BOXING/Women's World Championships:Irish boxer Katie Taylor confirmed her status as the top lightweight in the world with a resounding victory over Annabella Farias in yesterday's women's world championships final in India.

Taylor, from Bray, Co Wicklow, ranked number one in the world, outclassed the Argentinian orthodox puncher winning 31-14 over three rounds to land a gold medal in the 60kg weight category.

Farias at least had the distinction of taking Taylor the distance, as did the then reigning world champion Tatiana Chalazae from Russia in Wednesday's semi-final. However, at the end of both deciders the winning margin in the Irish woman's favour was overwhelming.

Yesterday's victory, Taylor's fifth in six days in New Delhi, saw the 20-year-old add the world crown to the consecutive European titles she won over the last two years.

She said: "I am absolutely thrilled with the win. I came out here to win a medal and it is a dream come true for me. It has been a great week and I am very proud to have represented my country at these championships."

Speaking after the fight, coach Peter Taylor, who was in his daughter's corner at the Talkatota Stadium, said that they were over the moon with the result.

"It is a great moment for us and for Irish amateur boxing. Last year we suffered a setback at these championships but Katie was determined to get it right this time and she did just that and more. It is a great feeling.

"She boxed brilliantly today and even though it went the distance the winning margin was still 17 points and she was in control all the way.

"She was also the only boxer in the lightweight divisions that had to fight five times to win the final as all the rest got byes in the preliminary rounds.

"We did not get much sparring done before the championships because of Katie's nose injury but she was still in top form and no one really came near her out here all week."

The president of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA), Dominic O'Rourke, stated that Taylor had done her country proud in India.

He said: "Incredible is the only word to describe her win. We had every confidence in her going out there but the way she won her fights against some of the top boxers in the world was unbelievable.

"She really has done her country proud in India and everyone associated with Irish amateur boxing is immensely proud of this achievement."

Gary Keegan, who heads the high-performance programme which Taylor is part of, described her gold-medal win as another inspirational moment in Irish sport.

He said: "Katie really was magnificent in India. I thought that her semi-final win over the Russian world champion was simply brilliant as was her win today along with all her other victories.

"This achievement is up there with all the great moments in Irish sport and she totally deserves this as she has worked incredibly hard over the last few years. We are absolutely thrilled with this win."

The new world champion will arrive in Dublin airport tomorrow at around 10am and later in the afternoon will be greeted by representatives of Bray Chamber, which is organising an open-top bus victory tour around her home town.

In congratulating Taylor the Irish Sports Council's chief executive John Treacy said: "It was only a couple of months ago we were celebrating Katie's European Championship title win and now this; it's a remarkable achievement, especially at 20 years of age. She has worked incredibly hard to realise her goal, supported all the way by a magnificent team in her father, Peter; her coach, and as part of the IABA's high performance set-up led by Gary Keegan. She is a truly outstanding Irish athlete and it is a very proud moment for all involved, and indeed the country in general."

Nov 18th (Preliminary Rd): bt Caroline Barry (USA) 16-1 (Stpd Rd 1, 15-point rule)

Nov 19th (Last 16): bt Eva Walstrom (Fin) 19-4, (Stpd Rd 2, 15-point rule)

Nov 21st (Quarter-Final): bt Florianna Popa (Rom) 20-5 (Rd 2, 15-point rule)

Nov 22nd (Semi/Final): bt Tatyana Chalaya (Rus) 23-6.

Nov 23rd (Final): bt Annabella Farias (Argentina) (31-14 over three rounds)