Sport

Katie Taylor successfully defends WBA crown in London

Ireland's Katie Taylor pictured after beating Argentina's Anahi Sanchez to become the WBA lightweight champion at Cardiff's Principality Stadium
Ireland's Katie Taylor pictured after beating Argentina's Anahi Sanchez to become the WBA lightweight champion at Cardiff's Principality Stadium Ireland's Katie Taylor pictured after beating Argentina's Anahi Sanchez to become the WBA lightweight champion at Cardiff's Principality Stadium

Ireland's Katie Taylor made a successful first defence of her WBA world lightweight title after a hard-fought battle with American Jessica McCaskill at York Hall.

The Bray battler has made a superb transition into the professional ranks after a glittering amateur career and now has eight wins from eight after a unanimous points decision.

Taylor told Sky Sports: "It was very, very tough, probably the toughest fight of my career. I expected that, I had to be at my very best."

This was the first time a women's world title fight had topped the bill on a major night of boxing in the UK and the sold-out crowd in Bethnal Green roared on Taylor throughout.

The 31-year-old looked comfortable in the early rounds but McCaskill grew into the fight and landed a left hook in the sixth round to leave Taylor wobbling.

In the next round Taylor was docked a point for holding but she pulled away during the final couple of rounds and was a convincing winner on all the judges' scorecards.