Kellie Harrington has guaranteed her second successive silver medal at the AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships in New Delhi, as she progresses to the final.
The Dubliner will now will fight for a gold medal against Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee on Saturday after she defeated Kazakhstan’s Karina Ibragimova in the semi-finals.
The 27-year old has exhibited incredible balance and counter-striking throughout the tournament. Boxing is about hitting and not getting hit and that is exactly what Harrington has done.
The four-time major medallist has out-boxed every opponent she has faced so far, demonstrating brilliant footwork and intelligence.
In her semi-final encounter against Kazakhstan’s Karina Ibragimova, Harrington comfortably took every round to win on a unanimous decision – 30-27 on all scorecards in her favour.
The opening round was cagey however Harrington landed the cleaner shots with some blistering combinations to lead the round. Harrington effectively kept in range to control the exchanges.
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
Ibragimova came out fighting in the second round, throwing a flurry of punches to force Harrington on the back-foot. The St. Mary’s stylist was more than capable of dealing with the punches thrown at her as she danced in and out of the pocket landing ferocious body-shots.
In the final round with Ibragimova needing a knock-down to swing the encounter, Harrington boxed smart and picked her moments to engage. A flurry of jabs and heavy shots in the final minute secured a resounding victory for Ireland’s new lightweight superstar.
On Saturday, Harrington will fight for gold. This will be the second time she has been to a world final. In 2016, she won the silver medal in Kazakhstan at a heavier weight category before dropping down to lightweight, an Olympic category.
Katie Taylor was the last Irish world championship gold medallist for Ireland at lightweight, coincidentally also in New Delhi, India.