KATIE TAYLOR MADE a winning start to the inaugural European Games in Baku this afternoon.
The Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion faced Denitsa Eliseeva of Bulgaria in the round of 16 of the women’s lightweight.
Eliseeva, ranked number 9 in the world, is the last fighter to defeat the Bray boxer — in controversial circumstances back in 2011.
However, Taylor put in dominant and controlled performance to claim victory by unanimous decision 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9.
She faces Ida Lundblad of Sweden in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Michael O’Reilly progressed to the quarter-finals of the men’s middleweight after seeing off Emir Sabotic of Monetenegro via unanimous victory. He fights Slovenia’s Aljaz Venko on Wednesday.
Wexford native Dean Walsh came from behind after losing his the first round to see off Maxim Dadashev of Russia to book a spot in the last-8 of the men’s welterweight.
In men’s cycling road race, Conor Dunne put in a valiant display and chased the leading back before dropping off and finishing 45th. Irish team-mate Edward Dunbar was 48th while Ronan Mullen, Jack Wilson and Sean Downey didn’t finish the race.
Meanwhile, Natasha MacManus has qualified for the final of the women’s 3m sprinboard diving. Her 286.75 was enough to clinch tenth place.
