Katie Taylor ready to defend her Olympic title

Conspicuously low key, Katie Taylor has not been spotted this week in Rio, not at the boxing, not wandering around Olympic Park.

On Monday she steps out for the first time with eyes watching every move for traces of vulnerability, fear, hesitation as she hopes to become the first female boxer to defend an Olympic title.

Nicola Adams the British flyweight and Clarissa Shields, the American middleweight are seeking the same goal, Shields with Billy Walsh in her corner.

Despite this year's unprecedented defeats to Yana Alekseevna in a Rio qualification event and Estelle Mossely at the World Championships, Taylor is still the number one ranked boxer in the world in the lightweight division.

On Monday in her bronze medal fight after getting a bye, she knows she will have to be vigilant. She has fought Finland's Mira Potkonen a number of times over the years and has never lost.

But the Fin made it to the semifinal of this year's World Championships before losing to second seed Anastasia Belaikova.

"I'm not worried," said Irish coach Eddie Bolger. "She's not a lesser fighter for those decisions. She is not lacking any confidence and is always looking to improve."