Dublin Showdown Looming Large!

A ferocious collision is forecast on Saturday in Dublin when ‘The Big Bang’ Pierce O’Leary defends his IBO world super lightweight title against Mark ‘Thunder’ Chamberlain.

If this was a weather bulletin, the prediction would be Thunder and Lighting all the way when these two hellacious punchers start trading bombs.

It is a fight that was originally scheduled to go ahead back in March, but a chest infection laid Chamberlain low and O’Leary ultimately ended up fighting Maxi Hughes for the vacant title.

But the match was very popular when it was made, so Frank Warren and co were determined not to let it slip by and get it done at the earliest opportunity.

March at the 3Arena proved that O’Leary is a major draw in his home city, as he said he was, so this time his fight is spearheading the show.

There is plenty more to feast your eyes on though, in the arena or at home on DAZN. Elite young talent Royston Barney-Smith - with four belts already tucked away in his bedroom - jumps into a classic youth against experience test when he goes up against former British champ Reece Bellotti.

Remember, it wasn’t so long ago that Bellotti was in Barney-Smith’s shoes. A young talent coming through the ranks to huge acclaim before coming unstuck against a battle-hardened operator. In the case of Bellotti, it was Ryan Doyle in his 13th fight.

Two all-Irish derbies feature in the top half of the card on Saturday, with Gary Cully and Lee Reeves going at it at super lightweight, plus the heavy-hitting Steven Cairns taking on the challenge of Senan Kelly.

Then we have an England v Ireland collision with Big Ben Fail looking to continue his march towards title contention against Craig O’Brien.

The future of Irish boxing will also come into view when heavyweight star Adam Olaniyan and super welterweight Bobbi Flood step into the ring.

Olaniyan is the 2024 World Youth champion Adam Olaniyan who will be having  professional fight No.3 since joined forces with Frank Warren and Queensberry. Just 20 and from Tallaght, the two-time European gold medalist is trained by the highly respected veteran coach Paul Stevenson at the fabled Everton Red Triangle gym in Liverpool. Olaniyan is also a seven-time National Champion.

The 10-time Irish National champion and European gold medalist Flood is having his third professional fight at the 3Arena in his home city. The 21-year-old elite talent signed a promotional agreement with Frank Warren and Queensberry last November and trains in Liverpool under coach Stephen Smith. ‘Flash’ Flood exploded onto the pro scene with a first round stoppage over Bela Istvan Orban on debut, before doubling his win tally with success over four rounds against Nathan Darby in Manchester in May.