Mark Chamberlain Knocks Out Pierce O Leary to Claim IBO Title

Chamberlain silences 7,000 hostile fans with early knockdowns

Entering the ring as the underdog and the B-side, the English fighter fed off the amped-up audience of around 7,000 at Dublin’s 3Arena.

Chamberlain came out blazing in the early exchanges. He landed a flush left hand in the first round that sent O’Leary flying back onto the canvas.

O’Leary’s seventh-round body shot alters the momentum

Despite the early deficit and the roaring home crowd, O’Leary refused to fold. The Dublin native rallied significantly, pressing the action and doing serious damage with his punches.

The heavy blow sent Chamberlain crashing to the canvas. Slow to get to his feet, Chamberlain barely survived the count, managing to avoid further punishment before the bell ended the frame.

Chamberlain finds the finish in a grueling 10th round

As the fight pushed into the later rounds, the English fighter seemed to feed off of the amped-up audience at 3Arena, even as fatigue set in against a relentless opponent. O’Leary continued to press forward while Chamberlain looked tired, but the championship rounds offered one final shift in momentum.

In the 10th round, Chamberlain found the opening he needed. He launched a combination that caused O’Leary to drop his hands, then pressed his advantage with a flurry of clean shots. A straight right hand sent O’Leary tumbling into the ropes and down to the canvas, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight.

Portsmouth fighter rebounds as O’Leary suffers first defeat

The dramatic victory bounces Chamberlain back to winning ways following a difficult stretch in his career.

For O’Leary, the defeat marks his first loss in 20 professional bouts. O’Leary drops to 19 wins and one loss, with 11 knockouts, halting a stellar run that had established him as a rising force in the light-welterweight division before a packed house in his home city.