Ceire Smith advanced to the last 16 of the World Elite Women’s Championships versus Australia’s Taylah Robertson in Ulan-Ude, Siberia today.
The Cavan southpaw beat the Queensland flyweight on a unanimous decision.
Final scores – 30-27,30-27,30-27,29-28,29-28.
The Commonwealth bronze medallist produced a gutsy performance versus the Irish champion but the cleaner, more varied and solid punches came from the gloves of Smith.
The pick of her shots was a clean left counter in the second round and a cracking backhand in the third.
She’ll will now meet North Korea’s No. 1 seed Mi Choi Pang for a place in the quarter-finals next Tuesday.
The Phyongan native is the current World and Asian champ.
Meanwhile, the Rebel Flag will be flying close to the Mongolian border tomorrow.
Cork southpaw Christina Desmond is in against England’s Sandy Ryan in the welter class on Friday at approximately 12.30pm (Irish time).
Michaela Walsh and Amy Broadhurst are between the ropes on Saturday and Sunday versus Mali and Germany.
(Boxers can now wear national colours of their nation in the ring at the World Championships following a change of rules in relation to uniforms.)
World Women’s Elite Championships Ulan-Ude, Siberia, Russia
October 3
Last 32
51kg: Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Taylah Robertson (Australia) 5-0
October 4
Last 32
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Sandy Ryan (England)
October 5
Last 32
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Carmara Fatoumata (Mali)
October 6
Last 32
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Maya Kleinhans (Germany)
October 8
Last 16
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) v Mi Choi Pang (North Korea)
Irish squad
51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne
Head coach: Zaur Antia
Dimitry Dimitruk and Damian Kennedy