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Women's boxing's most successful boxer Mary "The Magnificent" Kom reached her fifth successive Women's World Championship final and is one of five world champions who will have the chance to defend her title after she beat the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Ok Jong 8:3 in the AIBA Women's World Championships Ningbo City 2008 46kg semifinals on Friday.

Pic: India's Mary Kom has never finished worst than second in five Women's World Championship appearances

In a repeat result of the 2006 World Championships semifinals, Kom, who gained revenge for a loss to Jong in the 2008 Asian Championships final, was in incredible form in a complete turnaround from her earlier bouts where she seemed to be missing a beat.

"I am so happy to be in the World Championships final again," the mother of twins said. "I had my doubts at times before today but it all came together in this semifinal win. The coach has been working me hard so the fitness is coming back but now I will prey and hope I can win another World Championship title."

Kom, who comes from Manipur, in the northeastern India, was making her way back to boxing following the birth of her sons at the time of her Asian Championships defeat in August and has looked to have well and truely put that defeat behind her based on today's performance.

The 25-year-old will face Romanian 26-year-old Steluta Duta, who beat Josie Gabuco (PHI) in the semis 7:5 to confirm a repeat of the 2006 final which Kom won 22:7.

"I have a lot more experience this time," Duta said. "And I am quietly confident that I can do a much better job than two years ago. Mary is a great boxer and has been an inspiration to a lot of us but I am going to treat her like any other boxer, stick to my own tactics and work hard."

Meanwhile, 2007 and 2008 European Union champion 48kg Sarah Ourahmoune continued her excellent 2008 World Championship form with a well organised 8:0 victory over Sweden's Jenny Haedingz, where Ourahmoune's defence was impeccable. "I am very happy with that victory," Ourahmoune said. "The whole tournament has been wonderful. I'm looking forward to the final now which will be very difficult. China in their home ring with the local support, it's going to be very tough."

Ourahmoune will face two-times Chinese champion Chen Ying in the 48kg final, one of eight finals which will feature a boxer from the home nation.

Meanwhile, two world champions will not have the chance to defend their title after being bundled out in the penultimate round.

World and Asian 52kg champ Laishram Sarita (IND) went down to a very impressive Annie Albania of the Philippines, who is contesting her first World Championships. The 2007 Southeast Asian Games gold medallist was too quick and strong for Sarita, who just couldn't find her rhythm, and has now booked a finals fixture with Chinese number 1 Ren Can Can where she will claim a first Women's World Championship gold or silver medal for the Philippines .

Two-times world champion (2006-54kg, 2005-52kg) Sofya Ochigava from Russia missed out on the chance to become the first female boxer to be world champ in three different categories, going down to China's Qin Jian 6-4 in the 57kg semifinal.

Four other world champs did advance including the very impressive Katie Taylor of Ireland. Her final scoreline of 20:2 against Ayzznat Gadzhieva was the exact reflection of her dominance. Too quick, too agile and too strong, she toyed with Gadzhievam, who, much to her credit, didn't give up. Taylor, 22, will now take on Chinese two-times national champion Dong Cheng in the 60kg final.

Light middleweight world champ Ariane Fortin (CAN) will join Taylor in the finals after impressively beating Turkey's Nurcan Carkci 16:5 while Sweden's Anna Laurell has a great chance of claiming a third World Championships title after successful campaigns in 2001 and 2005 when she takes on China's Asian champion Li Jin Zi in the 75kg final.  

Other key points

• Poland's Karolina Michalczuk (54kg) will be looking to claim her country's first Women's World Championship gold medal after her compatriots have already won a silver and three bronze in past editions.
• Kazakhstan's Yelena Koltsova (70kg) and Nicole Adams from England have claimed their country's first medals (bronze and gold or silver respectively) of any colour.
• Total number of boxers in finals 26. Total number of countries represented 14. China (8), Canada, Romania, Russia, Turkey, USA (2) and England, France, India, Ireland, the Philippines, Poland, Deomocratic People's Republic of Korea and Sweden (1)

Saturday's AIBA Women's World Championships Ningbo City 2008 finals start at 14:00 (local time).