Katie Taylor admits she was pushed close in her European Games semi-final against Azerbaijan’s Yana Alekseevna, but felt a late punch may have clinched the result.
"It was a close fight," Taylor told RTE Sport today. "She’s a top boxer - and it’s the semi final of the European Games - but I don’t care. I’m through to another final."
"It's great to be boxing a local boxer. The atmosphere is always fantastic. I love those fights. I really relish those fights" - Katie Taylor
In what was a close encounter, the Bray fighter eventually got the win on a split decision. The three judges all scored the bout 38-38 but, in the end, two opted to give Taylor the final decision
"I knew I was down after the third round, so I knew I just had to go out again and put pressure on her and win the last round clearly," Taylor said.
"It was all about heart in the last round. A very, very close fight. She’s a fantastic boxer. A lovely girl as well. I just delighted to get a chance to go for gold tomorrow"
The fight was a repeat of the final at the World Championships in Jeju in South Korea - which Taylor won easily - but this time it was much closer. And the Bray fighter felt it was a late punch that may have clinched the win
"Definitely things like that catch the judges' eye. It was right at the end of the round as well so I was delighted with that just to cement the fourth round for me."
Although there was little doubt about the result at the World Championships, it was a different story in Azerbaijan - with the home crowd backing Alekseevna.
"It's great to be boxing a local boxer," said the Irishwoman. "The atmosphere is always fantastic. I love those fights. I really relish those fights.
"Every time she caught me with a punch the crowd was cheering. And there were a lot of Irish there as well to make the atmosphere even better."
Taylor said she expected the judges to be fair, but still felt nervous at the end.
"I thought it was such a close fight so I knew it was going to be a split decision – but I saw them celebrating at the end and I thought to myself ‘I cant believe it, they have it' so I was praying 'please change the decision'.
Taylor now faces France's Estelle Mossely on Saturday for the European Games gold medal. The fight is at 2pm Irish time.
