Nicola Adams guaranteed Great Britain's first women's boxing medal with victory over Bulgaria's Stoyka Petrova at ExCeL today, but is setting her sights on more than bronze.

Adams, who fights out of Haringey Police Community Club, boxed superbly to secure a 16-7 win and book at least third on the podium, with a place in the Olympic final at stake on Wednesday when she will face irresistible Indian Mary Kom in a guaranteed flyweight thriller.

For the 29-year-old, victory and a guaranteed medal was rich reward for a fighter who fought for years in the shadows, dreaming of the day she might be allowed to follow in the footsteps of her hero Muhammad Ali and go to the Olympics.

She said: "I had to get an 'Ali shuffle' in there, I've watched so many of his fights and videos. I was enjoying every moment and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so you've got to suck up the atmosphere.

"I haven't even had time to think about becoming the first British woman to win an Olympic boxing medal. All I know is I've got at least a bronze medal in my back pocket and it feels great. But I want to go home with a different colour."

The Leeds-based fighter was simply too sharp for her Bulgarian opponent, wobbling Petrova with a short left and a right over the top in the first round, and again with a stabbing left in the second to lead 5-3 at the halfway stage.

Adams will now face five-time world champion Kom in the semi-finals and said: "Mary is a five-time world champion and you have to be special to do that. I just hope that I have got a little bit extra."