‘Ireland’s Loss India’s Gain’ – Harrington laments Dunne move
Olympic lightweight champion Kellie Harrington believes India’s gain is Ireland’s loss.
The Dubliner admitted she is ‘disappointed’ to have officially ‘lost’ Bernard Dunne to the Boxing Federation of India.
Former WBA super bantamweight champion of the world, Dunne, was yesterday confirmed as the new High-Performance Director of the Indian set up and Harrington, who is currently in Montenegro competing in the European Championship, lamented the fact he is no longer part of Team Ireland.
Speaking online she said: “Ireland’s Loss, India’s Gain To say I am disappointed that we have lost him and we could not do our best to keep him is an understatement.
“Such a pity. But all the best to Bernard on this new journey.
Irelands Loss, India’s Gain 😔
— Kellie Harrington (@Kelly64kg) October 17, 2022
To say I am disappointed that we have lost him and we could not do our best to keep him is an understatement.
Such a pity.
But all the best to Bernard on this new journey. https://t.co/iJilEg89y5
The Clondalkin native resigned from his position as High-Performance Director at the IABA in May of this year.
The former super bantamweight champion of the world took up the role in 2017 and oversaw a transitional period in Irish amateur boxing.
Dunne was at the helm for a rebuild after a disappointing Rio Olympics and the departure to the pro ranks of some of Ireland’s greatest-ever amateurs.
That attempted rebuild took place among some very unhelpful infighting within the IABA and Dunne will argue it was successful considering Ireland won only our third boxing gold at the Tokyo Olympics as well as another bronze.
Speaking previously Harrington said she deliberately avoided all in-fighting reports and admited she has had her arguments with Dunne but did suggest he had a very positive impact.
“What I will say though is that, while I’ve been involved in the high performance since Bernard has come in, female boxing has definitely been impacted massively, and all for good.
“I can only speak well of Bernard – we do have our tit-for-tat moments but we always air them out. He’s a person you can approach and whatever he does will be right for him, but I hope that we don’t lose him.”
