Katie Taylor suffers shock defeat at World championships

Katie Taylor

KATIE TAYLOR suffered a shock defeat today in the semi-finals of the Womenโ€™s World championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. Franceโ€™s Estelle Mossely did press Taylor, connecting with good shots at times, particularly in the third round. But Taylor worked at a high volume snagging the Frenchwoman with crisp, clean blows. However after the fourth round Mossely levelled it 38-38 for two of the judges and then on preference those cards went to Estelle. It means Mossely won on a stunning split decision.

Taylor was looking for a record-breaking fifth consecutive World gold medal. This result means that instead Katie has to settle for bronze. โ€œI knew every round was quite close,โ€ she said. โ€œI was doing everything to plan. I donโ€™t know. Iโ€™m not sure. Itโ€™s hard to comment.

โ€œIt was always going to be a tough fight, the semi-final of the World championships. Iโ€™m just very disappointed obviouslyโ€ฆ I planned to come over here and make history by becoming a six-time World champion but unfortunately that didnโ€™t happen for me.โ€

She continued, โ€œItโ€™s still a positive thing that I qualified for Rio but it was only the job half done. I wanted to come home with the gold medal. Itโ€™s just very disappointing.โ€

Taylor is the dominant force in womenโ€™s boxing but this is her second surprise defeat in the space of a couple of month. Azerbaijanโ€™s Yana Alekseevna beat Katie at the Olympic qualifier in April meaning Taylor had to make sure of her place at Rio by reaching the semi-finals at these Worlds.

She now has to refocus on her next target. โ€œIโ€™ll have a week or so off and then start preparing for the Olympics,โ€ Taylor said.

Ireland will be represented in the finals on Friday at the Barys Arena. 64kgs Kellie Harrington won her semi-final well, stylishly hammering Canadaโ€™s Sara Kali to win a unanimous decision.

โ€œIโ€™ve just got to support Kellie tomorrow, sheโ€™s going to come home with the gold medal,โ€ Katie Taylor said. โ€œWeโ€™ll come home with a World champion anyway.โ€

Click HERE for everything that happened at the World championships today.

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