Reigning World champ next for Smith after impressive opening day Worlds win

Ceire Smith got Ireland off to the perfect World Championship start this morning.

The Cavan fighter advanced to the last 16 of the tournament thanks to an impressive victory over Australia’s Taylah Robertson in Ulan-Ude.

The Cavan southpaw beat Queensland flyweight by unanimous decision and a scorecard of 30-27,30-27,30-27,29-28,29-28.

The Commonwealth bronze medallist produced a gutsy performance versus the Irish champion, but the cleaner, more varied and solid punches came from the gloves of Smith.

The pick of her shots was a clean left counter in the second round and a cracking backhand in the third.

Southpaw Smith will now meet North Korea’s No. 1 seed Mi Choi Pang for a place in the quarter-finals next Tuesday.

The Phyongan native is the current World and Asian champ.

Meanwhile, Cork southpaw Christina Desmond is in against England’s Sandy Ryan in the welter class at approximately 12.30 (Irish time).

Michaela Walsh and Amy Broadhurst are between the ropes on Saturday and Sunday versus Mali and Germany.

World Women’s Elite Championships Ulan-Ude, Siberia, Russia

October 3

Last 32

51kg: Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Taylah Robertson (Australia) 5-0

October 4

Last 32

69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Sandy Ryan (England)

October 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Carmara Fatoumata (Mali)

October 6

Last 32

60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Maya Kleinhans (Germany)

October 8

Last 16

51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) v Mi Choi Pang (North Korea)

Irish squad

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan)

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)

60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)

69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne

Head coach: Zaur Antia

Dimitry Dimitruk and Damian Kennedy