Kellie Harrington Olympic rival makes huge statement with world title win

Kellie Harrington's top rival has made a huge statement just three months out from the Olympic Games after capturing a professional world title win.

With professionals now able to compete at the Olympics, Harrington's old foe Beatriz Ferreira as she took on Yanina del Carmen Lescano on Saturday evening.

The bout, which took place in Liverpool, was ended early after her opponent had a cut over her left eye that opened due to an accidental head clash.

But Brazilian Ferreira was up on all three score cards and captured the IBF World Lightweight title.

Beatriz Ferreira celebrates winning her IBF World Lightweight Title Fight against Yanina Del Carmen Lescano

Harrington could well cross paths with the Brazilian again this summer with the two among the hot favourites for the gold medal yet again.

The Portland Row native and Ferreira met in a pulsating Olympic final in Tokyo back in 2021 with Harrington being crowned victor in a unanimous points decision.

But Dubliner Harrington will be hoping for an upturn in form after suffering a shock defeat earlier this week in the European Championships in Belgrade as she crashed out at the semi-final stage.

Harrington struggled against Serbia's Natalia Shadrina and the loss was Harrington's first in three years.

The 2021 Olympic champion was ahead on three of the five judges' scorecards at the end of round one, but a dominant second round from Shadrina left the 34-year-old trailing on four cards against the woman she beat to win gold at the European Games last year.

Harrington piled on the pressure in the final stanza but was unable to overturn the deficit, losing via split decision to snap her 32-fight win streak. With the win, Shadrina became the first person to beat Harrington since Nune Asatrayan did at the 2021 Strandja Memorial Preliminaries.

The Paris Olympics get underway on July 26 and Harrington has already secured safe passage to the games.

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