It was as if nothing had happened. The world number one, Olympic, World and European champion for as long as anyone can remember stepped into the ring in the Barys Arena in Astana and announced to the world that she was back again with confidence with power and focussed on Rio qualification and a record sixth successive World Championship.
The judges scored it 3-0 to Taylor but the manor of the victory over Sweden’s Agnes Alexiusson told a different story. Taylor blew her way through all four rounds, the Swede backing off at almost every exchange and struggling to find her way from the corners.
Taylor offloaded combinations in all four rounds and although the bout was stopped three times for a doctor to attend the defending champion’s bleeding nose after an accidental head clash, it was a declaration as much as her first win of the championship.
“Yes, I’m happy. I’m okay. It was good to get the first one out of the way, it always is,” she said on her way to being ushered from the arena to have her nose attended. There was no concern from the coaches that her nose was broken but a precautionary measure to ensure she has no concerns when she steps into the ring on Monday for her second round fight against Argentina’s Rana Sanchez.
From the off Katie went straight into attack mode driving back the Swede. Her speedy jab, one of her best weapons, scored at will but it was her intent and aggression that impressed.
She stalked Alexiusson in to the corners and unloaded combinations high and low. The Swede countered with a few of her own but all the time it was Katie taking one for five or six shots landing on her opponent.
Her range will improve and her timing will too but her first fight came from a bit of hurt of losing in the Rio qualifiers last month to Yana Alekeseevna. She dominated the ring and struck just the note of danger that she wanted.
“As usual everyone gets nervous but she was under control,” said Irish coach Zaur Antia, who was in her corner with Eddie Bolger.
“She did everything as planned. She implemented everything from long distance to close, very good explosive work. All energy and she gave everything
She won everything well, every round. She is very happy. We are very happy.”
Two more wins for a semifinal place will guarantee her a place in Rio to defend her Olympic title in August. On the basis of her first outing, that simply won’t be enough.
Earlier Team Ireland had been reduced to three boxers from a team of eight after Irish light flyweight Donna Barr fell to Canadian Kim Klavel in the first of the morning sessions in the Barys Arena.
Barr, who competed at senior level for the first time last year, faced two standing counts during the bout against the busy and compact Klavel, who was able to hold the centre and go forward for most of the bout.
Smaller than Barr in height, Klavel made up for it in aggression and strength and had the Irish girl on the back foot for most of the match.
The Donegal fighter, who had been plagued by injury this year, is new to this level of boxing and tried to work her way into the contest.
But the strength of the Canadian was overwhelming with the judges awarding her a unanimous 3-0 win. Barr received attention for a non serious eye injury after the fight.
Welterweight Grainne Walsh opens her World Championships on Sunday against Poland’s Hanna Solecka with the second round bout for Dublin’s light welterweight, Kellie Harrington scheduled for Monday.
