Bold statement: a boxing icon returns to the ring, signaling that a new chapter can begin at any stage of a storied career. Kellie Harrington, the two-time Olympic champion, kicked off her comeback with an exhibition in Dublin on Tuesday night, facing the Netherlands’ Chelsey Heijnen. At 35, Harrington had retired after the 2024 Paris Games, but she announced in October that she planned to resume competing, aiming to box in the National Championships next month at 60kg.
The event headlined a lineup that also featured Jude Gallagher, Jack Marley, Gavin Rafferty, and Ava Henry. Harrington, representing Portland Row, faced Heijnen, who earned a bronze at the 2022 World Championships. The Irish fighter controlled the non-decisive bout at the Round Room, located in the Mansion House in central Dublin.
In an interview with RTÉ Sport ahead of the match, Harrington shared her motivations and mindset: “I really want to give kids from Dublin the chance to box in an iconic venue like the Round Room, on a card with Olympians and world medalists. I believe it will be an unforgettable night for those young boxers and for all of us involved. I’m going to enjoy this, I’m going to have fun. I’ll probably smile at people in the crowd. I want to savor the moment. And since these are exhibitions, there isn’t as much pressure, but you still feel the difference when observers are present, so we’ll take it one step at a time and see how it unfolds.”
