QINHUANGDAO, China (AP) — Three-time world champion Katie Taylor of Ireland qualified for the London Olympics women’s boxing, defeating Saida Khassenova of Kazakhstan 20-8 in the 132-pound class at the world championships on Tuesday.
Taylor will meet Mihaela Lacatus in Wednesday’s quarterfinals after the Romanian beat Denitsa Eliseeva of Bulgaria 17-14.
The worlds are being held in 10 divisions but the focus is on three: 112-pound flyweight, 132-pound lightweight and 165-pound middleweight. They are the only three classes when women’s boxing makes its debut at the Olympics.
All eight quarterfinalists in the three categories qualify for London.
