Yorkshireman to step in as replacement on world title fight undercard.
A definite highlight of Queensberry Promotions’s upcoming schedule of fights is their card on the 14th of March at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
The St. Patrick’s Day weekend show features a headliner that sees Belfast’s former IBF super-featherweight champion Anthony Cacace (24-1, 9 KOs) take on Liverpool’s reigning WBA champion Jazza Dickens (36-5, 15 KOs).
While the main event is an absolute scorcher, the rest of the action is really what makes the card a can’t-miss affair, with terrific fights throughout the entirety of the bill.
One of these fights was the co-main event, which was scheduled to be Pierce O’Leary’s big step-up against Mark Chamberlain.
Chamberlain last fought in a rough-and-tumble draw with the heavy-handed Jack Rafferty, and he was set to provide unbeaten Irishman O’Leary with an ultra-hard test that effectively made the show a double-header.
Unfortunately, though, Chamberlain was forced to withdraw due to injury. However, the sighs and groans are to be saved for a later day, for a brilliant replacement opponent is stepping in for Chamberlain.
The opponent in question is Maxi Hughes, a terrifyingly tricky southpaw from Rossington, Yorkshire.
Throughout his career, Hughes has fought the likes of Liam Walsh, Martin J. Ward, and William Zepeda. He owns wins over Gary Cully and Jono Carroll (both of whom are set to feature on this same card), as well as Kid Galahad, Archie Sharp, Ryan Walsh, and Jovanni Straffon.
In 2023, Hughes suffered an extremely unpopular decision loss to former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr., and he is coming off a debatable December defeat to the world-ranked Bakhodur Usmonov.
Hughes is a former IBO lightweight champion, and he will be looking to become a two-weight IBO champion when he fights O’Leary for the organisation’s vacant super-lightweight title.
Hughes (29-8-2, 6 KOs) is not an ideal style matchup for anybody, and Pierce O’Leary (18-0, 10 KOs) will very much have his work cut out for him when he faces the British technician in just under two weeks’ time.
🚨 Maxi Hughes added to a HUGE night in Dublin 🇮🇪
An injury to Mark Chamberlain sees former IBO World Lightweight Champion Maxi Hughes take on Pierce O’Leary for the IBO Super Lightweight World Title 🥊 💥 #DickensCacace | Mar 14 | 3 Arena, Dublin | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/sdhYLdCNRj
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) March 1, 2026
Want to get the latest boxing news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
