By Jake Donovan

Katie Taylor capped an incredible run in the 2012 Olympics, overcoming a slight deficit and staving off a late rally from Russia's Sofya Ochigava en route to a 10-8 win in Thursday's lightweight finals. 

Both fighters stormed through the lightweight field to make it to the championships. Their domination showed, as the two were evenly matched in making for a fitting finale.

Ochigava managed to tune out the rabid pro-Taylor crowd, fighting her fight and prompting hesitation in Taylor's offense. The strategy played well early, as Taylor found herself down 4-3 at the end of two rounds, the only point in Olympic competition in which she was trailing on the cards.

Then awoke a sleeping lion.
 
Taylor came alive in the third. The offensive output wasn't monumental on either side, but Taylor's adjustments were enough to slow down Ochigava's attack to a grinding halt. The crowd was given plenty of reason to cheer throughout the round and at its end, as Ireland's lightweight led by three points heading into the final two minutes.

Ochigava dug deep in her best effort to rally, but came up just short in the end. 

Taylor secures Ireland's first boxing Gold medal of this year's competition, with two more shots on the men's side. The feat caps a brilliant run on the amateur circuit, in which Taylor was won four world championships.

Lightweight Finals (Gold medal round - Thursday, August 9):

Katie Taylor (Ireland) def. Sofya Ochigava (Russia), 10-8

* Taylor wins Gold; Ochigava takes Silver

Lightweight Semifinals (Medal round - Wednesday, August 8):

Katie Taylor (Ireland) def. 

 

Mavzuna Chorieva* (Tajikistan), 17-9

Sofya Ochigava (Russia) def. 

Adriana Araujo* (Brazil), 17-11

* Chorieva and Araujo share bronze medal honors.

Lightweight Quarterfinals (Monday, August 6):

Katie Taylor (Ireland) def. Natasha Jonas (Great Britain), 26-15

Mavzuna Chorieva (Tajikistan) vs. Dong Cheng (China), 13-8

Adriana Araujo (Brazil) def.

 Mahjouba Oubtil (Morocco)

, 16-12

Sofya Ochigava (Russia) def. Alexis Pritchard (New Zealand), 22-4

Round of 16 Matchups (Sunday, August 5):

Natasha Jonas (Great Britain) def. Quanitta Underwood (USA), 21-13

Dong Cheng (China) def. Mihaela Lacatus (Romania), 10-5

Adriana Araujo (Brazil) def. 

Saida Khassenova (Kazakhstan), 16-14

Alexis Pritchard (New Zealand) def. Rim Jouini (Tunisia), 15-11

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter:

@JakeNDaBox