Teen talent Pierce O’Leary looking for knowledge not knockouts

Pierce O’Leary [1(1)-0] is looking to bank experience not knockouts as he navigates his way through the learning part of his pro career.

The exciting teen prospect certainly punches with intent and showed just why they call him ‘Big Bang’ when he debuted in the Ulster Hall early last month.

The well supported Dub didn’t stop the experience and tough Oscar Amador, who is a fighter usually reserved for punchers much further along on their journey than a debutante, but did land heavy on more than one occasion.

However, the noted banger was happier with the other side of his game and despite looking knockout keen delighted in the fact he showed fight fans he has poise as well as power.

“The opponent was very tough, as I said he was in with good names before me. I knew he wanted to fight, but my IQ was too much for him,” the teen told Irish-boxing.com.

“I start getting better as the fight went on. In the last round there where stages I thought myself i had him, but he held on and I got to show everyone what I’m capable off,” he adds before reflecting on an atmospheric occasion.

“It was unbelievable, couldn’t have gone any better. I enjoyed every minute of it. It felt like home away home away from home in Belfast.”

“I also learned a lot, how to control your nerves and how to deal with the crowd. You get a lot of fighters out there soon as they land a punch and hear the roars of the crowd they get caught up in it. I stayed calm and picked my shots. I was very alert to what was going on.”

O’Leary is in with another experienced journey man in Glasgow this weekend. The Inner City Dub fights Chris Adaway [9(1)-61(8)-4] on the #MTKFightNight. The English journey man is noted for his survival skills and has only been stopped 8 times in over 70 fights. He will give the prospect rounds, but that seems to suit O’Leary.

“I’m just looking to get the rounds and gain the experience for when those titles shots come around. I don’t plan on KO anybody if the stoppage come it comes but I’m always prepared to go the that last bell. I’m just going to go out there to perform. The stoppage might be there or not. We’ll take each round as it comes.”

It’s pragmatic from the teen, but while he is happy to just get wins he does know there is an element of entertaining to be done. He showed that it is possible to please the fans without getting the stoppage on his debut and in that regard he isn’t under pressure to finish things early in Scotland.

“It’s about entertaining and winning. That’s what the fans want, but for right now it’s all about getting used to the new scene.”