Urijah Harrington becomes the first Goulburn Valley primary school student to take out Golden Gloves title

The 12-year-old Goulburn Valley Boxing Academy student travelled to Narangba, Queensland, to take part in the 2023 Golden Gloves event, a prestigious tournament that draws pugilists from across Australia and even New Zealand to fight.

Harrington jumped up a weight class to face Queenslander Mai’via Simi, winning on points over three rounds in the 40kg division.

Proud coach and dad Zedda Harrington waxed lyrical about his son’s performance in his second fight.

“I just think he was landing the cleaner blows and he also won on the back foot,” Zedda said.

“Fighting on the back foot is an art in itself, a lot of people come forward and throw punches where it’s a real art to be able to win a fight going backwards.

“We fought an aggressive fighter who was on the front foot all the time, so Urijah had to work his check hooks and it was really impressive movement with him.”

The pre-teen had the mental edge approaching the fight.

Jumping at the chance to beat an opponent out of All Star Boxing Academy, a gifted stable housing 18 state champions, Harrington was well briefed on what to expect from the Golden Gloves bout.

“I’m used to fighting on the back foot a bit ― I knew he was going to rush me,” he said.

“I just loved the experience, it was really good. It was pretty good to get another win on the record.”

The fight almost didn’t happen ― if not for Zedda’s persistence.

“I rang up the matchmaker Don Tindall and he came back to us with the people in their divisions,” Zedda said.

“Urijah’s a 38kg fighter and there was no-one in the 38kg (division) and so we were like ‘do we sit this one out or do we go up a division?’.

“Urijah found out who (the opponent) was, he was from the All Star Boxing Academy in Brisbane.

“He jumped at the opportunity because to get a win over them boys is pretty impressive.

“We went up in weight, so with that said he didn’t have to cut weight and he could eat what he wanted within reason.”

Harrington avoided the temptation on the eating front, instead opting to feast out on his opponent.

He did it in the audience of a “ballistic crowd”, among them his grandmother and aunty who he’d never fought in front of, which he labelled a special moment.

Fellow GVBA peer Charlie Thompson also stormed to wins against Max Cuthel and Zander Garrao in the 34kg division while the team was in Queensland and Harrington’s younger brother Izaiah was able to squeeze in an exhibition fight on their jaunt.

After taking the Golden Gloves the young prodigy is touted to fight again in October to round out his first full year of competition ― and his dad is pleased with the progress he’s made over the past 12 months.

“Everything’s on track at this point in his development,” Zedda said.

“He’s not ahead of himself, even though winning the Golden Gloves is very good in your second fight, but things are on track for where I predict they would be at this certain time.”

Harrington’s mission will continue after the October bout, with state duties and nationals next on the agenda.

He may even get to pick what country he fights for in future.

With 12-year-old Harrington yet to own a passport, ties on his mother’s side make him eligible to adopt New Zealand as his representative nation.

The youngster has yet to decide whether to ‘‘go Kiwi’’ or stick with Australia.

But contrary to his most recent fight, Harrington is taking it all on the front foot regardless and is swinging towards his dream of reaching the top.

“I’d like to fight for NZ or Australia, it would be good to fight for any.”