Katie Taylor: "I was praying"

Ireland's lightweight boxer Kate Taylor did not believe that she had won in her semi-final fight against home participant Yana Alekseevna.

Taylor, 28, beat the Azerbaijani by a split points decision earlier today.

"It was a close fight," Taylor told reporters after the fight. "It was always going to be. She's a top boxer. It was close, but I don't care. I'm through to the finals. I know I was down after three rounds so I had to go out and put the pressure on and try to win the round clearly.

"When I saw [the Azerbaijan corner] celebrating at the end I thought 'I can't believe it.' I was just praying for them to change the decision. I always go into a fight thinking the judges are going to be fair. I love these kind of fights. I cherish them."

Taylor will now face Frenchwoman Estelle Mossely, 22, tomorrow.