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Siobhan O’Leary wants spars following gruelling second fight


Siobhán O’Leary [2(1)-0] was given a real test on Saturday night.

The Kerry super feather had her chin checked by tough Pole Bojana Libiszewska but was able to fight her way to a four-round 40-37 win and now wants there to be changes as she moves onto fight number three.

Whereas debut opponent Klaudia Csazar was crumpled by O’Leary’s powerful shots, a bloodied Libiszewska was able to withstand the piston jabs and right hands and fire back.

It was the perfect second fight for the Limerick-based woman who was given eight minutes of tough work – but the lead-in was far from perfect for the Killarney puncher.

“She took some good shots,” O’Leary admitted afterwards to Irish-Boxing.com.

“I honestly thought I’d get her out of there, well that was my mindset going into it, but she is durable. When I say she is durable, I mean she was fucking durable,” she laughed before noting the progression.

O’Leary described how “I feel I was tentative and loading up a little, but that was a great learning fight.”

“You’d learn more from that than any spars. She took a few right hands like a trooper. I think that was the best step up I could get for my second fight.”

“She was in with some great operators so I am glad I can get in there and hold my own with her.”

I am happy I did the four rounds, I am happy to be 2-0 and I am happy I won. I said beforehand my job is to box and win and that’s what I did,” she added before revealing some previously unknown problems that may have hindered her on the night.

O’Leary noted how “it’s been a tough camp there was a few things that went wrong. On Thursday I wasn’t boxing. So I am happy with my grit not just in the fight but in this week.”

“It was a grand performance. I’d say 4/10, but I am my worst critic. I got tired from nerves.”

The defence will need to be tightened as she moves through the ranks and perhaps a better judgement of range, but O’Leary certainly has pop.

The Corpus Christi graduate explained how “I always had a good strong jab, Eddie [Hyland, coach] has been working on it too.”

“It is a good stiff long jab and I have to get into the habit of doubling it. It could be a weapon to keep fighters like her off me.”

“I still have a lot to learn. Honestly, I do, and a fight like that helps,” she adds before highlighting a problem she has been experiencing.

“The one thing I would like to improve on is getting more sparring. I maybe sparred 15 rounds for this camp. We have to sort something out.”

“It’s just really hard to get females to spar me. I am not saying that in a big headed or egotistical way, it’s just a fact. I can’t get girls my weight to spar.”

“It’s grand for me to spar the lads, but they are going to hold back a bit and physically they will be stronger.”

siobhan o'leary

At 35, O’Leary is looking to progress but is wary of rushing.

While some would say, following a busy four on Saturday night, the time is now to move to six rounds, O’Leary is looking to build.

“Look, it’s one step at a time.,” she outlined.

“So, next for me is to sit down with them [Boxing Ireland’s Leonard Gunning and Stephen Sharpe].”

“Just thinking about it now maybe I need another learning fight. There is no harm in it. Maybe a fight or two then we step up to six rounds? I trust Stephen and Len to map out my path.”

“I am never going to be too stylish. I like a knock. I like a fight. I am only fighting six or seven years. I haven’t got European and Olympic experience. I feel I am with the best coach in Ireland to bring me on and add more to me.”

“I think I have improved since my first fight. I have improved on all fronts even mentally and all the team have helped with that. So for me now my job is to improve and I leave the matchmaking to the team.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

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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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