All go for Glasgow – Siobhán O’Leary discusses September title fight

Siobhan O’Leary [3(2)-0] is just days away from officially confirming a breakthrough title fight.

The Kerryborn Limerick based fighter looks set to challenge for the inaugural women’s BUI Celtic title as early as September.

The straight-talking big-punching super featherweight has made no secret about her desire to be fast tracked, but has been handed a title fight as early as her fourth fight.

The fight has been made but negotiations are on going as to what title will be on the line – and whilst O’Leary wasn’t too keen to give too much away Scottish-based Greek Eftychia Kathopouli is stated as her next opponent on BoxrRec. 

O’Leary did confirm to Irish-Boxing.com that she expects to fight in Glasgow on September 6th and that, subject to talks going well, a title will be on the line.

“There is a possible title fight in seven weeks. It will be in Scotland. We are just ironing out the details at the moment and we are hoping to make an announcement soon,” the Eddie Hyland-trained fighter explained.

As stated O’Leary wouldn’t mention the name of the potential opponent, but by all accounts her opponent is confident of victory.

“Apparently this girl thinks she can knock me out so bring it on. They reckon it’s a 50-50 fight, we will see.”

O’Leary has always been clear she has no hang around intentions. She is willing to take risks aware that she hasn’t too much time to build.

“I don’t have the time to hang around. I am not 19 or 20. It is what it is. I am not going to be here in the four or five years. I am here to do what I can do in a shorter time. If I have to take risky fights then I have to take risky fights,” she adds before catching herself.

“I don’t think this one is risky. I think I knock her out,” she laughs. “Of course I am going to say that though.”

A title fight in just your fourth fight does fit the move fast remit, but even O’Leary admits this one came around that bit quicker than expected.

“I wasn’t expecting it to come this quick, but when I reflect on it why wouldn’t it. I need to be moved quickly and there is a smaller pool too.”

The news came just days after the Kerry native claimed her second stoppage win in three fights.

The fighter, who turned over as recent as November last year, overpowered Slovak Denisa Cicoova and was happy with her performance. 

“I am happy with the performance and the fact I tried the new things and still got knockout. The main thing was working the body. I am a bit of a head hunter and I look for that big straight back hand.”

“Everyone says it to me to kill the body and that done the damage at the weekend. The minute I landed the body shot I knew she was hurt.”

“Then when I landed it later I knew it was only a matter of time, but I rushed it a bit. I can go a bit mad and I end up getting hit.”

While she was on the verge of the stopping her foe from the first round and had her in serious trouble at various stages of the second and the third one of two female punchers on the Leeside Revolution card in Cork on Saturday was caught on more than one occasion as she rushed in for the kill.

Taking a dig, she admits, is something she quite enjoys, but is something she knows she may have to avoid as she moves into title fights.

“Honestly I love it. Look I think sometimes for me it takes a good punch in the mouth to wake me up. Now as I go up the levels that won’t be acceptable. So I will go back the gym and work on getting the head down and bringing the hands up.”

“I need to be more methodical when I am going about breaking opponents down.”