Lynn Harvey announces retirement
Dublin flyweight Lynn Harvey has announced her retirement.
The 36 year old Kilbarrack KO artist has stepped away from professional boxing after becoming frustrated and disillusioned by the unpredictable business-end of the sport.
Harvey announced her decision yesterday.
‘The Hunter’ said that “after a lot of thought and going back and forth, I’ve decided to hang up the boxing gloves. There are a combination of reasons.both personal and professional.”
“It’s going to come as a surprise to a lot of people, but the people closest to me know that I struggle with extreme highs and lows of mood and anxiety – and unfortunately the inconsistent nature of the boxing game is doing me more harm than good.”
“I’m a go-getter type of person. There;s only so much i can do with training and keeping myself fight ready but so much of this career is waiting, waiting for news, waiting for opportunities, waiting for the go ahead.”
“I’m finding that I’m.waiting my life away. I’m done waiting. I want to live my life, not just sit on the bench waiting.”
“I don’t want to be ‘normal,’ but I’m craving some of the things other people have -.settling down, building a future, and maybe even getting a TV to watch at weekends like regular people!
“If i could fight all the time it would be a dream – but it’s not about fighting, it’s about selling tickets and publicity and business. To be honest, it takes the fun out of what I love to do, which is just fight.”
“I’ve even considered being a journeywoman so I’ll just be able to fight regularly and get paid.without all the bullshit behind the scenes, but as a very competitive woman I think it would break my soul to go into fights knowing I’m being brought in as a pawn for another fighter.”
“I want to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me, coached me, supported me, wiped my tears, my team , my sponsors , my friends, and loyal supporters.”
“I do believe i have what it takes to go all the way, but i don’t believe that, by the time it takes to get there in another couple of years, that I’ll have the heart and fire to give it my best shot, as it’s dwindling already.”
“I’m not the Lynn i know and I don’t do things by half. I’m a 100% type of girl.”
“Boxing isn’t who I am, it’s just one of the things I’ve done. I’ll continue to flourish, I’ll just pour my heart and a fresh fire into something new and be a winner at that – something where I’m not waiting for other people to bring me good news or make me happy, something where I’m in charge and back in the driver’s seat of my life.”
Harvey racked up a 4(3)-1(0) record during her short career.
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A former Novice, Intermediate, and Elite Senior champion, Harvey turned pro in 2015 in Paschal Collins’s Celtic Warriors Gym under Daniel O’Sullivan.
She made one of the most memorable debuts in recent years at the Red Cow Moran Hotel in November of 2015, stopping Ivana Yaneva inside a minute. Inactivity and lack of opportunity kept Harvey out for a year but she returned in November of 2016. Here she faced the much-larger Mary Romero at the National Stadium and fell to a six-round points defeat.
Harvey subsequently switched trainers to Tommy McCormack and bounced back well, with another stoppage inside a minute over Agnes Draxler in February of this year at the Europa Hotel before claiming a disqualification win over Sara Coca three weeks later at the National Stadium when her opponent was thrown out for kicking her.
In May Harvey had what would be her final fight, stopping Ivanka Ivanova, again at the National Stadium.
Irish-Boxing.com would like to thank Lynn for all the entertainment she provided during her career and wish her all the best for whatever she chooses to do next.
Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography
