Crucial battle as Katie Taylor resumes bid for Rio Olympics place

Olympic champion Katie Taylor begins her quest to try and qualify for her second Olympics when she takes on Agnes Alexiusson at the World Women’s Elite Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan today.

Aiming for a record sixth successive World lightweight title, she meets the Swede in the last 32 in Central Asia. Irish light-fly Donna Barr also fights today.

Alexiusson, who beat Italy’s Rio Olympian Irma Testa in Astana this week, claimed World Youth gold in 2013 and a bronze medal at the Olympic Youths in 2014.