Kellie Harrington booked her place in the World Championships final today with a unanimous victory over Kazakhstan fighter Karina Ibragimova in the lightweight semi-final. In doing so, she has achieved a first in Irish boxing.
Harrington has guaranteed herself at least a silver medal ahead of Saturday's final against Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee, but she will be hoping to go on better than her second place finish in 2016.
She has already been etched into the record books, becoming the first Irish fighter to reach World Championship finals in two different weight classes. She will also join Katie Taylor and Joe Ward as the only Irish boxers to box in more than one World Championship final.
Kellie Harrington joins the #IrishBoxing greats as only Katie Taylor and Joe Ward have reached more than one World Championships final. Mick Conlan (gold) and Jason Quigley (silver) the other finalists
— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) November 22, 2018
This is a stunning achievement for the Dublin fighter, especially in this unfamiliar weight-class. Harrington previously fought at light welterweight, with her medal in the 2016 championships coming in that category.
She moved to 60kg to fill the spot left by Katie Taylor after she turned pro, and the drop down has done little to halt her dominance. The lightweight category has the added bonus of being one of only five weight classes available for female fighters in the 2020 Olympics, surely a major incentive in Harrington's decision.
Ireland has an incredible record in the lightweight division, with Taylor's five World Championship gold medals won at the weight still a record in women's boxing.
Harrington will be hoping to continue on the path that was forged by Taylor, becoming just the third Irish boxer to win World Championship gold in the process. This will cement her place as one of the most successful boxers ever to emerge from these shores.
It would also cap off a hugely successful year. She claimed bronze at the European Championships in Bulgaria in June.
