Irish boxing’s interim high performance head coach Damian Kennedy says the upcoming World Boxing Cup in Brazil “isn’t the competition” for two-time Olympic lightweight gold medallist Kellie Harrington who came out of retirement last year.
Ireland have selected an 11-strong team for the competition that runs from 20-27 April in Foz do Iguacu before China hosts the second leg in June, culminating in the finals which take place in Uzbekistan at the end of the year.
Of that team, there are six who have Olympic Games experience, but Harrington, who won last year’s Odivelas Box Cup in Portugal in her first competition since claiming gold in Paris 2024, will sit out the tournament in Brazil which will play a part in the seeding for next year’s qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Kennedy confirmed Harrington is still very much in the frame to box internationally, but just not on this occasion.
“We approach all with an individual mindset and Kellie is no different that the rest,” Kennedy said.
“She’s back, she’s boxing and training, but we feel this isn’t the competition for Kellie to come back into and she is in agreement.
“Kellie’s approach has always been one competition at at time and she wouldn’t drift down as far as LA in any conversation.
“It’s a one step approach with Kellie from now until the journey finishes.”