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Kelly Harrington blasts Amy Broadhurst for “belittling” talk


Kelly Harrington has hit out at Amy Broadhurst, feeling that the Dundalk southpaw has belittled her in a number of interviews in recent months.

Harrington defeated Broadhurst in the Irish Elite lightweight final last year and would go on to win European bronze and World gold while her younger opponent would claim the European U22 title before taking a temporary step up to the non-Olympic light welterweight class where she would controversially miss out on a medal at the Worlds.

Broadhurst is to remain largely in the 64kg division this year, aiming to build experience and claiming that she no longer has Tokyo Olympic hopes and is instead targeting the 2024 Games in Paris.

The 21-year-old has done a number of interviews with the likes of the42.ie, GameOn, and this very site where she explained her reasoning.

READ: Tokyo a no-go for big picture Amy Broadhurst

READ: In four years, I don’t think Kellie will be able to beat me

Harrington, though, is not happy with some of the talk from the Louth talent and set out her own views at a media day to announce her involvement in the Olympic Federation of Ireland-backed ā€˜Dare to Believeā€™ initiative.

Dare To Believe – Full Details

ā€œIā€™m going to be quite frank about this because Iā€™m hearing a lot about her ā€˜agreeing to step backā€™, right?ā€ the Dubliner pointedly outlined.

ā€œI beat her last year, and I would have beaten her again if she was there this year. So, when someone says theyā€™re ā€˜agreeing to step backā€™, take it with a pinch of salt.”

“Iā€™m the number one Irish 60kg. She might be the number one U22 champion but sheā€™s not the number one at 60, so whether she agreed to it or not, she had the chance to get in there and prove herself and she didnā€™t take it, like.”

ā€œI like her, sheā€™s a great young one, sheā€™s a great athlete, sheā€™s a fantastic fighter. But it is what it is.”

Harrington has been annoyed by the talk from Broadhurst – whether it was intentional or not – and the fighter, who retained the Irish title via walkover last week noted how “you canā€™t be saying sheā€™s agreed to step back because that kind of belittles me a little bit.”

“And it really does annoy me because it sounds as if someone is saying, ā€˜Ah, she agreed to step back and give you that chance, Kellyā€™. Well, no, actually ā€” she didnā€™t have the balls to step up and take the chance herself.”

ā€œAs you can see, it does annoy me a little bit, I didnā€™t ask her, ā€˜Oh, will you please step backā€™ or anything. No. She done it because she didnā€™t want to fight me, and thatā€™s it.”

ā€œPeople had been saying it to me and Iā€™m just like, ā€˜I justā€¦ I actually donā€™t care.ā€™ Take the shot, like.”

ā€œSo donā€™t go around saying ā€˜Iā€™m stepping back to give you a chance, I know how hard you fought for itā€™ and all, like.”

Broadhurst claimed the Irish 64kg title last week, beating Moira McElligott, and will drop back to lightweight for the European U22s next week before yo-yoing back up in the hope of being selected for the European and World Championships later this year.

Harrington was frustrated that she had no Irish opposition on Senior finals night, with Serbian-Swede Jelena Jelic instead being flown in.

harrington jelic

That said, the 29-year-old admits that ā€œI wasnā€™t surprised [that Broadhurst decided not to challenge] because I beat her last year, and I beat her fairly well.ā€

ā€œI wasnā€™t surprised at all. If you want to be sent away for your country, youā€™ve got to win a national title. Youā€™ve got to fight at 60kg. If youā€™re not in, you canā€™t win.”

“I fought at 64kg long enough because I knew that I wasnā€™t going to be sent at 60kg and I hadnā€™t got the confidence to beat Katie at that stage. I knew I wasnā€™t going to beat her because once you havenā€™t got confidence and you donā€™t believe in yourself, youā€™ve already lost before you get in.”

ā€œShe [Broadhurst] made the right decision but sheā€™s just going about it the wrong way in saying why. Just be honest.ā€

Some have suggested that, if Harrington does not achieve Olympic qualification this year, it could lead to an all-or-nothing Seniors next year with Broadhurst, bolstered by more international experience, dropping down to take a shot.

It could be a rivalry that injects some life into the Irish amateur scene like Kieran Molloy and Paddy Donovan are doing now but Harrington doesn’t think so.

ā€œItā€™s not a rivalry at all to me,ā€ she says. ā€œTo be honest with you, itā€™s just people talking gibberish, people talking nonsense ā€” thatā€™s all.”

ā€œThe young oneā€™s going to go on and sheā€™s going to do good things in her career, and in 64 kilos I can see her going on and doing good things.”

ā€œBut donā€™t think that youā€™re trying to be nice when really itā€™s just belittling.ā€

READ: Gavan Casey’s in-depth piece with Harrington

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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