Pierce O’Leary vs Darragh Foley Preview
This is a massive weekend for Irish boxing with multiple stars in action. Pierce O’Leary is one of Ireland’s most exciting young prospects. He’ll attempt to defend his WBC International Super-Lightweight title against Darragh Foley on Friday, June 28th.
‘Big Bang’ is the favourite to win this boxing match in Belfast’s SSE Arena. He’s done an outstanding job of capturing the imagination. O’Leary even has a host of high-profile celebrity fans. However, Foley is an experienced campaigner who has fought some of the best in the world.
Foley wants to derail the O’Leary hype train. It’s up to the younger man to show that he’s a different level of fighter. This is going to be a fascinating clash.
Pierce O’Leary vs Darragh Foley Key Stats and Head-to-Head
There’s nothing quite like an All-Ireland boxing match. That’s why this bout is so exciting. It’s excellent matchmaking because these men are in very different stages of their careers.
O’Leary is one of the Emerald Isle’s most popular boxing prospects. He’s won the respect of Conor McGregor and even wears the UFC legend’s stout brand as a sponsor. The unbeaten Dubliner has a 14-0 record with eight KOs. He’s already enjoyed massive exposure in big venues, including Wembley Stadium and London’s O2 Arena.
‘Big Bang’s’ last victory saw him defeat Hovhannes Martirosyan in Birmingham. He celebrated St. Patrick’s weekend in style as he knocked the Belgian out. This was the third time he defended his regional WBC international title. Some boxing experts thought Martirosyan would be a threat because of his 16-fight winning streak.
This was an impressive victory for O’Leary, but he also faced some adversity. He knocked Martirosyan down in the first stanza. Then, in the next couple of rounds, he opened up some cuts on the Belgian’s face. But to his credit, Martirosyan hung tough and landed some shots in rounds seven and eight. Ultimately, O’Leary got the highlight reel finish and some important experience.
O’Leary is one of a clutch of Irish boxers training in Liverpool. He moved to Joe McNally’s Rotunda Gym and joined an outstanding stable of fighters. The Dubliner credits McNally and former champion Josh Taylor with helping him to develop his game. Iron sharpens iron, so it’s fair to say he’s reaching new levels.
Foley is a tough customer, and it would be foolish to count him out. He defeated Liverpool’s Robbie Taylor Jr. on three weeks’ notice. Foley upset the odds in front of the former British champion’s home fans on Merseyside. It would be like him to teach O’Leary a harsh lesson in Belfast.
His nomadic career saw him develop in Australia, where he still bases himself. Foley possesses grit and determination that can be a huge difference-maker. O’Leary can’t allow the hype to go to his head because ‘Super’ is a threat.
This is the second time that Foley has fought for this belt. The previous time was in 2019 when he lost to Tyrone McKenna. His most recent fight saw him receive a massive opportunity against Jack Catterall. Unfortunately, Foley lost by a unanimous decision against the former world champion.
Catterall secured a dominant win with two knockdowns. The referee deducted a point from the English fighter after he punched the grounded Foley. However, Catterall proved that there are levels to this sport as he punished the Irish fighter. O’Leary believes he will do the same thing and hopes to finish his fellow Dubliner.
Foley is a southpaw with a 50% knockout record and has a reach advantage. Meanwhile, O’Leary fights out of an orthodox stance. This will be a fresh challenge for the Sheriff Street star because Foley can be very awkward. It will be interesting to see how O’Leary handles this and if he can establish his range quickly.
O’Leary said that Josh Taylor instructed him to work on his ego. This is advice that he’s taking to heart because he knows one punch can change the course of a boxing career. He’s refusing to look past Foley because he knows the risks.
Foley is a popular character. The 35-year-old has held Australian and Oriental boxing titles in the past. He’s also got a chip on his shoulder because he believes people underestimate him. The atmosphere will be incredible for this battle.
Pierce O’Leary vs Darragh Foley Predictions
Prediction: Pierce O’Leary to win by decision
Our boxing prediction is for O’Leary to dominate this fight and beat Foley in style. He’s carrying a lot of expectation in this match but he’s also embracing it. O’Leary believes he’s a rising superstar.
This is the type of fight that he should be winning. On paper, O’Leary is a classier fighter with more skills and better preparation than Foley. However, his fellow Dubliner has more experience and may cause him some problems. Foley has fought 114 more professional rounds than O’Leary.
Who is 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃 to see 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐆 on Friday night?
Pierce O’Leary taking over in Belfast 💥
What do we reckon? Another stoppage?#OLearyFoley | 📍Belfast | 🗓️ June 28 pic.twitter.com/zQ5WDCA0xE
— Conlan Boxing (@ConlanBoxing) June 26, 2024
It’s going to be tough for O’Leary to knock out Foley. ‘Super’ has five losses on his record, but never suffered a defeat by KO. However, ‘Big Bang’ believes he can be the first to inflict this on his Irish rival. Foley showed plenty of heart to keep going against Catterall. But he also took too much damage. He has plenty of miles on the clock and that may cost him.
We expect O’Leary to win by decision. If he does KO Foley, the finish will probably come in the later rounds. Boxing fans saw from the Martirosyan bout that O’Leary carries his power deep into the fight. If he secures a couple of early knockdowns, this could be an arduous night for Foley.
The result isn’t a guarantee despite the odds. Foley has a history of upsetting fighters in front of their fans. He has the power to knock O’Leary out and could rattle him. Check out the live betting options if he has a fast start because the odds may move.
Pierce O’Leary vs Darragh Foley Betting Tips
Pierce O’Leary is a massive favourite to beat Darragh Foley in this boxing match. Our betting site has him at 1/11. This means that a successful €10 stake would only make a 91c profit. Betting on O’Leary to win this fight outright doesn’t make sense, because it’s not lucrative enough.
It’s advisable to check other markets and prop bets for better returns. Why not place an over-under wager on the number of rounds in this match? Queensberry scheduled this fight for 10 rounds. Given Foley’s toughness, we expect this to go beyond eight.
This wouldn’t be the first time that Foley has upset the odds. He’s a 6/1 underdog ahead of this fight so there’s plenty of money to be made if he wins. It would be a massive shock, but tempting to throw €10 on him to win. A successful wager would see returns of €70.
Betting on boxing is exciting because the sport is so primal. Some fans will back O’Leary to win this fight by knockout. This would make him the first man to finish Foley, which would be an incredible achievement. Meanwhile, a knockout is also Foley’s most likely path to victory. It would be a major shock if he could outbox O’Leary to win a decision.
Betting on O’Leary to win would make sense as part of an accumulator. His fellow Irish fighters Feargal McCrory and Ian Garry are also in action this weekend. A wager across three fights could give you some decent returns, even with bets on the clear favourites.
Pierce O’Leary vs Darragh Foley Outcome
It’s no secret that O’Leary wants to fight in front of his home fans in Dublin’s 3Arena. A win over Foley would bring him one step closer to achieving that. There’s the possibility that Katie Taylor will return so he could find a spot on the undercard. However, if he keeps winning, it won’t be long before he’s pushing to headline himself.
Victory will see O’Leary rise in the EBU rankings and edge closer toward a world title shot. He’s still young, meaning he will fight a couple more veterans before facing a ranked opponent. There’s no need to rush him as he builds his fight IQ.
A win for Foley would be stunning, but stranger things have happened. Foley would also love to fight in Dublin. He’s older, so there will be fewer opportunities for the Kent-born boxer. It could open the door to an unexpected match-up with a big-name fighter.
