Ireland's Olypic champion, Katie Taylor, earned a place in her fifth World Championship final when Chinese opponent Junhua Yin threw in the towel at the beginning of the fourth round in the Women's World Championships in Jeju, Korea.
In a cagey fight against the Southpaw, Taylor was ahead on the judge’s cards before the bout came to a surprisingly early close. Yin injured her elbow in the opening rounds and could not continue.
Taylor meets Azerbaijan's Yana Allekseevna in Monday's final. It's Taylor's fifth world final with another win putting her on equal footing with India's Mary Kom, who has won a record five titles.
“She was a tricky opponent. I was really surprised when the towel got thrown in,” said Taylor. “I had to be very, very patient out there today, loads of feints.
“Very technical too but as usual it was spot on from the guys. But I’m delighted to be in another final.”
The two boxers stalked each other around the ring from the opening bell with Taylor patiently looking for openings. There was little of the physical battle that she had against Finland's Mira Potkonen and a lot more of pushing her opponent around the ring waiting for opportunities to get in and score without Yin's left hand landing.
More a game of chess the two circled the ring, Taylor jabbing and trying to unload her right hand, Yin not too active at all in coming forward.
In the first round there were few exchanges, most of the point scoring shots coming from the Olympic Champion.
In the second round Yin went down on one knee and later went down with her gloves resting on the canvas. Neither was a knock down but the Chinese girl was under pressure.
The fight remained edgy, Taylor landing the cleaner strikes with her combinations and Yin, who was probably injured in the third round, unable to land much at all.
The towel came in from the Chinese corner before the two came out for the fourth round. At that stage Taylor was ahead on two of the judges cards and behind on one.
“It’s a game of patience sometimes against those kinds of fighters,” added Taylor. “Your patience and your timing has to be very good. It was a chess match in there today but a good performance I think.
“I’m delighted now to be in my fifth World Championship final.”
