KATIE TAYLOR WAS in red-hot form as she kicked off her bid for a fifth straight European Union title in Hungary.
Taylor easily outclassed local hopeful Benke Sara as she cruised to a TKO win in the lightweight quarter-finals.
The Olympic champion forced Sara into standing counts in the second and third rounds before the referee stepped in to wave the fight off in the final round.
The win guarantees at bronze medal at minimum for Taylor but she will have her sights set much higher in Keszthely this week. The Bray fighter, who has won every EU title at 60kg since 2008, returns to the ring on Friday for a semi-final against Mira Potkonen of Finland.
There was disappointment for Ireland’s other senior hopeful as Dervla Duffy lost a split decision to Delphine Mancini of France in the 54kg quarter-finals.
And there were mixed fortunes in the youth class as Christine Gargan and Christine Desmond both lost their respective semi-final bouts. Gargan also lost to French opposition, going down in a unanimous decision to Wassily Lkhadiri in the 54kg division, while Christine Desmond lost a unanimous decision against Carlata Hansen of Germany.
Both Gargan and Desmond will take home bronze medals but it will be silver at the very least for team-mate Kristina O’Hara in the 48kg division. She scored a unanimous decision against Stephanie Silva of Italy today and will now face either Tanaceina Balentien of Holland or Turkey’s Ayse Cagirir in the final.
