Taylor and Walsh progress in World’s last 16

Olympic champion Katie Taylor and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Michaela Walsh joined Claire Grace in the last-16 of the AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships after recording a brace of victories in Jeju, South Korea today.

Taylor, who is aiming for her 5th successive 60kg title at the 8th edition of the Championships, rarely had to move out of second gear en route a unanimous decision over Dominica’s Valerian Spicer.

The England-born lightweight started on the back foot and remained on the back foot for almost the entire four rounds, as Taylor, who took a cagey opening frame, upped the pace to dominate rounds one, two and right.

Taylor, who was working her way out of clinches with volleys of body shots, found the target with some neat left/right combinations in all four frames and also showcased neat decoy punches and evasive manoeuvres.

Earlier this morning, Belfast bantamweight Walsh beat Jamaica’s Sarah Joe Rae on a unanimous decision.

Walsh claimed a close first round in the repeat of the Commonwealth Games clash – which Walsh won – in Glasgow in August, but dominated frames two, three and four, Rae taking two standing counts in the fourth.

Walsh will now meet Azerbaijan’s Anna Anna Alimardanova on Thursday. The Azeri southpaw decisioned Mexico’s Denia Sosa today.

Claire Grace who sustained a cut over her left eye in Monday’s win over Romania’s Cristina Stanca, will be in action tomorrow.
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) v Guluzar Kara (Turkey) (Evening)

November 20th (last 16)

54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Anna Alimardanova (Azerbaijan) (Afternoon)

60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Mira Potkonen (Finland) (Afternoon)

(Afternoon and evening sessions begin at 5am and 10am each morning (Irish times)

(Irish squad)

54kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family)
57kg Joanna Lambe (Carrickmacross)
60kg Katie Taylor (Bray)
69kg Claire Grace (Callan)

Team manager Anna Moore
Coaches Pete Taylor, Zuare Antia, Gerry Storey