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Exciting teen prospect predicts great start to great career

Exciting teen prospect Pierce O’Leary is promising a great start to what he believes will be a great career on Friday night.

The Inner City Dub makes his debut on the #MTKFightNight set for the Ulster Hall this Friday night – and is predicting a ‘great night’ for both him and his supporters.

One of three debutantes on the card – Paddy Donovan and Ruari Dalton also fight for pay for the first time at the Ulster Hall- is expecting a vocal and sizable crowd – and although they may not need an excuse to be loud he is determined to give them something to shout about.

“The fans can expect a good tough fight. I have always had the crowd behind me and it’s great hearing them when in the ring shouting your name. Expect a great night,” O’Leary told Irish-boxing.com.

Despite not having a big senior amateur career behind him there as been a sizable degree of hype surrounding ‘Big Bang’ – hype those from from his area certainly buy into.

O’Leary seems to have a real connection with his following and they are playing a part in his debut excitement levels.

“I’m really excited, I’m walking the streets and everyone is pulling me wishing me good luck and it feels amazing knowing I have so much support,” he adds.

“The fans will give me a warm welcome. I’m looking to get in there an get the job done.”

While it’s all about getting the job done on Friday, O’Leary believes this weekend could just be the start of a promising pro installment.

The Dubliner has world title ambitions and beyond and stresses Friday could the first of many great nights.

“Ever since I started boxing. I always wanted to feel the atmosphere of the crowds. It’s my dream to become an undisputed world champion hopefully in many different weight classes. This is a massive card to start on. I’m looking to go out to gain the experience by sticking to Philip’s game plan and getting the win. If the stoppage comes it comes but I won’t rush it.”

First up for O’Leary is Spanish based Nicaraguan Oscar Amador. The 25-year-old journey man has been in with the likes of Stephen Ormond and Dylan Moran from these shores and the new to the game light welterweight is expecting a durable foe.

“He is tough and durable. He has been in with a few names and has great experience. I won’t over look him. I am taking nothing for granted – and I am looking for to meeting him.”

O’Leary was training with Pete Taylor and the team down in the Colosseum Gym before turning over. However, he is now back working with Philip Keogh his old amateur mentor and he points out they have spent this camp refining what was already a pro style.

“We have been working on trying to slow down a little more, not too much but a little. Also selecting my shots a lot more and working on some defensive skills. We’ve been suited to the pro’s so nothing much changed. Overall I’m really looking forward to 11th of October up in Ulster Hall.”

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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