Updated at 10.30
IRELAND’S KATIE TAYLOR eased into the semi-finals in Baku this morning with a victory over Ida Lundblad of Sweden.
The world number one, aiming to claim gold at the inaugural European Games, eliminated her 19-year-old opponent by unanimous decision 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-9, meaning she is now assured of at least a bronze medal.
Next up for the Bray boxer is a last-four bout with Azerbaijan’s Yana Alekseevna, who will have the advantage of fighting in front of a home crowd on Friday.
Laois native Michael O’Reilly got the better of Alijaz Venko of Slovenia in his middleweight quarter-final, winning all three rounds — 10-9, 10-9, 10-9.
Meanwhile, Irish heavyweight Darren O’Neill lost out by split decision to Gevorg Manukian at the quarter-final stage. The Ukrainian took the first round in a tight contest but ONeill fought back to claim the second.
And while one judge gave the final round to the Kilkenny man, the other two saw it differently.
Brendan Irvine is also in action later today. The 19-year-old is up agianst Dmytro Zamotayev of Ukraine in a lightflyweight semi-final at 3pm.
