Aoife O’Rourke, a world champion, sits half-a-dozen rows back as she takes in the early fights before suiting up for her decider. “What happened was I went out and I didn’t want to face the reality of who I was up against. “In the back of my mind I knew she was a two-time Olympic champ and I just [wanted to think] that I was going out boxing just a random girl. Her wife Mandy’s cries of ‘That’s it Harrington’ penetrated the surrounding darkness and the thicket of noise. A boxing ring is not a good place to be wrestling with doubts and demons.

Source: Irish Examiner January 19, 2026 06:22 UTC