Saturday’s afternoon session saw the talented young German flyweight Azize Nimani put in a huge performance to beat India’s five-time World Champion MC Mary Kom in the biggest surprise of Day Three, while Nicola Adams began her pursuit of a first World Championship title with a comprehensive win.

As the evening’s lightweight session got underway, Katie Taylor was in equally determined mood against the composed figure of Sweden’s Agnes Alexiusson, who had already come through a stern opening-day test against Italy’s Irma Testa. Both boxers landed some big-scoring punches in rounds two and three of an even contest, but Taylor’s explosive power proved decisive as she earned a unanimous decision to set up a quarter-final showdown with Argentina’s Dayana Sanchez.

China’s 2014 Asian Games winner Junhua Yin saw off the challenge of US talent Mikaela Mayer, before Finland’s Mira Potkonen sent Britain’s Chantelle Cameron out of the competition with a stirring display of positive boxing. Danish veteran Yvonne Baek Rasmussen returned to the ring to prove that she is still among the world’s top lightweights as she eliminated Kazakhstan’s Rimma Volosenko.

“It is always good to get to the next round, so I am very happy with my second triumph in Astana. I recently came back after having two children and it’s great to feel I can still compete and win bouts. My opponent was a good technician, but I was stronger today,” said Yvonne Baek Rasmussen after her win.

Having become the first boxer to defeat Katie Taylor since 2011 at this year’s European Olympic Qualification Event, Azerbaijan’s Yana Aleksveena again looked in excellent form as she controlled a big-hitting contest with Mavzuna Chorieva. Canadian Caroline Veyra then put in an explosive first round performance to take a quick TKO win against Croatia’s Maja Saric, and she will now face Estelle Mossely after the French star held off a tough challenge from the lively North Korean Tong Sun Ri.

The day finished with an excellent display from another of the lightweight favourites, Russia’s reigning World Light Welterweight Champion Anastasiia Beliakova, as she beat Dominican Valerian Spicer with a combination of great footwork and well-timed attacks.

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