The head coach of the Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy (GVBA) has helped nurture a plethora of burgeoning talents to stardom, with sons Izaiah and Urijah Harrington and nephew Knox Harrington amongst his protégées.
Having hailed from a family with a long-standing reputation in the sport, the GVBA impresario will now turn his talents to guiding emerging pugilists from across Victoria at the Nationals from July 8–13.
An amateur competitor who followed in the footsteps of father Titch Harrington, and grandfather, Joe Harrington during his days in the ring, he transitioned into coaching back in 2015.
From there, he has simply not looked back, having trained at Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas and Wild Card Boxing Club under Freddie Roach in Los Angeles.
Notably, the coach also nurtured Luke Slater to two Australian Masters titles, two State titles, as well as success at the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Masters.
Shepparton will be well-represented at the event in Brisbane next month, with Kallym Huffer having been named as captain for the under-19s Victoria State team ahead of the spectacle.
In addition, GVBA fighters including the aforementioned Harrington brothers, Kobe Pryde, Chase Brisbane have been selected for the garland occasion in Queensland - the most call-ups in the gym’s history.
Taking to social media, the official GVBA page hailed the news, describing the coach as “tireless” in his efforts to champion up-and-coming country boxers.
“A tireless regional Victorian coach who has dedicated his life to the sport, Zedda has produced champion after champion from remote towns and country areas across the GV,” a representative wrote.
“He spends half his life on the road because of our geographic challenges, yet he’s turned Shepparton into a genuine powerhouse on the national boxing scene.
“This selection is 100% deserved, all the best to Team Victoria at this year’s Nationals, we know you’ll all make us proud in Navy Blue.”
Speaking previously, coach Harrington outlined the importance of breaking down barriers for youngsters from regional areas in the sport.
“Four (selections) from a country club is pretty rare,” he said.
“From a coaching perspective, what we’re trying to build at GVBA is to be able to break down that barrier - we want opponents to go home and know they’ve fought a country boxer.”
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