Latest news with #IpswichTownFC
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Pierce O'Leary will miss birth of his child as he chases world title dream
Pierce O'Leary will miss the birth of his second child later this year as he chases his world title dream. The 16-0 fighter (9 KOs) promises to deliver a "demolition job" when he faces Liam Dillon this weekend as he aims to become the first Dubliner since Bernard Dunne to win a European title. But there won't be much time to celebrate as O'Leary plans to get straight back to work between his Liverpool base and America shortly after Saturday's fight, with a Dublin homecoming in the works for later this year. "My little girl, she's finished school next week so I'll be home for that. I'll be back to camp then and I'll be missing the birth of my second child," explained 'Big Bang', who faces Dilllon on the Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni card. "That's the sacrifice that needs to be made and that's what we plan on doing. We're going out there and setting the future up." He added: "I'm here to collect belts and that's what I'm doing. If I'm sacrificing the birth of my child or my daughter, I need it to pay dividends so that's what we're going to do." O'Leary will get his first experience of fighting outside on Saturday night when he faces the 15-2-1 Dillon in the co-main event at Ipswich Town FC's Portman Road as he looks to add the EBU European Super Lightweight title to his WBC International belt. And he has dreams of fighting outdoors at home. As a Northsider, the likes of Dalymount Park and Fairview Park are both options, while his brother-in-law is Shamrock Rovers forward Graham Burke and Tallaght Stadium is another possibility. But Dillon is the man O'Leary has to get through first after a number of potential opponents turned down the opportunity to fight time. "Fair play to Liam Dillon stepped up to the plate. He's now a challenger like myself for the belt and I'm looking forward to coming out on top and becoming a European champion," stated O'Leary. "I don't know much about him to be honest. I know he's been in there with the likes of Ryan Garner etc. I never looked too much into detail of him. "I just know for a fact that if I pick up where I left off in sparring and training camp, no one will touch me and that's going to the world level as well. I'm just going out there prepared. I'm bringing the best 'Big Bang' version of myself. "Once I get that done, no one will ever lay a glove on me." It will be O'Leary's first time fighting at 12 rounds and that is something he is relishing after the 'best training camp' of his career so far. "We've done an old school training camp and you see the definition that I'm in from it," he explained. "We sparred 15 rounds one time and I could have gone on and done another 20. That's how fit I am and I'm ready to rock and I'm looking forward to it. I don't think 12 rounds will be an issue at all. "If anything, I'm going to pace myself a little bit more and do more damage." The Sheriff Street native is promoted by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, who has publicly backed him to become a world champion and that is O'Leary's ultimate aim. In his quest to achieve that, O'Leary will spend time in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Canada and possibly Miami for his next training camp, having struggled to get sparring partners at his weight class in England. "If he can back me being a world champion, that's where I want to go. I want to be a world champion. By March next year I want to be fighting for a world title and I want that to be in Dublin as well," stated O'Leary. "I really and truly believe that's going to happen. I want to be in a mix of all the big names out there." "Then after that, we're going to unify it," he continued. "That's the plan, going to unify the whole division. I truly believe that. "I'm in the mix with the likes of Teofimo Lopez and all the other 140 champions out there. There's also the WBA, Gary Russell Jr., the WBC, Alberto Puello, whatever his name is, and the IBF, which is Richardson Hitchins, who's fighting George Kambosos Jr. "Mix me in with all of them and I guarantee you I'll come out on top. It's only a matter of time." He added: "It's going to be this and main events going forward. That's where I visualise myself and that's what Frank told me to my face personally. He shook on it. "Really big things are going to be happening quite soon. That's what drives me every day and that's what I want. It's been a long time coming but we're now eventually getting the situation that we want. "It's about going out there now and grabbing it with both arms and not letting anyone take that away from me."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Justis Huni opens up on Fabio Wardley clash: "It was too good to let go"
Rising heavyweight sensation Justis Huni has confessed that the opportunity to face Fabio Wardley at short notice was "too good to let go." The undefeated boxing stars are set to face off on Saturday night, with Wardley facing a touch more pressure as the bout is set to take place at Portman Road, home to his beloved Ipswich Town FC. Originally, Wardley was lined up against Jarrell Miller; however, the American had to pull out due to injury. Nevertheless, in the world of boxing, the show must go on. The Australian is jumping in at the last minute and is aiming to pick up the biggest win of his career so far. Boasting a perfect record of 12-0, including seven knockouts, the 26-year-old knows it'll be a difficult challenge on fight night. Huni has only twice entered the ring outside Australia and has yet to fight on English soil. Eyeing a seat at the heavyweight division's high table, the Aussie talent is poised to surprise everyone and claim the interim WBA championship. With so much at on the line, Huni has shared his thoughts upon receiving the fight offer. The fighter opened up about his decision to take the fight, explaining to All Out Fighting and other