O’leary is homing in on 3Arena
PIERCE O’LEARY is hoping to headline a show at the 3Arena later this year as the Dubliner’s stock continues to rise.
The 24-year-old took his record to 14-0 with a ninth round KO win over Belgian Hovhannes Martirosyan, who was undefeated in 16 professional fights prior to that, on St Patrick’s weekend in Birmingham.
It was his third successful defence of his WBC International Super Lightweight title and O’leary is hoping to fight again in June before turning his attention to headlining a show in his home city.
“I’d like to have a homecoming here in the 3Arena, please God in September and be the main event,” said O’leary.
“It would be like fighting in my back garden, I’m only 50 meters away from the arena.
“Why not? I ran around it as a kid, I visualised it and I think this is the moment now for me to headline it.
“The level of opponents I’m fighting at the moment, they’re fights to sell arenas out, they’re not blow-over fights.
“You’re not going to waste your money on going to buy a ticket and knowing that I’m going to win anyway, these are 50-50 fights that I’m fighting in so I think it’s now or never and I think Irish boxing is crying out for it.”
Ahead of his win last month in Birmingham, O’leary sparred with former undisputed world super lightweight champion Josh Taylor, who is currently preparing for his massive rematch with Jack Catterall in May.
“I was supposed to have a southpaw opponent in February and that all fell through, but Josh was helping me out in sparring and it was great,” O’leary revealed.
“We were going for six rounds and then after the six rounds, he would give me some pointers and then you would carry on for another four rounds with someone else.
“It was very, very good.”