THREE years on from her crowning glory in Tokyo, defending champion Kellie Harrington makes her Paris bow on Monday afternoon.
The Dubliner takes on experienced Italian Alessia Mesiano – an opponent who has become familiar to the Irish boxing fraternity1 having traded with Michaela Walsh at featherweight before making the jump to lightweight in recent years.
Indeed, it was down at 57kg where Mesiano made her name, claiming World Championship gold medal in 2016, though she proved too strong for Turkey’s Gizem Ozer on Saturday to seal a shot at the champion.
Harrington has never faced the 31-year-old in a formal bout, though they did meet in a behind closed doors international held at Ulster University’s Jordanstown campus prior to the 2021 European Olympic qualifier in Paris.
“Yes, Kellie did very well,” said Zaur Antia, reflecting on Harrington’s win that day.
“But this is quite experienced girl as well. Kellie is ready. We know this girl, they sparred many times, but sparring is different than competition…”
Harrington has kept a low profile coming into these Games.
Back in April she suffered a first defeat in three years at the hands of Serbia’s Natalia Shadrina in the semi-final of the European Championships. Bar a sponsorship gig in May, the 34-year-old has stayed away from the spotlight in the build-up to Paris; Harrington was the only boxer not to attend an official Olympic media day in Abbotstown.
But Irish coach Damian Kennedy insists she is in “a good place” ahead of Monday’s bout.
“She’s brilliant - she’s in a good place. She’s happy.
“Kellie’s a professional - Kellie does everything perfect so she is finalising her taper like the rest of the guys who are entering the competition,” said the Toome man.
“She’s doing a little bit of pads, her weight is not far away from where it needs to be and we’ll go through the same process as we do with everybody else, we’ll sit down and put a plan together and we’ll analyse her opponent, as we always do, and Kellie will implement the plan tomorrow.
“It’s been a brilliant, positive atmosphere, Saarbrucken [training camp] was brilliant, everything about the camp and the preparation has been perfect. Kellie, mentally, is in a great place, and she’s ready.”
