Katie Taylor blasts her way into EU Women’s Senior semi-finals

AIBA world number one Katie Taylor blasted her way into the semi-finals of the EU Women’s Senior, Youth and Junior Championships with an inside-the-distance win over Hungary’s Benke Sara in Hungary yesterday.

Sara took standing counts in the second and third rounds and the referee stopped it in the fourth with the Sara taking further punishment on the ropes. Taylor’s win was her 136th victory from 143 outings – and her 52nd successive Championships win.

Belfast’s Kristina O’Hara beat Italy’s Stephanie Silva in her Youth semi-final yesterday and is guaranteed to be taking home at least silver from the tournament.

But there was last-eight and last-four disappointment for Kildare’s Dervla Duffy, Belfast’s Christine Gargan and Cork’s Christine Desmond in Keszthely.