Chamberlain knocks out O'Leary in 10th to take IBO title; Reeves hospitalised after Cully stoppage

Main event: Chamberlain dethrones O'Leary

Mark Chamberlain stunned a capacity crowd at Dublin's 3Arena on Saturday night, knocking out hometown favourite Pierce O'Leary in the 10th round to claim the IBO light-welterweight title. O'Leary, a Sheriff Street native whose record now stands at 19-1, was dropped twice early in the fight. A counter left hand put him flat on his back in the second round, and a perfectly timed left uppercut floored him again in the third, leaving his face a bloody mask. O'Leary rallied in the seventh, sending Chamberlain to the canvas with a right hook to the body, and pressed his advantage through the eighth. But the Portsmouth fighter found a decisive combination in the 10th, landing a straight right that sent O'Leary tumbling into the ropes and onto the canvas, prompting the referee to stop the contest. Chamberlain moves to 18 wins with one defeat, bouncing back from a 2024 loss to Josh Padley.

Reeves hospitalised after Cully knockout

In an all-Irish super-lightweight bout, Gary Cully stopped Lee Reeves in the 10th round to win the BUI Celtic title, but the aftermath was dominated by concern for Reeves. The 31-year-old Limerick fighter was stretchered from the ring after staying down following the final punch. Promoter Frank Warren issued a statement on Sunday.

“All our thoughts and prayers are with Lee Reeves and his family at this time as he remains in hospital. Everyone at Queensberry is thinking of him and we're in constant contact with his team regarding his condition as we hope for positive news.”

Cully, who had been docked a point after his mouthguard fell out seven times, dropped Reeves with a body shot before landing a devastating right hand. He said afterwards he was praying for his opponent.

“My prayers and thoughts are with Lee Reeves, hopefully he's okay. He came in there as a big underdog after fighting relatively at a lower level up until now, but he really showed that he can operate at a higher level. Huge credit to him.”

The defeat was Reeves' first since 2020, leaving his professional record at 16-2-0.

Undercard: Olaniyan, Flood and Cairns impress

Heavyweight Adam Olaniyan continued his rise with a second-round stoppage, landing a stinging jab and bruising body shots. He has earned a place on the undercard of Katie Taylor's farewell fight at Croke Park next month.

“That was a good performance. We had a change of opponent at about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, so not ideal, but I'm ready for anybody. I'll fight anybody. I'm looking forward to Croker, big shoes to fill, the greatest of all time, it doesn't get too much bigger.”

Bobbi Flood stopped Tariq Davis in the fourth round, dropping his opponent before the corner threw in the towel. The Cabra native sold more than 200 tickets and will also move on to Croke Park for his fourth pro fight. Steven Cairns dominated Senan Kelly, finishing him in the fifth round with a counter left hook, then celebrated with a backflip and a plea to Frank Warren for a Cork homecoming. Ben Fail knocked out Dublin's Craig O'Brien in the fifth to become WBA super-welterweight continental champion. Sean McComb opened the card with a 60-54 decision over Miguel Cesario Antin, and Sami Hamed won a wide decision on his professional debut with his father, Prince Naseem Hamed, watching at ringside.

What's next

The card served as a springboard for several Irish fighters heading to Croke Park next month for Katie Taylor's farewell. Olaniyan and Flood are already confirmed for that bill, while Cairns hopes to secure a Cork show under Warren's Queensberry banner. For O'Leary, a rematch clause offers a path to reclaim the IBO belt, though the immediate focus remains on Reeves' recovery in hospital.