Irish boxer Kellie Harrington handed up the possibility to signal with a serious boxing promoter after successful gold on the Paris Olympics.
The 34-year-old from Dublin bested fellow Irishwoman Katie Taylor’s feat of successful a gold medal by making it two in a row at Paris 2024. Taylor received gold at London 2012 and was subsequently signed by Eddie Hearn earlier than making tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in sponsorship and purses. Taylor will share a invoice with Mike Tyson on November 15, selecting up her most vital verify in a rematch with Amanda Serrano.
Regardless of being 4 years youthful than Taylor and having curiosity from Hearn and different boxing figureheads, Harrington determined to retire after changing into a double Olympic champion.
Harrington beat China’s Yang Wenlu from China through a 4-1 break up resolution to overhaul Taylor as probably the most adorned Olympic boxer in Eire’s historical past. Harrington holds two of Eire’s 15 gold medals on the Olympics, with Taylor and Michael Carruth on one.
Earlier than overhauling Yang, Harrington took a bye into the second spherical earlier than defeating Italy’s Alessia Mesiano, Colombia’s Angie Valdés, and Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira.
Kellie Harrington retires after second gold
After her historic triumph, Harrington confirmed she’d exit on high.
“It was wonderful. Afterward, I stated to the coaches, ‘Is there something I received’t do?’” Harrington stated. “It was good. The Irish are simply nice. I by no means anticipated something like that. That is one thing I’m by no means going to overlook, ever.
“It’s been three years of insanity. It’s been exhausting, so I made a decision it was for me. I used to be doing it for me and me alone. I’m so comfortable and pleased with myself for being right here and for doing what I’m doing. Once you attain a mountain, you discover one other mountain, and that’s what I’ve finished. It wasn’t simple to climb that mountain.”
Confirming her retirement, Harrington added, “I’m finished now. The following chapter goes to be my life chapter. It’s for me and [my wife] Mandy now.
“I can’t wait simply to dwell my life. To not be trying on the scales each morning. When it’s loopy, and all boxers will say the identical, to coach the best way we need to practice. It’s like, we will’t do this as a result of we will’t get injured, or you may’t do this as a result of you’ll be drained tomorrow, and you then received’t have something to have the ability to spar. I need to have the ability to do no matter kind of coaching I need to do.
“It’s the stuff of desires. It’s simply mad, it’s loopy. Nicola Adams, Clarissa Shields, and Kellie Harrington. To be up there with them is simply wonderful,” added the two-time gold medalist.
Harrington’s victory was the most-watched sporting occasion in Eire for over a decade, with 1.3 million tuning in on RTE.
Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Study extra concerning the creator, skilled boxing author, and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010. Observe on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
