Katie Taylor retains IBF and WBA lightweight titles with dominating victory over Kimberly Connor
Irish star took a closer step to landing all four titles after needing just three rounds to defeat her opponent
KATIE TAYLOR retained her IBF and WBA lightweight titles with a typically all-action display of destruction.
The Ireland hero needed just three rounds to end Kimberly Connor’s night with a flurry of unanswered punches.
And even a nasty gash to her face did not ruin her night as took another step to landing all four titles.
Taylor banked the first round with an early combination to the head and then a textbook left-hook double to body and then head.
The Bray icon throws her hands with such speed but, in the rare moments she is forced into defence, she seems to glide out of range almost in slow motion.
At the start of the second, a brightly coloured swelling flowered on Taylor’s previously faultless right cheek.
Painfully placed just below her eye, the wound must have been caused by a head clash as Connor had not landed a clean shot on her.
And the speed with which the welt rose indicated the contact came something harder than hand-in-glove and was more likely to be caused by a lunging forehead in one of the clinches.
The American’s team grew in confidence at the start of the third when Taylor’s eagerness to impress earned her a clip round the ear.
But the red corner was premature as Taylor glided up a couple of gears before pummelling Connor until the referee could rightly watch no more.
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The undefeated 2012 Olympic gold medallist does want to waste any time in becoming the undisputed and unified queen of her division.
Taylor said: “Kimberly was tough. I happened to catch her with a good shot, stayed composed, and got a good finish.
“I knew I had a bump on the eye but it wasn't going to affect me.
"I've got two belts. Two more to go."