In a stunning turn of events, Pierce O'Leary suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of Mark Chamberlain in a captivating fight held in Dublin. After being knocked down twice in the initial rounds, O'Leary valiantly fought back, managing to drop Chamberlain, but ultimately fell short as he was stopped in the 10th round. Chamberlain dominated the fight, starting from the second round when he sent O'Leary to the canvas with a powerful left hand.
O'Leary, fueled by the energetic crowd, launched a fierce comeback, but Chamberlain's decisive right hand in the later rounds led to the referee intervening. Following the loss, O'Leary expressed his desire for a rematch, stating, 'I thought I was back in the fight, but that's how it goes.' Chamberlain, who revitalized his career after a draw with Jack Rafferty, praised O'Leary as a 'true champion' and expressed his willingness to face anyone, anywhere, while also acknowledging O'Leary's potential for a comeback.