Hot prospect Pierce O’Leary to turn pro?
One of the brightest young talents in Irish boxing looks to have made the decision to ditch the vest and join the ever-growing pro ranks.
Dublin light welter Pierce O’Leary has seemingly decided to make the switch at just 19 years of age.
The Docklands teen has been training with Pete Taylor at the Colosseum Gym in Ballyfermot for the past while.
O’Leary has been sparring under Taylor for a long period now alongside his training in his home club but recent indications are that a switch is on the cards.
The fighter himself has remained somewhat coy and has confirmed that no deal has been signed but he continues to strongly hint while Taylor has described him as one of his new “young professionals”.
Back in the gym now following a summer holiday, the inner city talent, a cousin of former light middleweight pro Bernard Roe, recently promised that there will be “BIG NEWS SOON.”
An Irish international as an amateur, O’Leary won the Intermediate title last year as well as a number of underage crowns.
Possessing real power and a relaxed style, ‘Big Bang’ has been on the radar of a number of big players for some time now but his eventual destination remains unknown.
With the crucial Senior Championships coming up this winter, it may strike as an odd decision for O’Leary to move at this time – and it must be stressed again that nothing is confirmed at this point – but he would follow the likes of Joe Ward and Paddy Donovan among others as top amateurs making a 2019 switch.
O’Leary is not the only young Dublin talent that has seemingly turned pro and linked up with Taylor either, with Crumlin’s Tony McGlynn another that is being advertised as part of a new-look stable.
‘Golden Balls’ McGlynn claimed the Intermediate middleweight title back in 2016 and has competed at Elite level.
Another with power and personality, 21-year-old McGlynn has been more explicit about his transition and hopes to debut shortly.
The pair have been training alongside Taylor’s ever-growing stable that includes Luke Keeler, Gary Cully, Davey Oliver Joyce, Sam Carroll, Robbie Burke, James Power, Steve Collins Jr and Senan Kelly – while the recently returned from Australia Shane Roche is also in the gym.
