Cork's Christina Desmond takes huge scalp at World Championships

Cork boxer Christina Desmond has claimed a huge scalp at the Women's World Championships by defeating England's Commonwealth gold medallist Sandy Ryan.

Ryan, who has also won a World silver and two European bronze medals, was favoured to win the last-32 bout in the welterweight division but lost out on a split decision, 4-1.

🥊 RESULT 🥊

It's two from two for Team Ireland
as @Tina_Desmond books her place in the Last 16 with a win via SD over England's Sandy Ryan!

She returns to action on Wednesday when she faces 🇨🇦 for a place in the Last 8!

WELL DONE TINA! 🇮🇪🥊#TeamIreland #RoadToTokyo #20x20 pic.twitter.com/jUDi0eK85P

— Boxing Ireland (@IABABOXING) October 4, 2019

Desmond, from Cill na Martra, pressed forward from the start in the Siberian city of Ulan-Ude, bookending the first rounds with power punches to assert an early advantage.

A scrappier second round saw Desmond receive a controversial warning from the referee for slapping to undo much of her good work.

That was super stuff from @Tina_Desmond she has a brilliant right hook and back hand, they worked so well for her. She will be hard to beat. I didn't agree with the refs warning either, trying to spoil a fight, let them at it REFEREEEEE ffs.

— Cllr Eric Donovan (@ericdonovanbox) October 4, 2019

However, two clean lefts got her off to the perfect start in the final round, and she pressed home her dominance late on to convince the judges.

Two judges scored it 29-27 for Desmond, two scored it 28-28, while the other gave it to Ryan, 27-29.

Her second win in Russia sees Desmond into a last-16 bout against fifth seed Myrian Da Silva, from Canada, next Wednesday.