Over two years ago, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia birthed one of boxing’s most fierce rivalries, but both now reign as world champions in the welterweight division.

In April 2024, Garcia had been poised to challenge for Haney’s WBC super-lightweight world title, but ‘King Ry’ lost that opportunity when he weighed in three pounds over the 140lb limit.

The bout went ahead and in a shocking turn of events, the presumedly ill-prepared Garcia was dominant, flooring the champion on three occasions on route to a majority-decision victory.

Yet, the drama was not done there, as Garcia later tested positive for Ostarinewith Haney appealing the result of the fight and having it overturned to a no-contest.

Haney has since gone on to capture the WBO welterweight crown, whilst Garcia claimed the WBC world title earlier this year. Speaking on the Ring Champs YouTube channelformer welterweight undisputed champion, Terence Crawford, predicted that Haney would get the better of Garcia, if a unification rematch were to take place.

“Ryan Garcia [is] cool but he ain’t smart enough [to beat elite fighters]. It’s just that he and Devin fought each other so many times [in the amateurs]they just know each other.

“I think that all of the antics before the fight distracted Devin and caught him off guard, he took Ryan lightly.

“I do [think it would be different if they fought again] because, if you watch the fight, he was just getting hit with the same punch over and over and over.”

Garcia is set to defend his world title for the first time when he is tasked with Conor Benn on Saturday, September 12whilst Haney is still waiting to confirm an opponent for his first outing of 2026.

Shakur Stevenson has been offered the chance to reclaim his old title in a rematch with one of the sport’s most relentless pressure fighters.

The 29-year-old is coming off arguably a career-best performance against Teofimo Lopezwho he dethroned with a wide points victory in January.

As a result, the skilful southpaw became a four-weight world champion by claiming the WBO 140lb title, but has expressed an openness to drop back down to 135lbs.

Either way, Stevenson is expecting to return to action later this year after inking a promotional deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

The only issue, it seems, is that many of his most desirable opponents – including Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis and Gary Antuanne Russell – are either aligned to a different promoter or broadcaster, inactive or set to secure a different opportunity altogether.

There could, however, be a chance for Stevenson to reclaim his WBC lightweight title after being stripped of the belt following his victory over Lopez.

This would arrive in the form of a rematch with William Zepeda, who claimed the vacant strap with a unanimous decision victory over Lamont Roach last weekend.

Stevenson has claimed that Zepeda was his toughest fight to date and the best chance of somebody coming close to beating him.

“It ain’t going to happen [somebody having a close fight against me]. The most y’all ever going to get is Zepeda – that was y’all’s best hope and chance at getting resistance.

“His style, styles make fights. The style that would give me the most resistance would be the guy who throws a million punches a round, and doesn’t stop punching.”

Speaking with Fight Hub TVthe Mexican insisted that he would be happy to enter a second encounter with Stevenson at either lightweight or super-lightweight.

“Yes, I would very much like [a rematch with Stevenson at] 135 or 140[lbs].”

While Zepeda did show genuine signs of improvement against Roach, his convincing unanimous decision defeat to Stevenson, in July 2025, has meant that there is little appetite for a rematch.

LIVE COVERAGE

World Boxing News provides live results and updates from Dublin as Pierce O’Leary faces Mark Chamberlain at super lightweight.

Queensberry Promotions returns to the 3Arena with an action-packed card headed by the unbeaten Irish star O’Leary, who meets former British champion Chamberlain in the main event.

The undercard also features Gary Cully, Reece Bellotti, Sean McComb, Steven Cairns, Ben Fail and several unbeaten Irish prospects.

Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain Results

Times are Local – IST

17:46

Gary Cully stopped Lee Reeves in the tenth round to improve to 20-2.

Cully overcame a fifth-round point deduction for repeatedly losing his gumshield before dropping Reeves twice in the final round to force the stoppage.

The victory marked Cully’s 11th knockout win as a professional.

17:01

Sean McComb returned with a comfortable six-round points victory over Miguel Antin.

McComb won every round on the referee’s scorecard, claiming a 60-54 decision to improve his record to 22-2.

16:31

Machlan Arthur improved to 2-0 with his second straight knockout by stopping Ryan Frost in the fourth round.

Arthur dropped Frost twice in the final session before the referee waved the contest off at 1:05 of round four.

Remaining Bouts

• Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – IBO World Super Lightweight Title (12)

• Royston Barney-Smith vs Reece Bellotti – Vacant IBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title (10)

• Gary Cully vs Lee Reeves – Super Lightweight (10)

• Steven Cairns vs Senan Kelly – Super Lightweight (10)

• Ben Fail vs Craig O’Brien – Super Welterweight (10)

• Bobbi Flood vs Tariq Davis – Super Welterweight (6)

• Adam Olaniyan vs Jonathan Claudio Sauco – Heavyweight (4)

• John Joe Carrigan vs Sean Murray – Super Welterweight (4)

• Sami Hamed vs Bela Istvan Orban – Super Welterweight (4)

Preview

Pierce O’Leary tops a major night of boxing in Dublin as the unbeaten Irishman takes on Mark Chamberlain for the IBO World super lightweight title.

O’Leary enters the contest looking to continue his rise through the rankings against the experienced Chamberlain, who aims to return to winning ways after a draw in his third outing since suffering the lone defeat of his professional career.

The chief support sees Royston Barney-Smith meet Reece Bellotti for the vacant IBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title.

Gary Cully also returns in an intriguing domestic clash with fellow unbeaten Irishman Lee Reeves, while Steven Cairns faces Senan Kelly in another all-Irish encounter.

Sean McComb, Ben Fail, Bobbi Flood, Adam Olaniyan, Machlan Arthur, John Joe Carrigan and Sami Hamed also feature on the Queensberry Promotions card.

Updates will be added below as the action unfolds in Dublin, with more live coverage on World Boxing News.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

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