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Irish Daily Mirror
5 days 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."
BBC News
02-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Garner dominates Jimenez to claim European title
An inspired and determined Ryan Garner outclassed opponent Salvador Jimenez to claim the vacant EBU European super-featherweight Southampton fighter was victorious in a packed and loud Bournemouth International Centre, and raised both hands in celebration as his unanimous decision victory was read out. He outworked and out-fought his Spanish opponent on the way to retaining his WBC International belt and winning the new blue and gold European title. After the contest all three of the judges' scorecards read 120-108. "It's the best feeling in the world," Garner told BBC Sport."I always said I want another title and this is a massive major title, I'm over the moon. "I can't thank everyone enough, I told everyone to stick with me throughout my career and they did." This win extends Garner's unbeaten record to 17 wins, nine years after he made his professional debut back in earned this opportunity to headline in Bournemouth after a points victory over Londoner Archie Sharp at the O2 Arena. Promoter Frank Warren said that if Garner was to be successful then a world title shot could come next. He even teased that it might take place at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium - the football club Garner supports and for whom he played in the youth team. Garner outworks Jimenez in front of home support A packed-out arena welcomed Garner loudly as he made his way to the ring. He was backed by a big contingent of Southampton fans singing his name throughout. Jimenez walked to the ring to a loud chorus of boos from the supporters, while the home fighter's entrance was to the tune of the White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army' and loud cheers. 'The Piranha's' start to the contest matched the intensity of the occasion and atmosphere, throwing and landing more punches than Jimenez to both the body and head. Jimenez could not deal with some of his speed early on, retreating and trying to counter-punch but on occasions the Spaniard's efforts resulted in wild swings missing the target. Garner's relentlessness continued and in the fourth round he pushed Jimenez back onto the ropes and hit him with a big left hook that stunned him the sixth round Jimenez showboated a little, glancing outside the ring and smiling as he evaded one of Garner's shots. That smile was then wiped off his face as Garner sunk a big left hook to the continued to be the aggressor into the later rounds, working both the head and body of Jimenez with no sign of letting up. As Jimenez continued to take punishment he received warnings from the referee for punching in pauses to the fight and also pushing his opponent. He pushed Garner to the floor in the 10th round, with fans booing his efforts to slow the contest down. Garner ran straight over to his corner as the final bell sounded, embracing his trainer Wayne Batten and roaring with arms raised. Edmondson defends Commonwealth light-heavyweight title Earlier on in the card, British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Lewis Edmondson defended his title. He beat Nigerian Oluwatosin Kejawa by unanimous decision after a dominant performance. During the eighth round attention went from the ring to the stands as multiple fights were seen to break out and some in attendance were ejected from the arena. Edmondson, known as 'The Saint', moves to 11 victories, remains unbeaten and this win sets him up for a potential future fight with light-heavyweight rival Ezra Taylor. At the fight week weigh-in the two clashed in an interview and both agreed that they would have to face each other next. The were also filmed exchanging heated words backstage after Edmondson's victory. The Nottingham-based Taylor is also undefeated with 10 victories, seven of those coming by knockout.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ruegg to face Dillon for Commonwealth Silver title at Collision on the Coast
MACE Ruegg will take on Liam Dillon for the vacant Commonwealth Silver Lightweight title at the Bournemouth International Centre in March. The Bournemouth fighter was scheduled to face Joseph Butler at Collision on the Coast on March 1, but after Archie Sharp withdrew from his fight with Dillon, Ruegg has stepped in. The 24-year-old has an undefeated record of 12-0 to Dillon's 14-2-1 record. Dillon most recently beat Stefan Vincent on points, after losing to Reece Bellotti and Ryan Garner – the latter fighter headlining the show at the BIC as he defends his WBC International belt and aims at the vacant EBU Super-Featherweight title. Ruegg comes into the fight after a victory over Brayan Mairena in November at the O2 Academy in Bournemouth.
