Barry McGuigan believes a fight between Kellie Harrington and Katie Taylor would be ‘amazing’.
Dubliner Harrington became just the third Irish boxer to win an Olympic gold medal, beating reigning world champion Beatriz Ferreira on Sunday at Tokyo 2020, joining Taylor and Michael Carruth in that select group.
With the world at her feet, Harrington could turn professional and operates at the same weight class as 2012 Olympic champ Taylor who has carried her success into the pro game, becoming a two-weight world champion.
“If she did turn professional, it’s a massive fight at home for her because you don’t get fighters that are that talented in the same weight division very often, so it’s a great opportunity for her to box at home and to box someone as legendary as Katie Taylor. That would be an amazing fight,” McGuigan told Morning Ireland on RTE.
Barry McGuigan
(Image: Getty)
“But the decision of course is going to be down to Kellie herself and her family and it’s a tough decision to make. It’s a tough old road the professional boxing game and I’m sure Katie Taylor would tell you that.
“But those opportunities are available to her and I very much wish her the best of luck.”
Harrington was crowned world champion in 2018 and now Olympic champion so the chance to defend her title in just three years at the 2024 Olympics is also a consideration.
Former world champion McGuigan said: “She could stay around until 2024 and box in Paris which is only three years away. She could box in the world amateur championships between now and then and she’s already won that,” he said.
Ireland’s Kellie Harrington celebrates with her gold medal
(Image: INPHO)
“She’s right up there. She could stay in the amateurs or she could turn professional and move away to America or box in the UK or box at home.
“There’s a number of options available to her so it’s entirely up to Kellie. I suppose at the moment she just wants to have a rest and celebrate.”
With Belfast’s Aidan Walsh claiming bronze in Tokyo, McGuigan feels the amateur game in Ireland is on the crest of a wave.
“I think the amateur game is flying,” he added. “Paris is only three years away. The high performance team are getting funding and that’s the difference from my day. They’re now getting government funding and public funding is going into it.”
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