KATIE TAYLOR OPENED the defence of her 60kg AIBA world title with a convincing and energetic win over Dominica’s Valerian Spicer in Jeju, South Korea.
After a relatively cagey opening round, Taylor came out of the corner and unleashed a flurry of punches on Spicer, raining body blows in while the challenger was unable to defend both high and low.
That exchange gave Taylor the breathing space needed to bide her time and force Spicer to come chasing the Olympic champion and the Bray woman duly picked off her opportunities, hitting Spicer with solid combinations each time she came in.
In the fourth and final round, the pain would get even worse for the Dominican as she chased the points deficit and began to swing wildly. At that point Taylor ducked down and unleashed a further barrage, working Spicer’s abdomen like a bag.
The bout was Taylor’s first in this year’s World Championships and the win sees her take a place alongside Japan’s Chinase Hujino, in the last 16 bout scheduled for Thursday morning.
Also advancing on a unanimous decision is Belfast’s Michaela Walsh after defeating Jamaican Sarah Joe Rae, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist will meet Anna Anna Alimardanova in the last 16 stage of the 54 kg division.
Originally published 10.35
