Reigning Olympic champion Kellie Harrington has beaten Beatriz Ferreira 4-1 in the lightweight semi-final at the North Paris Arena to book her place in the Olympic final on Tuesday, and guarantee herself at least a silver medal at these Games.
Harrington capped a magnificent day for Team Ireland by reaching her second Olympic final, something no other Irish boxer has ever done before. She had already become the first Irish woman to win medals at two Olympic Games and was guaranteed bronze. Now she’s gunning for a second Olympic crown after an impressive majority 4-1 defeat of Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira, the woman she also beat in the final three years ago.
Ireland’s reigning lightweight champion was in control right from the start, winning the first round 4-1. Her opponent got the second 3-2 but Harrington gave an exhibition of boxing in the third and managed the distance brilliantly throughout.
Ferreira is a two-time world champion (2019, 2023) and a 2022 world silver medallist who also won the IBF world lightweight title in a burgeoning professional career but she hardly laid a glove on the Irish star in the final round.
“It feels fantastic to get that fight out of the way because Bea is a fantastic opponent and, since Tokyo, she’s gone on to do great things in the professional ranks. I felt like I was the underdog in there today and I knew she had a point to prove,” Harrington said.
“All anyone’s been talking about is you’re going to meet Beatriz but that might never have happened. Now it has happened and thankfully it turned out the way it did. I’ve no idea if I fought better than in Tokyo but I enjoyed it more, “ she added.
“I just feel happy and I think the happiness is because I’m coming to the end of the road and I just know there’s life at the end of the tunnel.
Informed that she had just secured the 100th win of her brilliant career Harrington said: “I didn’t know that but it seems right doesn’t it, as this is the 100th anniversary of Ireland taking part in the Olympic Games!”
Harrington’s place in history now rests on Tuesday’s late night’s final against Wenlu Yang (China), which takes place in tennis’ iconic Roland-Garros Stadium. The Chinese woman, a world bronze medallist last year, beat Taipei’s Shih Yi Wu 5-0 in the other semi-final, and beat Harrington in the 64kg final of the World Championships eight years ago, but they haven’t met since.
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