BEING first in line to fight for a place at next year’s Olympic Games is Rosie Eccles’ sole focus now after her exit from the World Championships in Russia.

Eccles, 23, was on the wrong end of a unanimous points decision against Liu Yang, although the Welsh fighter felt the verdict should have gone her way.

Instead it will be China’s Yang takinge on Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei in Thursday's 69kg quarter-finals.

Despite her loss, Caldicot welterweight Eccles is hopeful that she has done enough to win selection over England’s Sandy Ryan for the Olympic qualifiers.

Each country is only allowed to send one boxer per weight category to Tokyo 2020, but those individuals must go through qualifying first.

Pontypool ABC’s Eccles won her opening bout in Ulan-Ude last Friday, outpointing Argentinean Lucia Perez to set-up a meeting with Yang.

However, Ryan, Eccles' conqueror in the Commonwealth Games final last year, suffered a shock defeat to Ireland's Christina Desmond.

That disappointment came on the back of a loss to Eccles at the European Championships this summer.

It is now up to GB Boxing to decide if Eccles or Ryan represent Great Britain at next spring’s qualifiers.

Many, including Eccles, will feel she should still be in the World Championships.

All five judges sided with Yang, three scoring the bout 30:27 in her favour, despite the referee giving the Chinese woman a standing eight count in the second round.

And Eccles landed more than just the straight left that prompted Australian official David Cutting to intervene.

Yang seemed to be content with letting Eccles come on to her and feeding off any scraps.

Eccles was by far the more positive, regularly connecting with her jab and nullifying Yang's slight height advantage.

The reaction from Eccles at the end of the final round showed that she felt the win was hers – it wasn’t to be.

Meanwhile, Lauren Price can guarantee herself at least a bronze medal on Thursday when she meets Lithuania’s Iveta Lesinskyte in the 75kg quarter-finals.