Boxing: Katie Taylor's World title defence remains on track despite a scare against Danusa Dilhofova of the Czech Republic this morning. Taylor booked her place in the last eight with a narrow 4-3 win at the 5th AIBA Women's World Championships in China.
Taylor, the reigning World, European and European Union lightweight champion, led Dilhofova 3-0 midway through the bout but was penalised for holding in the second round as her opponent clawed her way back into the contest.
The 22-year-old from Bray then edged ahead once more and is now just three fights away from retaining the 60kg title she secured in Dehli two years ago. Argentina's Peralta Celeste is next up for Taylor, with the winner guaranteed at least a bronze medal.
Taylor's corner were highly critical of referee Eduard Hodes' decision to award Dilhofova the two-point holding penalty.
"We have lodged a letter of complaint," confirmed Irish team manager Anna Moore afterwards. "She (Taylor) was 2-0 after the first round and went to 3-0 in the second. He gave her a public warning which was unmerited and this brought the score to 3-2.
"The Czech got a point from we don't know where and this made it three all. At this stage we thought that Katie should have been up by at least eight points, but she pulled back a point and won 4-3."