Sensational Taylor keeps title defence on track

KATIE TAYLOR continued her defence of her lightweight title and her quest for a third successive world title with an emphatic 15-points victory over the Pan American champion, Adriana Araugo (Brazil) at the AIBA world championships at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium in Bridgetown, Barbados, last night.

The 24-year-old Bray woman won every round convincingly en route to a 20-5 win over the tough Brazilian who knocked Leann Boodram (Trinidad & Tobago) cold in her last contest and gave Taylor a standing count in the final round last night.

Boxing magnificently, Taylor won the first round 5-1, the second 6-1, the third 5-2 and put the finishing touches to another fine performance by winning the fourth 4-1 despite taking a standing count.

Taylor now meets Anastasia Belyakova (Russia) in tomorrow’s quarter-finals.

IABA Director of boxing Dominic O’Rourke, who was at ringside last night, described Taylor’s performance as outstanding despite the standing count in the final round.

Dublin middleweight, Sinead Kavanagh, was readmitted to the tournament when Wided Younisi (Tunisia), who beat her 14-6 at the weekend, was disqualified and suspended after it was discovered that she had boxed professionally.