Five-time world champion Katie Taylor will not fight for an unprecedented sixth title, after losing her semi-final to Estelle Mossely of France.
On Tuesday she secured Olympic qualification when she won her quarter-final, but the Bray boxer was also keen to defend her World title.
Hard luck to Katie Taylor who lost the IABA World Boxing Championships semi final on a split decision! pic.twitter.com/ftxjgTp9E5
— Sportsfile (@sportsfile) May 26, 2016
Katie Taylor loses her semi. No sixth World title in-a-row. Just her second defeat since 2011. Just over two months to Rio. @IrelandLive
— Bernard O'Toole (@BernardOToole) May 26, 2016
She won the first round, but Mossely fought back strongly and two of the three judges gave the French fighter the second round.
The third round was close but Taylor won, leaving it all to fight for going into the last.
Taylor seemed stronger in the final round, but the judges awarded the victory to Mossely in a split decision
Many viewers were unhappy with the scoring of the fight. Despite one of the judges awarding all four of the rounds to Taylor, the other two judges both felt that Mossely had won the second and fourth rounds.
Katie Taylor is out of the World Championships. She's been beaten by Estelle Mossely on a split decision. One card reads 40:36. To Katie.
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) May 26, 2016
How did anyone score that 40-36?https://t.co/KXb6vrTpZQ
— Irish-boxing.com (@Irishboxingcom) May 26, 2016
I am hugely confused by that decision #KatieTaylor #Devo #Jaysus
— Susie O'Sullivan (@SusieOSullivan) May 26, 2016
The decision means that Taylor has now been beaten twice this year ahead of her Olympic title defence in Rio.
Ireland still have a chance of a gold medal in Astana. Earlier today, Dublin’s Kellie Harrington booked her place in the final at the 64kg light welterweight.
Read next: Kellie Harrington through to World final after impressive win
