Katie Taylor is one win away from her fifth World title
Katie Taylor is within one win of claiming her 5th successive AIBA Elite title after scoring a 4th round TKO over China’s JUnhua Yin in Jeju, South Korea this morning.
The Bray lightweight advanced after Yin’s corner dramatically threw in the towel seconds after the start of the fourth and final round.
Yin appeared to have suffered an injury to her right hand
Taylor was leading 30-27 and 29-28 on two of the judges’ cards at the time of the stoppage. A third judge had Yin – surprisingly – 29-28 in front.
Taylor found the target with the majority of the cleaner and more solid shots in the opening round, but the second frame was closer against the tricky Chines southpaw, the current Asian champion.
However, Taylor upped the tempo to take the third before Yin’s corner threw in the towel.
“I’m delighted to be in another final. I was surprised that the towel came in. It looked like she hurt her hand in the third round, said Taylor after her inside the distance win.
“The plan was just plenty of feints. Sometimes you have to be really patient against those kind of boxers. These kind of matches are just like a chess match. It’s a game of patience most of the time.”
“I’m looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.”
The Bray woman will meet Azerbaijan’s Yana Allekseeva in Monday’s 60kg final. The Azeri lightweight edged out France’s Estelle Mossely on a split decision this morning.
Monday’s finals begin at 5am (Irish time). TG4 will broadcast the finals live from Jeju. Taylor is now guaranteed to be taking home at least a silver medal from the 8th edition of the tournament.
AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships Jeju, Korea November 16/24
November 17th (last 32)
57kg Joanne Lambe (Ireland) lost to Qiong Lu (China) 0-3
69kg Claire Grace (Ireland) beat Cristina Stanca (Romania) 3-0
November 18th (last 32)
54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Sarah Joy Rae (Jamaica) 3-0
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Kezial Valerian Spicer (Dominica) 3-0
November 19th (last 16)
69kg Claire Grace (Ireland) lost to Guluzar Kara (Turkey) W/O
(Grace withdraws because of injury sustained in the last 32))
November 20th (last 16)
54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Anna Alimardanova (Azerbaijan) 0-2
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Mira Potkonen (Finland) 3-0
November 21st (Q/Finals)
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Sofya Ochigava (Russia) W/O
November 23rd
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Junhua Yin (China) TKO4
60kg Yana Allekseeva (Azerbaijan) beat Estelle Mossely (France) 2-1
November 24th
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Yana Allekseeva (Azerbaijan)
(Irish squad)
54kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family)
57kg Joanna Lambe (Carrickmacross)
60kg Katie Taylor (Bray) (Silver, at least)
69kg Claire Grace (Callan)
Team manager Anna Moore
Coaches Pete Taylor, Zuare Antia, Gerry Storey
