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Taylor shares a joke with her corner. INPHO/Dan Sheridan

I need to refocus quickly, admits Taylor ahead of historic Olympic decider

I’ll try my best to have a good night’s sleep but we’ll see how we go,” said the Bray woman afterwards.

KATIE TAYLOR INSISTS she’ll be ready for tomorrow’s Olympic decider tomorrow.

The Bray woman beat Mavzuna Choerieva 17-9 in the tournament semi-final this afternoon to set up a gold medal showdown.

She’ll face Sofya Ochigava in tomorrow’s final (4.45pm) after the Russian beat Brazil’s Adriana Araujo 17-11.

“It’s amazing, to box for a gold medal tomorrow is amazing. The support here has been unbelievable; it feels like I’m boxing at home in Dublin really. 10,000 Irish people, it’s incredible, this is what dreams are made of. And hope fully I can make everyone proud tomorrow,” Taylor told TheScore.

“I boxed [Ochigava] in the world championshipships and I know what to expect. Yeah, I’ll arrive tomorrow, boxing for a gold medal. I’ll try my best to have a good night’s sleep but we’ll see how we go. I find it hard to sleep the night before fights anyway but we’ll see in a few hours.”

Today’s win was a different kind of battle than her first clash against Team GB’s Natasha Jonas earlier this week.

“It was a completely different fight to Monday’s really,” Taylor said afterwards. “It was always going to be kind of tricky over the first couple of rounds, She’s a good counter puncher and I just had to stay calm and comped and try to get the points over four rounds. It was a great win and I thank God again.”

Peter Taylor, her father and coach added: “An Olympic final, it’s absolutely unbelievable. We knew it would be a free-for-all but we had a plan. “We know Sofya well. It’s going to be a tough fight but it’s an Olympic final.”

Going for gold: Taylor through to Olympic final

In pictures: Irish fight fans fill the ExCel Arena ahead of Katie’s showdown

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    Mute Gerry Sutton
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:14 PM

    No matter what happens tomorrow, that girl has represented this nation for YEARS with honour and dignity and real class. We are all so proud of you and privileged to have you represent our little country. A country is forever in your debt

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    Mute Diarmuid Donoghue
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    Aug 8th 2012, 5:33 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyK9USHX1ZY&feature=youtube_gdata_player ..the legend sparring with paddy barnes! Animal

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    Mute Kieran Mac Court
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    Aug 8th 2012, 8:20 PM

    Had a look at that video, Diarmuid. I dunno, maybe one day Barnes might be good enough to beat her

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    Mute Nick Beard
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    Aug 8th 2012, 10:18 PM

    You have to think sparring like that helps the both of them. It’s been shown time and again what a great structure and support Ireland has for boxers, hopefully we’ll see the two of them boxing with the Rio competitors!

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    Mute Eimear McCormack
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:17 PM

    She seems like such a lovely person. The very best of luck to her tomorrow. We’re all behind her wishing her well and cheering her on! She’s the pride of Ireland.

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    Mute Alan Duffy
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:59 PM

    Shes a legend. A week or so after my mother died, my brother in law took my brother (who has Cerebral Palsy) to see Katie train. She took time out of training to meet them and gave him a pair of signed gloves. True hero!!

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    Mute Gerry Sutton
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    Aug 8th 2012, 5:01 PM

    A class act all round

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    Mute Derek Mooney
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    Aug 8th 2012, 5:46 PM

    Lovely story Alan and probably not surprising. To echo what Gerry said, this lady just seems to have sheer class in everything she does…first Irish Gold in yonks, here’s hoping, go, go, go Katie!

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    Mute Les Rock
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:14 PM

    you believe in yourself…cos we believe in you!

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    Mute Thomas Keady
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:27 PM

    Well done to her. She really deserves a gold medal, excellent performance and dedication.

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    Mute Dec Rowe
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:44 PM

    Done it before twice! Will do it again!

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    Mute John Larkin
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:49 PM

    She has worked so hard over the years, has done wonders for the sport and her country. I hope she brings home gold.

