London 2012 gold medallist Nicola Adams is safely through at the AIBA European Olympic Qualification Event ©Getty Images

London 2012 gold medallists Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor took the first step towards defending their titles at Rio 2016 as they both won their opening bouts at the International Boxing Association (AIBA) European Olympic Qualification Event at the Mustafa Dağıstanlı Spor Salonu in Samsun in Turkey.

Briton Adams, the second seed in the women’s lightweight division, dominated her first encounter at the tournament on her way to clinching a unanimous success in her clash with Iulia Coroli of Moldova.

The 33-year-old, aiming to become the first British boxer to successfully defend their Olympic gold for 92 years should she qualify for this summer’s Games, is now due to face France's Sarah Ourahmoune in the last eight.

Irishwoman Taylor was also in ominous form as the lightweight top seed proved too strong for Martina Schmaranzova of the Czech Republic, comfortably progressing to the quarter-finals by unanimous decision.

Denmark's Yvonne Rasmussen awaits in the last eight on Wednesday (April 13).

Taylor’s compatriot Christina Desmond caused one of the biggest surprises on day three in Samsun as the middleweight competitor sent Nouchka Fontijan of The Netherlands, the top seed in the division, crashing out of the tournament at the first-round stage.

Desmond was awarded the bout on two of the judges’ scorecards, with the other scoring it level at 38-38.

Katie Taylor of Ireland is also into the quarter-finals in Samsun
Katie Taylor of Ireland is also into the quarter-finals in Samsun ©Getty Images

There was more success for Britain as men’s super heavyweight top seed Joe Joyce kept his pursuit of a Rio 2016 place alive with a comprehensive victory over Ukriane’s Viktor Vykhryst.

The 30-year-old, a gold medallist at last year’s inaugural European Games in Baku and at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, was given the fight by all three judges at ringside.

Second seed Ali Eren Demirezen of Turkey is also through after he beat Alexei Zavatin of Moldova, again by unanimous decision.

Hungary’s Mark Kontrecz produced one of the performances of the day as he stopped opponent Ninel Gheorghe of Romania inside the first round of their light welterweight encounter.

Azerbaijan’s Lorenzo Sotomayor, the nephew of Cuban high jump world record holder and double Olympic gold medallist Javier, and the number one seed in the same division, was made to work hard for his place in the next round as he squeezed through a tough match-up with Ireland's Dean Walsh, eventually prevailing by split decision.

The AIBA European Olympic Qualification Event is due to continue tomorrow.