Sandy Ryan intends to exact her revenge after she secured a bronze medal and set up a semi final bout with Russia’s Anastasiia Beliakova.
Ryan was up against a hostile crowd in Baku as she took on home fighter Elena Vystropova but she came out on top 2-1 to guarantee a minimum of bronze.
Victory means that Ryan will lock horns with Beliakova in a repeat of last year’s World Boxing Championships – in which the Russian came out on top 3-0.
But 21-year-old from Derby wants to put the icing on the cake of her Baku experience by getting one over on her rival and win the chance to fight for gold.
“I’m over the moon and I’m completely speechless. The crowd was amazing, I know they were for her but it just gave me a buzz and I played along with it,” she said.
“It means so much to me, I couldn’t keep my emotions together after the fight, I want to thank everyone at home because they always support me.
“I need to start putting the icing on the cake now and get gold, I face the Russian next and she beat me in the world finals so revenge will be sweet.”
There was also success for Josh Kelly in the welterweight division as he came through against experienced Irish boxer Adam Nolan.
Kelly now takes on home fighter Parviz Baghirov in the semi-final and he is looking to learn from Ryan’s example as he prepares to take on the crowd.
“Sandy set a great example, she just got in and didn’t think about her opponent or where she is from,” he said.
“It’s going to be hard against anyone but I’m in the medals now so I need to go for it and keep my fingers crossed.
“I’m going for gold all the way, I came here for medals and now that I’ve got one I want the gold.
"I always knew I had the talent, the coaches said I had the talent and that I just need to dedicate myself but I’ve been working non stop.”
© Sportsbeat 2015