Kelsey Leonard has got off to a flyer in professional boxing. Fittingly, that’s exactly how she started as an amateur: spotting a flyer at age nine inviting youngsters to her local club, showing up, and never looking back.

Inspired by her idol, Katie Taylor, the Kildare native stormed the amateur ranks, securing eight Irish titles and medals at both the Junior European and World Championships. While Taylor cleared the path for women in the Olympics, Leonard faced a formidable domestic roadblock in Belfast’s Michaela Walsh. In this episode, Kelsey opens up about the lengths she went to for that Olympic dream—and the weight of eventually leaving it behind.

Now, she’s trading one rivalry for another. After a perfect 4-0 start in 2025, Leonard returns to the National Stadium on April 4 to face Mayo’s Elaine Harrison. It’s a landmark moment for the sport: the first all-Irish BUI-sanctioned female fight in history.

Kelsey also breaks down the grueling transition to the pros, from managing an intense training load and media scrutiny to the nuances of mental self-preservation. We also talk about fighting lads and the benefit of having supportive mams and dads. After a shared training session—and a swift arse-kicking on the chessboard—The Rocky Road can confirm: Kelsey Leonard is one fearsome competitor. (Podcast photo by Babs Daly).

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