Kellie McLoughlin is a three-time Irish champion boxer who’s looking to make the breakthrough to win her first Elite crown. Standing in her way is two-time Olympian Michaela Walsh, who’s ruled her division in Ireland with an iron fist for over a decade. But with McLoughlin and featherweight rival Kelsey Leonard determined to unseat Walsh this year, will there be a changing of the guard in this corner of Irish boxing? McLoughlin is certainly a fighter and she sat down with The Rocky Road to detail her incredible story of survival. There was no trigger for her mental health crisis but when it hit her, it hit her hard. She and her loving family tried everything; from sessions with Pieta House to medication, hospitalisation and electroconvulsive therapy. Eventually, McLoughlin went home and attempted to rebuild her life, and her boxing career. That year, 2019, she won two Irish titles and immediately set her sights on a slot at Paris 2024. But a combination of Covid and Walsh’s form holding tight meant the Belfast boxer became a double Olympian, with McLoughlin still striving to make the breakthrough. Is this her year? Boxer of the tournament at the Emerald Box Cup, winner of two bouts in America on the Bridges Beyond Boxing programme, she’s entering these championships full of confidence and ready to make a dent, trained by the master Jimmy Halpin and his assistant coach Paul Griffin. With guardian angel Sean Carton on her shoulder, she might just do it. This is an incredibly powerful episode and I was left speechless on a number of occasions as the brilliant McLoughlin told her story in expressive detail.  If you have been affected by anything discussed on this podcast, please contact the Samaritans on 1850 609 090 or Pieta House on 01 6010000. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.