Kellie Harrington got the defence of her Olympic title off to a faultless start with a unanimous victory over Italy’s Alessia Mesiano.
Harrington gave a trademark masterclasses in tactical boxing, using her jab brilliantly throughout.
A big early right hook settled Harrington as all five judges’ scorecards gave her the first round.
Indeed, Mesiano caught the Olympic champion with a right hook at the start of the second round. Harrington never lost composure, winning all three rounds across the scorecards at the North Paris Arena.
“It felt good to get going, it’s always good to get a win” declared Harrington. “I’m just happy to be here and get out and compete". “It’s great to have people out there cheering me and great to see the Irish flag floating around the stadium there, it’s absolutely class”.
“You have to fall to get back up” declared Harrington after her defeat at European Championships this year. “If you didn’t get back up you may as well stay down. It’s only a loss if you don’t learn from it and hopefully I learned from it.”
“Our (boxing) team has put in so much work to get out here, every single one of them bit down and dug deep, and they will continue to do that in the tournament.
Whereas, the 34-year-old is now just one bout away from fighting for a second Olympic medal.
Harrington will face either Kosovo’s Donjeta Sadiku (2022 World Championships bronze medallist); or Colombia’s 2023 World silver medallist Paola Angie Valdas Pana on Wednesday afternoon (31st July).
