Terrific Taylor thrills Cork fans

Katie Taylor’s penultimate bout in Ireland before she competes in the World Championships went exactly to plan last night when she beatAmerican Liz Leddy in an unanimous verdict at a packed Silver Springs Hotel, Cork.

Taylor entered last night’s bout in terrific form, having twice eaten Dutch boxer Jessica Belder in comprehensive fashion at last weekend’s internationals between Ireland and the Netherlands.

After a rapturous standing ovation from the crowd as the pair entered the ring, Leddy began very aggressively, taking the fight to Taylor.

The Irish boxer responded, however, with three super left hooks in quick succession.

The second round began a little more sedately, with Taylor landing some good combinations and a couple more trademark tidy left hooks.

Taylor, a four-time European champion, played it a little more defensively in the third round, seeking to contain her rival.

However, Leddy was visibly tiring and Taylor continued to take advantage, throwing some neat combinations and continuing to land some lovely left hooks.

Both boxers appeared to tire in the final round, but that didn’t stop Taylor landing a right-hander to Leddy’s head, forcing the referee to pause the fight to ensure the American was okay to continue.

The crowd really got behind their compatriot in the closing stages — the result was never in doubt and the verdict was met with rapturous approval.

Taylor flies out to meet up with the Irish Elite squad for training in Kiev, Ukraine on Monday before heading to the World Championships in China on May 9.

The qualifiers at the Olympic Stadium in Qinhuangdao is the only female Olympic qualifying event and Taylor goes there as the current AIBA world lightweight champion.

Tonight Taylor will again square up with Leddy, as the Bray woman’s original opponent for the Dungarvan Sports Centre, Waterford, event, highly regarded 20-year-old American N’yteeah Sherman, was forced to pull out of the bout due to a facial injury sustained earlier this week.