journalists at a media roundtable last Thursday: "I had to weigh up the pros and cons. If I did not take the fight, I could not have been fighting on small cards in Australia for who knows how long," he said. "I could be fighting in Australia for the next year or two before I get another opportunity likes this... or, I take this fight and just show the world that I am capable of doing and overcoming challenges like this on five weeks' notice." He added: "That was the big thing for me, whether I come out and show myself to the world now or having to wait around and not know when I will get another opportunity. It was a no brainer once I weighed up the pros and cons. It was too good to let go." The 26-year-old is heading into the fight following a stunning victory over Shaun Potgieter earlier this year, but faces a daunting challenge in Wardley - who is a much larger and more formidable opponent. He further stated his ambition for the upcoming showdown: "The best outcome for me is to walk out of that stadium with my hand raised and to be the WBA interim heavyweight world champion. That is the outcome I have come over here for and I am just going to give it my best shot... as long as I give it my best, I am happy. That is what it is all about!" As the anticipation builds for their upcoming bout, both fighters are feeling the pressure, with 30,000 fans expected to rally behind Wardley. Huni is well aware that he won't be the crowd favourite come fight night in Ipswich. "I have not really thought too much about it. All I think about is 'I know it is going to be loud," he shared with journalists. "I know there is going to be a lot of people against me.' But, at the end of the day, it is only going to be myself and Fabio (Wardley) in that ring and we are going to handle our business." The Australian boxer added: "I know it is going to be loud. I know there is going to be a lot of people against me, but at the end of the day it's only going to be myself and Fabio in that ring and we are going to handle our business. I feel like there is no ignoring [the fact that I'm in enemy territory]. It's going to be loud and I know that. They're all there to support their boy for his homecoming party. So, I think the thing for me is just to embrace it, soak it all up and just go out there and do my job."
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
When is Dillian Whyte's next fight? Date, fight time, TV channel and live stream
DILLIAN WHYTE is just days away from making his huge return to the ring - and fans can't wait! The Brixton star was all set to face Joe Joyce in April for what was expected to be a blockbuster British battle. 1 Dillian Whyte's fight against Joe Joyce got scuppered Credit: Getty However, the fight got scuppered as Whyte was forced to withdraw after suffering a But to the delight of boxing fans, Whyte's medical team has given him the all-clear to get back in the ring and continue what he hopes can be a pathway to the top. And the British icon will be determined to build on his most recent seventh-round stoppage demolition over Ebenezer Tetteh last December. Whyte, 37, has been linked to fight against several superstars, including British boxing hero and bitter rival Anthony Joshua. Read more on Dillian Whyte AJ is unlikely to be in the other corner for his next bout, even though Whyte admitted that Joshua would be a 'perfect opponent', but this doesn't mean that whoever he fights next won't be just as good. When is Dillian Whyte's next fight? Dillian Whyte's next fight will take place THIS Saturday - June 7. The British icon is set to battle on the undercard of Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni. Whyte's opponent is yet to be confirmed and neither has his ring-walk times, but the main card gets underway at 7pm BST. This event will take place in front of tens of thousands of fans at the home of Ipswich Town FC, Portman Road. What TV channel is Dillian Whyte's next fight on and can it be live streamed? Dillian Whyte's next fight will be broadcast LIVE on You can subscribe to DAZN in the UK for £9.99-a-month, which commits you to an entire year of action. A flexible pass, worth £19.99, is also available, and you can cancel at any time with 30 days' notice. You can also pay £119.99 for the year upfront, which is the lowest cost option. Alternatively, you can follow SunSport's live blog of the event to keep up with all the latest on the card. How can I buy tickets? Tickets for Dillian Whyte's next fight are still available on secondary sites such as At the time of writing, the cheapest ticket is priced at £55. Most read in Boxing *Please note that StubHub and similar secondary ticket resale sites may list tickets above face value. Who else is on the card for Dillian Whyte's next fight? Dillian Whyte's next fight will be the co-main event to Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni - for the interim WBA heavyweight title Dillian Whyte vs TBA Pierce O'Leary vs Liam Dillon - for the EEU uropean super-lightweight title Nelson Hysa vs Patrick Korte - for the WBO European heavyweight title Mike Perez vs Steven Ward Sam Gilley vs Gideon Onyenani Umar Khan vs Moises Garcia Billy Adams vs Alexander Morales Lewis Richardson vs Dimitri Protkunas Lillie Winch vs Katerina Dvorakova Jack Williams vs Fernando Valdez What has been said? Dillian Whyte still wanted to fight Joe Joyce even after suffering a severe finger injury and he opened up on how it happened. Speaking to talkSPORT in March, the British star said: "I was training as usual and there was a guy next to me in the gym and he dropped his weights and it rolled down. "As I put my weight down, I ended up catching his finger between his dumbell and my dumbell. "I still wanted to fight so I didn't tell my team, I had a few days off with a chest infection. "But it cut right to the bone although I just thought I could get stitches and put it back in a glove again. "It's cut down the first joint so it's hard for me to bend it and I can't clench my first properly."
