Walsh one fight away from medal in Bulgaria

Michaela Walsh has booked a quarter-final spot in Women's World Championships in Istanbul following a 3-2 split win over Ukraine's Valeriia Yeroshenko.

The Tokyo Olympian had the height advantage over her opponent in this featherweight bout, but she had to pick her moments in the first round against Yeroshenko – who threw plenty without really troubling the Belfast fighter.

Walsh continued to defend nicely in the second, stepping forward to land a few stiff rights and a nice left late in the round to leave her ahead on three judges’ cards heading into the final round.

Walsh had to repel Yeroshenko’s charge in the final minute of the third, but she did so with relative ease to advance.

In Monday’s quarter-final, Walsh meets Karin Ibragimova of Kazakhstan where victory would secure at least a bronze medal.