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    Mute siobhan robinson
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    Aug 8th 2012, 5:40 PM

    I was going to comment on what Mr North said but really his comments do not warrant attention.
    Katie you are a true inspiration and women in your sport ALL over the world thank you for your hard work and dedication in ensuring women’s boxing was part of 2012 Olympics. Katie You are a true champion and a wonderful role model. As a woman, actually as a Bray woman myself I stand in awe of all of your achievements. Best of luck tomorrow. And let us as a Nation stand behind our athletes as we know how hard they have all worked to get there.

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    Mute Paraic Collins
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    Aug 8th 2012, 11:50 PM

    re: Peter North I was thinking the same thing.

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    Mute Layla Moroney
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    Aug 8th 2012, 6:10 PM

    She is living her dream, a dream she fought and trained hard for. Wishing her all the very best for Gold tomorrow! Go Katie!

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    Mute David Somers
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    Aug 8th 2012, 6:46 PM

    Katie is awesome and is a rare thing in sport these days…..a phenominal talent who is’nt an egotistical idiot!

    31
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    Mute James Dunne
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    Aug 8th 2012, 7:58 PM

    Watching the match in work today and felt a huge swell of pride if she wins gold tomorrow I’ll be blubbering like a baby!!!

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    Mute Ruth McAdam
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    Aug 8th 2012, 6:13 PM

    Win or loose tomorrow we’re all so proud of her, best of luck Katie, a legend no matter what happens.

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    Mute Dom Lumsden
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    Aug 8th 2012, 6:06 PM

    she is the example for all to follow- focussed and dedicated to achieving success. not your ole ole / you will never beat the Irish but a true champion

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    Mute Peter North
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:45 PM

    Her losing would be the reality check that this country needs. We need to focus. Focus on the things that are more important than this shortened sideshow from an episode of Gladiators.

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    Mute Gerry Sutton
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:48 PM

    There’s always one pessimist! Whats wrong with exulting in a wonderful athletes performance and a bit of national pride? A bit of good news and optimism is what this country needs we’ve had enough doom and gloom. Go peddle your crazy somewhere else

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    Mute Simon Pierse
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:49 PM

    Not everything is about economics dimwit…

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    Mute Les Rock
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    Aug 8th 2012, 4:56 PM

    from a man with the same name as a porn star!

    44
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    Mute Conor Buggy
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    Aug 8th 2012, 5:05 PM

    Jayzus theres always one feckin whinger!

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    Mute Ben Calton
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    Aug 8th 2012, 5:08 PM

    Don’t feed the troll

    69
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    Mute Peter North
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    Aug 8th 2012, 5:19 PM

    I laid down the challenge to fight anybody in the ring on the other Katie Taylor story. Nobody has accepted. It seems that it’s easy to call someone a troll if you’re a keyboard warrior. Not so easy to do it to a real warriors face. I am a warrior and I will fight anyone. Will anyone meet me in the ring or are you all as cowardly as you seem?

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    Mute Diarmuid Donoghue
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    Aug 8th 2012, 5:45 PM

    Il come to you peter,whats your number,address, also are we betting high stakes cash here or just out family loyalty? Perhaps pissing competition? We could measure our knobs? No doubt you’d be the biggest one going.

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    Mute Peter North
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    Aug 8th 2012, 6:33 PM

    It always comes down to gay stuff on this site.

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    Mute Sluazcanal
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    Aug 8th 2012, 7:49 PM

    I’ll fight you Peter. Where anf when?

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    Mute James Dunne
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    Aug 8th 2012, 7:56 PM

    @peter north

    #YOLO

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    Mute Olwyn Lydon
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    Aug 8th 2012, 8:31 PM

    You know what, yer dead right there Peter!!! If we had much more of this carry on there’d be nothing at all for miserable whining idiots such as your good self to indulge in…. Then what’d happen, jaysus, people of Ireland walking around smiling and positive. Eeeewwwww. Imagine!!! Keep flyin the flag there man, you’re playing a blinder!!!!! : /

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    Mute Michael Kelly
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    Aug 8th 2012, 10:41 PM

    What a tool you are Peter. A complete tool

    17
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