KATIE TAYLOR advanced to the last 16 of the AIBA World Women’s Championships with 10 points to spare over Neetu Chalal of India at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium in Bridgetown on Saturday night.
A 12-2 victory sets up tonight’s lightweight clash with Pan American champ Adriana Araujo of Brazil, who KO’d Leeann Boodram of Trinidad and Tobago in the second round on Saturday, in the last-16 of the competition.
Belfast light-welterweight Allana Murphy will be also be involved in a last-16 showdown tonight, versus reigning World champion Gulsum Tatar of Turkey in a repeat of last month’s EU clash which Tatar won 4-0.
Taylor’s win, achieved over four two-minute rounds, was the 24-year old Bray woman’s 96th victory from 102 fights since 2001.
A thudding right hook in the first round almost brought the contest to a premature end, but Chalal managed to stay on her feet and see the fight through.
Araujo will provide a sterner test tonight. However, the 2008 AIBA world female boxer of the year insists she feels no pressure going into the four rounder. In fact, the more pressure she’s under the more she thrives.
“The pressure of having to perform helps me to perform better,” said Taylor.
“There is pressure on me to win in every bout but I’ve learnt to deal with it and I don’t let it get to me as I just concentrate on my performance.
“I was delighted to get this bout out of the way. She was a really tall and awkward opponent and it’s great to get the first win.
“The Irish crowd here tonight were fantastic and I would like to thank them for their support. I’m facing another tough one on Monday and all my focus is on that now.
“Monday will be another challenge for me. My opponent had a good win also and she is an experienced opponent so it should be a good contest. I’ll be giving it everything in the ring as always and I’m looking forward to it.”
Peter Taylor, who is working his daughter’s corner in Bridgetown along with Zuar Antia, believes that tonight’s last-16 clash could be an explosive affair and reckons that hand speed will be the key to victory for his daughter.
“The Brazilian girl knocked her opponent clean out on Saturday and she’s obviously a strong girl. I think that Katie’s speed will be the factor on Monday night and it should be a very interesting contest.
“Getting the first one out of the way is always the hardest in major competitions and we’re delighted with the win. The first fight is always the hardest, but it was a comfortable win in the end.”
Meanwhile, there was mixed fortunes for Ireland in the preliminary round on Friday.
Cavan flyweight Ceire Smith, at 17 the youngest member of the four-strong Irish squad, was beaten 14-1 by Nilmini Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka.
Dublin middleweight Sinead Kavanagh lost out 14-6 to Wided Younsi of Tunisia on Friday night. However, Kavanagh, from the Drimnagh BC, has been reinstated in the tournament after it was found that Younsi had once boxed professionally.
Consequently, the Tunisian has been suspended and Kavanagh will now meet Li Jinzi of China in a last-16 bout tonight.
AIBA World Women's Championships, Barbados results/draw (local times apply):September 10th, 51Kg – Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Nilmini Jayasinghe (Sri Lanka) 1-14 (Last 64); 75Kg: Sinead Kavanagh (Ireland) lost to Wided Younsi (Tunisia) 6-14 (Last 32); September 11th, 60Kg: Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Neetu Chahal (India) 12-2 (Last 32); Today, 60Kg: Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Adriana Araujo (Brazil), afternoon, Last 16; 64Kg: Allana Murphy (Ireland) v Gulsum Tatar (Turkey), afternoon, Last 16.
