Mark Chamberlain and Pierce O’Leary were supposed to collide in March, only for their super-lightweight clash to be cancelled and eventually rescheduled for August 1.
At the time, there was a lack of clarity over the reason for Chamberlain’s withdrawal, which afforded O’Leary just a few weeks’ notice to dispatch Maxi Hughes in five rounds.
Having taken the time to speak with Boxing News, though, Chamberlain can now confirm the extent of his illness earlier this year.
“To clear things up: I had a really bad chest infection. I had an ambulance sent out to my house. They put me on an ECG [electrocardiogram] and said that if I didn’t let my body rest, I’d end up with pneumonia.
“I was on antibiotics for five days and that didn’t help, so I took myself to hospital because my ears started going funny – I had a pressure buildup from all the coughing and sneezing.
“My balance also went funny; I kept feeling dizzy. And all that went on for about five or six weeks. I’m a pretty fit guy, so God knows what that would’ve done to someone less fit.”
The very nature of boxing means that fighters, though immensely robust individuals, will always struggle to maintain a clean bill of health.
For those that cut ludicrous amounts of weight, and essentially put their bodies through hell, it is hardly surprising when a debilitating illness comes knocking.
Remarkably, though, Chamberlain’s recovery process after his all-action ding-dong with Jack Rafferty, in August 2025, was nowhere near as gruelling as those five weeks with a chest infection.
“I went on holiday three or four days [after the Rafferty fight] and felt fine. You train hard, and spar hard, so that your body’s prepared for [a hard fight]. I was good to go the next weekend for another 12 rounds.”
While always seen as a capable combatant, Chamberlain surprised many with his performance against Rafferty.
Not only did he show tremendous spirit and durability, but the Portsmouth southpaw also implemented an effective strategy, counterpunching on the backfoot while often trading in the pocket.
This did not quite see him emerge victorious but, even so, Chamberlain can take ample confidence from his 12-round draw with Rafferty.
Now approaching a similar matchup, the 27-year-old believes he has the tools to spoil O’Leary’s Irish party.
“It feels the same [as the Rafferty fight]. I’m going to the champion’s backyard, again. And I’ll just do me, again.
“[Rafferty] was blasting everyone out, and probably felt he’d do the same to me. I feel like Pierce is thinking the same thing. The way he’s been acting and is coming across, I feel like he’s got a bee in his bonnet. But I’m not a walk-in-the-park fighter for anyone.
“I believe, this time around, I’m an even better fighter.”
Having fully recovered from that nightmare chest infection in March, Chamberlain believes he has come back stronger, ready to stun O’Leary’s army of supporters at Dublin’s 3Arena.
