The unbeaten super lightweight Pierce O’Leary, 16-0 (9 KOs), added another spectacular knockout to his lengthening highlight reel by taking out Jose Edgardo Perdomo at Wembley Arena on Saturday evening. 

Perdomo, 6-3 (3 KOs), stepped in as a last-minute substitute and, although O’Leary progressed beyond that level of opposition some time ago, the Dubliner did what good fighters do and took out his Uruguayan opponent with the minimum of fuss. A well-timed, single left hook counter did the damage early in the third round. 

“I work my arse off in the gym day in, day out – I don’t expect anything less,” he told TNT Sports. O’Leary knew the fight was over the second he felt his left connect.

“I heard him hit the ground before I saw him.”

O’Leary’s trainer Joe McNally kept his fighter focused as opponent after opponent withdrew from Saturday night’s fight, and he was more than happy with the results.

McNally has become a big believer in both O’Leary’s ability and potential since they began working together late in 2023. Saturday night was their third fight together, and the Liverpudlian insists that there is much, much more to come.

“When he prepares the way he prepares in the gym, the hours and effort he puts in, it’s not a shock,” McNally said. “He does this week in, week out. He’s got top quality sparring, learning off the best in the game and that’s a true testament of the ability of Pierce O’Leary.

“I’ve been preaching this since I started working with the man. He can be the future of the 140lbs division and not only competing with the Devin Haneys of the world, but getting that same job done also.”

O’Leary is a talent with legitimate power but the time has come to test his abilities at a higher level. Fortunately, the ideal route into world-title contention has opened up.

Dalton Smith had been due to box Spain’s Jon Fernandez for the vacant European 140lbs title but withdrew himself from proceedings after injury ruled him out. O’Leary was elevated into his position. If O’Leary and his team have their way, winning the EBU title will kickstart a title-laden 2025. 

“That’s the plan and that’s Joe’s plan as well so that’s what we’re after,” he said before spelling out that his 140lbs rivals can expect to receive the exact treatment that Perdomo was given.

“The same thing. The exact same thing. I don’t see it any other way. 

“I’m the shark next year. Watch out.”

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X