Michaela Walsh exited the World Boxing Cup in Brazil as the Belfast featherweight fell to USA’s Alyssa Mendoza.

The pair met in February’s Strandja tournament in Bulgari with Walsh coming through by way of a split decision, but the American southpaw advanced on this occasion.

Mendoza was quicker out of the traps, exerting pressure on the 32-year-old Holy Family club woman who was seeking to counter, but was unable to get going until late in the round which all five judges scored to the American.

It was a similar story in the second with Mendoza again making a fast start, landing a combination wit Walsh warned on a couple of occasions for holding.

The Belfast woman did enjoy some success late in the round, but again all five judges favoured Mendoza which left Walsh with a mountain to climb.

Walsh did have more joy in the third, but Mendoza was again doing the more eye-catching work to sweep the boards for a third time and move into the quarter-finals.

Daina Moorehouse is through to the last 16 in the 51kg division thanks to an impressive win over New Zealand’s Ashley Belk.

The Dubliner boxed superbly throughout, winning every round on each of the cards to advance

Dean Clancy also prevailed on a 5-0 decision in his 65kg opener against Romania’s Arun Nicu Tuboroiu.

Team Ireland’s Jenny Lehane, Jude Gallagher, Evelyn Igharo and Louis Rooney are in action on Wednesday.