First-round stoppage sees Taylor though to semi-finals

Irish lightweight Katie Taylor is guaranteed at least a bronze medal at the Women's European Championships following a first-round stoppage of Kosovare Buzuku of Sweden in Nikalaev City in the Ukraine this afternoon.

Taylor, who is aiming for her fourth European title in a row at the Nadezhda Sports Complex, was 4-0 up when the Swede retired with a facial injury about one minute into the first frame of today's quarter-final.

The win was Taylor's 61st out of 62 international meetings and her 36th consecutive victory.

The reigning World champion and 2008 AIBA World Female Boxer of the Year will now meet Denica Eliseeva of Bulgaria in tomorrow's semi-finals.

Taylor beat Eliseeva 8-1 in Pazardjik, Bulgaria in June to win her second European Union gold medal on the trot.