Boxing:Katie Taylor cruised into the semi-finals of the St Petersburg Multi Nations in Russia tonight amid increased optimism that women's boxing will be given the go ahead for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Taylor recorded a 17-4 win over Russian lightweight Ayzanet Gazhieva at the Sports Palace in St Petersburg to set up a last four clash with Ukrainian puncher Alexandra Siderenko tomorrow - who she beat 12-2 at the Ahmet Cup in Turkey in May.
Today’s victory was win number 37 in a row over the last three years for the 23-year-old World, European and European Union champion and 2008 AIBA female boxer of the year.
The St Petersburg Multi Nations is being using to send out a message to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include women's boxing at the London Olympics.
And Peter Taylor, a former Irish senior champ, who is working his daughter’s corner along with Pat Ryan in St Petersburg, believes that the message is not falling on deaf ears.
He said: "We're getting great feedback out here from all the officials and it looks like women's boxing could finally become an Olympic sport, fingers crossed.
"This entire tournament was organised to impress the IOC and it has certainly done that already because it is very well organised and the boxing is of a very high standard.
Today’s 60Kg clash was a repeat of the 2008 World 60Kg semi-final, a fight which Taylor won 20-2.
But the Bray woman showed no complacency in the rematch, forcing her opponent into a standing count with a solid right en-route to claiming the first round 7-0.
The Russian tightened up her defence in the second which was shared 1-1 and managed to move to within five points of Taylor in the third.
However, the Irish boxer of the year upped the tempo from that point on to confirm her status as the world’s top female lightweight.
Taylor snr added: "Katie boxed very well today. But in fairness to the Russian girl she kept plugging away and it was a gutsy performance from her."
The IOC will make a decision on women's boxing at the 2012 Olympic Games at an Executive Board meeting on August 13th.