Harvey uncertain over next step in boxing career 

Callum Lavery

NORTHSIDE boxer Lynn ‘the Hunter’ Harvey’s career remains undetermined following her defeat in Spain last month.

The Kilbarrack mother-of-one lost her first ever title fight against Catalina Diaz in Madrid. 

Since the fight for the E.B.U European title at the end of March, Harvey has kept a low profile and is questioning whether to continue her career. 

Harvey, one of the few female professional boxers in the country, is currently in discussions with a promotion company that is promising her more fights and another chance at winning a belt. 

“The promotion company over there took a shine to me and said they wanted to sign me so I am going to be talking to them over the next few days about maybe doing a deal,” she told Northside People.

“So if they offer me a good deal, which would be a certain number of fights before the end of the year and a route to my next belt in the next two or three fights – if they were able to provide the things I am looking for, then I would sign with them. If not, then I probably wouldn’t continue to box.

“I’m not going to go backwards, to selling tickets to buy myself a slot in a show in Dublin. 

“I’m just not going to be doing that anymore. I’ve done my time doing that. It’s just not worth it.”

Harvey lost to Diaz despite an impressive opening two rounds. She hit the canvas in the third – for the first time in her pro career. 

She was eventually stopped in the fifth after the referee ended the fight.

Despite the loss, Harvey remains eager to fight and said she returned to Ireland with a healthy outlook with the support of her son.

“I came back in great form,” she said. 

“As long as my frame of mind is good, everything is good. 

“I was worried about my son. I told him that I was going to bring back the belt and obviously I didn’t. But as long as I am in good form he is in good form. He’s like a little mirror of me.” 

Harvey said she dealt with the defeat so much better than she thought she  would. 

“I suppose I’ve matured a lot and I’ve gotten a lot more inner confidence as I get older. I just brush things off an awful lot quicker. I’m a lot more resilient now than I used to be.”

Harvey, who only took up boxing at 30, is hopeful that a deal can be struck during negotiations with promoters so that she can pursue her passion.

“I’m glad that I’m not thinking that I don’t want to box anymore,” she said. 

“I definitely still want to box, but if there is nothing in place to let me box for a belt, I don’t want to box for the sake of boxing. I want belts.”

Harvey has vowed not to go backwards in her sport. 

“I’m either going forward or I’m quitting,” she added. 

“As much as I don’t want to quit, it would be more soul destroying to go backwards and start selling tickets in Dublin again, that’s not an option for me. It’s either belt or nothing.”