Katie Taylor has eased herself back onto a winning track, after scoring an emphatic win at the Women's World Boxing Championships in Astana.
It came at the price of a bloody nose, but the reigning European, Olympic and World Champion has regained her rhythm and remains on course to become the first woman in the history of the sport to claim six successive lightweight titles.
After today's win over Agnes Alexiusson from Sweden, Taylor has just two bouts to go before she can book her place on a plane to Rio. She earned a win via unanimous decision on a scorecard that read 40-36,39-37,40-36.
She suffered the nose bleed in the second round, following a clash of heads but that brief interruption proved to be of little importance in the end as Taylor prevailed with ease.
Speaking to the Irish Times after her win, she said:
"Yes, I’m happy. I’m okay. It was good to get the first one out of the way, it always is."
She now faces Argentina’s Rana Sanchez in her second fight on Monday. Meanwhile, Donna Barr lost to Canada’s Kim Klavel on her World Elite debut.
Huge day of sport today.. @KatieTaylor @connachtrugby @OfficialWexGAA h'on Wexford pic.twitter.com/sq4cweorKO
— Gordon D'Arcy (@Gordonwdarcy) May 21, 2016
Just two more wins for Katie Taylor now to qualify for #Rio2016 👊👌
— GruffaloSoldier (@ShayP_M) May 21, 2016
Well done @KatieTaylor ☘ https://t.co/YECOr81HFu
— Darran O'Sullivan (@Darransull86) May 21, 2016
Katie Taylor wins first fight on hunt for sixth world title. Her first was 11 years ago. Not many in any sport stayed on top for so long.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) May 21, 2016
Victory by unanimous decision for Katie Taylor, she's now through to last 16 and two wins away from a place at Rio Olympics
— Cork's RedFM Sport (@BigRedBench) May 21, 2016
Just 3 more wins and @KatieTaylor is in on her way to the #Olympics2016 after receiving a bye today! pic.twitter.com/6HuqFzAMQa
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) May 19, 2016
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