Just one boxer stands between Katie Taylor and a fourth successive world title after another thrilling day for the Irish at the women’s world boxing championships in Qinhuangdao yesterday.

The anxiety surrounding her Olympic qualification was dispelled when Katie Taylor arrived at the stadium in Qinhuangdao for her quarter-final bout yesterday and was informed her opponent, Mihaela Lacatus, had conceded a walk over.

Katie Taylor is through to the quarter-finals of the women’s World boxing championships in Qinhuangdao, but the three-time champion has yet to qualify for London 2012.

Katie Taylor took her first step towards London 2012 qualification with an emphatic 19-6 victory over Tunisian Rim Jouini at the women’s world championships in the Chinese city of Qinhuangdao yesterday.

Katie Taylor must wait until Monday to start her campaign underway at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in the Chinese city of Qinhuangdao, where her quest for a fourth successive lightweight title is overshadowed by her search for Olympic qualification.

Katie Taylor will make her first appearance in Cork tomorrow night in her penultimate bout in Ireland before she jets off for the 2012 World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, where she’ll be hoping to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Beijing Olympics will open today, firing the starting gun for the world’s ultimate sporting competition.

Brazil held world champions Germany to a goalless draw as the Olympic women’s football competition got underway across China.