medal at these Olympics."
Ochigava’s fight against the quick-moving Araujo was closer, but the Russian still won three of the four rounds as she emerged victorious by a score of 17-11.
Taylor and Ochigava will face off in the final Thursday, with the Russian sparking immediate controversy by claiming the system is rigged in her opponent's favor.
"When you fight Katie you are already minus 10 points," she said.
"You are fighting the judges and the whole system and they will try to give her too many points."
Araujo said she would not be back for her home Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
"I am very happy with what I have achieved but I will not be competing in Rio. I'm turning professional," she said.
Women's boxing is making its debut in the Olympics this year. Bouts consist of four two-minute rounds, as opposed to the three three-minute rounds for the men.
Both semifinal losers are awarded bronze medals, with the winners battling it out for gold and silver.
