LONDON (AP) Irish boxer Katie Taylor impressed in beating Karina Kopinska of Poland inside three rounds on her professional debut at Wembley Arena on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Irishwoman enjoyed a 15-year amateur career with five world titles and six European belts, as well as collecting the Olympic gold medal in London in 2012.
''It was a privilege to be here on a huge night for women's boxing, the support has been fantastic,'' Taylor said. ''I have been training so hard, so I have to thank my coach for that, because he has got me into fantastic shape.
''This was my pro debut and the tests are only going to get tougher from here.''
Taylor failed in her bid to become a double Olympic champion when she lost her opening bout in Rio de Janeiro.
But she put Kopinska on the back foot from the opening bell of the scheduled six-round super-featherweight contest.
Taylor looked sharp as she landed head shots to the Pole, who had a record of 14 defeats from her 24 professional bouts.
With Kopinska cut around her nose and forced onto the ropes as Taylor landed telling head shots, it was no surprise to see the referee step in to call an end to the contest after 58 seconds of round three.
Taylor is next set to head to Manchester on Dec. 10 as part of the undercard of Anthony Joshua's IBF heavyweight title defense against Eric Molina.
