Harrington opts to remain in amateur boxing

KELLIE Harrington has confirmed she will remain in amateur boxing rather than take a potentially lucrative move into the paid ranks.

Speaking on Friday night’s Late Late Show, the St Mary’s Boxing Club star, who last month captured gold in the lightweight division at Tokyo Olympics following her brilliant victory over Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira, insisted she is happy with the support system she currently has around her.

“I’ve made the decision, I’m going to stay amateur,” she declared. “It’s not always about money.”

“People are saying ‘You can make a fortune out of this, you can go for that fight, you can go for this fight’ and what have you. I just want to be amateur.

“I’m very happy. I’m supported by Team Ireland and I have a great team with the set-up,” she insisted.

The decision means the 2018 World champion, who joined St Mary’s in Tallaght some six years ago, could well be defending her Olympic crown in Paris in three years time.

It also appears to have undone any prospect of her facing compatriot Katie Taylor in a potential professional World title showdown.