Aimee
Shelley Watts has become Australia’s first women’s Commonwealth boxing champion, taking out India’s Laishram Devi in the women’s light category to etch her name in the history books.
In the first tournament in the history of the Games, Watts smashed her way to the gold medal bout and would not be denied against the tough Devi, who landed some hard shots before Watts hit her straps.
Watts was happy to stand and exchange, backing her high-pressure game to overwhelm the experienced Devi, who looked strong in the opening round.
But Watts kept going forward, tucking in behind some stern defence and unleashing with left hooks and straight rights.
Devi never wilted though and the pair slugged it out right until the finish, with an overjoyed Watts being awarded a unanimous decision.
Watts has been the star of this Australian boxing team. She took up the fight game just four years ago and at just 26, looks primed for an assault on the Rio Olympics in two years.
She breezed through her semi-final but didn’t have it all her own way against Devi, who presents a strong orthodox stance and took the first round on the back of some strong straight combinations.
