Kellie Harrington received high praise after winning gold in the women's lightweight boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with former world champion Barry McGuigan confident she can take her success to the professional circuit.
Harrington's win at the Games was not only a tremendous achievement, but could serve as a launching pad to a big career as a pro. And McGuigan, who embarked on a renowned career under the bright lights before guiding others to success in recent years, would love to see it.
“She could stay around until 2024 and box in Paris which is only three years away,” McGuigan told Irish Boxing.
“She could box in the world amateur championships between now and then and she’s already won that.
“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.
“She’s has achieved the pinnacle of the amateur game and you can’t get much better than the world championships and the Olympic Games and the gold medals. So it’ll be old hat going back over that ground.
“So she has the chance to turn professional and she has the ability to be very successful.”
Harrington won the very same Olympic tournament conquered by Ireland's biggest boxing name, Katie Taylor, back at London 2012 when the Olympics first allowed female fighters to compete.
And if the 2020 medalist does turn pro in the very near future, McGuigan is adamant an all-Irish clash with the current undisputed lightweight champion of the world is the ultimate endgame.
“If she did turn professional, that’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,” he said, “so it’s a great opportunity for her to box at home and to box someone as, you know, legendary as Katie Taylor. That would be an amazing fight.
“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 very best of luck.”