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni: Date, fight time, undercard, TV channel and live stream for huge homecoming bout
FABIO WARDLEY is preparing for a huge homecoming bout THIS WEEKEND! The lifelong 2 Fabio Wardley will return to the ring for the first time since his brutal knockout win over Frazer Clarke Credit: Getty 2 Boxing - Justis Huni v Kevin Lerena - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - March 8, 2024 Justis Huni in action against Kevin Lerena REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge A win for The unbeaten Brit was due to fight In stepped Huni, on roughly six weeks' notice, who is looking to cause a huge upset on Wardley's homecoming. Wardley goes into the fight as the big favourite, but Australian Huni, 26, is not expected to be a pushover. READ MORE IN BOXING He is unbeaten, with a record of 12 wins and seven KOs, although he hasn't fought much outside of Australia. There will also be lots of eyes on Lewis Richardson, who makes his pro debut against Dmitri Protkunas. Richardson won a middleweight bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics. Most read in Boxing When is Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni? Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni will take place on Saturday, June 7. The event will take place in front of tens of thousands of fans at the home of Ipswich Town FC, Portman Road. The card is set to get underway at 7pm BST. The main event is scheduled for approximately 10pm BST. Are tickets still available for Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni? Tickets for Wardley vs Huni are still available on secondary sites such as At the time of writing, the cheapest ticket is priced at £55. *Please note that StubHub and similar secondary ticket resale sites may list tickets above face value. What TV channel is Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni on and can it be live streamed? Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni will be broadcast live on You can subscribe to DAZN in the UK for £9.99-a-month, which commits you to an entire year of action. A flexible pass, worth £19.99, is also available, and you can cancel at any time with 30 days' notice. You can also pay £119.99 for the year upfront, which is the lowest cost option. Alternatively, you can follow SunSport's live blog of the event to keep up with all the latest on the card. Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni undercard Here are all the bouts taking place at Portman Road. Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni - for the interim WBA heavyweight title Dillian Whyte vs TBA Pierce O'Leary vs Liam Dillon - for the EEU uropean super-lightweight title Nelson Hysa vs Patrick Korte - for the WBO European heavyweight title Mike Perez vs Steven Ward Sam Gilley vs Gideon Onyenani Umar Khan vs Moises Garcia Billy Adams vs Alexander Morales Lewis Richardson vs Dimitri Protkunas Lillie Winch vs Katerina Dvorakova Jack Williams vs Fernando Valdez What's been said? Wardley said he is facing the wrath of his partner - He said: "This is a slightly tense topic. My missus wasn't the happiest with this fight date. "She is due a week later but it is Portman Road. It's not just any fight, it's the one at Portman Road. She said, 'Yeah I know but…' "They say the chances are that the first one comes late but who knows." On fighting at Portman Road, he added: "Of course it comes with pressure. But pressure is a privilege. Being here is a privilege. "Being able to fight here is a privilege and I think I have proven throughout my career that I do well under pressure. "I like it. When the lights are bright, when the occasion is big, it's when you get the best from me. Huni told 'Fighting over there in his hometown, I feel like there's no pressure on me, all the pressure's on him. 'He has to come and perform for his people. "At the end of the day, I don't know anyone there and a lot of them might not even know me. They'll know after, that's it.'
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Ipswich Town Football Club plans approved for new car park area
Ipswich Town Football Club's plans to develop a car park area behind one of its stands have been club's proposal is for land behind the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand at its Portman Road Stadium, opposite the fire and police stations and crown Borough Council has approved the plans for 185 spaces to be developed, which would be used mostly by staff on matchdays. The authority said in the planning application: "The proposal would be acceptable having regard to air quality, flood risk, trees and biodiversity, design and character, car parking policy, highway safety." The club said six electric vehicle charging points would be installed during the development. About 17 of the spaces would also be returned to the nearby Travelodge hotel. The entry and exit point to the car park on Chancery Road would be modified while another separate entry and exit point would be created on Russell Road for hotel the club said these facilities would "support the larger training ground development and the associated Category One status for the club's Academy". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
