An exciting night for Irish boxing saw Pierce O’Leary (15-0) shine as a rising star for Ireland with a convincing win over challenger Darragh Foley (22-6-1). Both fighters entertained the crowd, O’Leary stood out with strong body shots that kept Foley on his toes. Despite a few warnings for both boxers, O’Leary landed significant punches and secured a unanimous decision victory to retain his WBC International Super-Lightweight belt. O’Leary is now eyeing tougher opponents in the future.
In the headline bout, Conor Quinn (9-1-1) fell short in his bid for the vacant Commonwealth Boxing Council Flyweight title against Conner Kelsall (12-0-0). Kelsall outshined Quinn with his combinations and superior footwork, claiming a split decision win.
In other matches, James McGivern (9-0) defended his Boxing Union of Ireland Celtic Lightweight title with a swift left to the head that ended Rashid Omar’s (6-1) hopes. Jack Turner (7-0) and Steven Cairns (8-0) displayed their skills with impressive victories, while Colm Murphy (12-0) clinched the Commonwealth Silver Featherweight title with a TKO in the final round.
Moreover, Cuban boxer Jadier Herrera (15-0) extended his knockout streak with a dominant performance over Andres Navarette (11-2) in a single round. The event in Belfast was a success, highlighting the talent and excitement in Irish boxing.