Taylor posts fourth victory with points success

Koleva was floored once - in the sixth round - and although the contest was a one-sided one, it was arguably Taylor's toughest pro challenge to date and saw her opponent absorb a huge number of punches.

"I definitely needed the eight rounds and it was a great contest against a very strong opponent," Taylor told Sky Sports after the fight.

Taylor went on the attack from the opening bell against the Bulgarian, pinning her back with a couple of combinations in the early exchanges and staying calm to register several more scoring blows.

The second round continued in the same manner, with Taylor picking off her opponent, but a more defensive style by Koleva in the third temporarily blunted the Irish boxer.

However, Taylor was back to her effective and efficient best in the fourth, catching Koleva with several left-hands and forcing her back onto the ropes for the majority of the round, and the one which followed.

Kovela went down for the first time in the six, having been sent reeling by a fierce left hook and then a series of body shots from close range.

However, she was able to continue and returned fire with a few shots of her own as both fighters began to show signs of fatigue.

Kovela completed the eight rounds to give Taylor some valuable time in the ring but the decision was always going to be an emphatic one, and the fighter's winning run was duly extended to a fourth fight.