Taylor threat Underwood progresses’ to Worlds

The woman deemed the greatest threat to legendary female boxer Katie Taylor’s Olympic dream moved a step closer to London 2012.

Queen Underwood won her American trails final against Mikaela Mayer 22-19, with a more convincing performance than the scoreline suggests, over the weekend.

It could have been so different for the sometime construction worker however. Against the much taller N’yteeyah Sherman in Thursday’s semi final, Underwood had to dig deep for a 25-24 victory against an opponent with a 7 inch reach advantage.

Underwood, who pushed a fatigued Taylor close in the last Worlds, trailed by a point going into the last stanza but landed two big shots too ensure her spot as American’s lightweight representative in the World Championships , which double as an Olympic qualifier.