The term ‘homecoming’ is thrown around far too often these days. However, O'Leary, a junior welterweight contender, grew up in the shadow of the 3Arena but had never before boxed in his hometown as a professional.

A large, loud contingent came out to support the 26-year-old local hero and roared him on to the biggest win of his career on DAZN.

O’Leary (19-0, 11 KO’s) spent weeks preparing to fight the tall, heavy-handed Mark Chamberlain, but the Portsmouth man’s late withdrawal opened the door for the experienced, clever Hughes (29-9-2, 6 KOs).

Normally a lightweight, Hughes wisely circled away from O’Leary and looked for opportunities to counterpunch, but although O’Leary is known as “Big Bang”, he is also a thinking fighter. He cut the ring off well, stabbed to the body and managed to avoid getting caught up in the partisan atmosphere.

Everything the powerfully built O’Leary did had a purpose but although Hughes was under constant pressure, he seemed to have negotiated his way through the dangerous early stages without absorbing too much damage until a huge left hook shook him to his boots halfway through the fourth round.

Hughes somehow stayed upright but his right eye swelled badly, and his punches were having precious little effect on the bigger man. After five hard rounds, his trainer, Sean O’Hagan, wisely decided to pull his man out.

It was a career best performance from O’Leary who dealt with the late notice change of opponent perfectly and looks ready for the junior welterweight division’s biggest names.

Adam Olaniyan’s eagerly awaited professional debut lasted less than a minute. The 20-year-old heavyweight got rid of the Czech Republic’s Jan Bezouska (2-3, 2 KOs) in just 59 seconds.

Olaniyan (1-0, 1 KO) won the World Youth Championships in 2024 and is also a double European gold medalist, but he decided to turn over rather than chase Olympic glory.

The Dubliner has been training in Liverpool with Paul Stevenson and received a rapturous reception from his hometown fans as he returned home to make his debut.

Bezouska, who weighed in at 301 pounds, flew out of his corner but was put over by the first real right hand Olaniyan threw, and the 44-year-old was put down for the count by another right shortly after.

Olaniyan didn’t get to show much of his undoubted ability but will be pleased to have got his debut out of the way and can expect to be kept extremely busy.

Ryan ‘The Piranha’ Garner (19-0, 10 KOs) set up a potential summer showdown with the winner of tonight’s WBA junior lightweight title fight between Jazza Dickens and Anthony Cacace by stopping Mexico’s Cristian Bielma (19-13-2, 7 KOs) in the third round of their eight round junior lightweight fight.

Garner has long been touted as a future star but has really hit form over the past 12 months, scooping the British, Commonwealth and European titles.

Garner got clipped by a left hook in the second round but was much too sharp and imaginative for Bielma, who sank to the canvas time and time again. Garner scored with a number of accurate combinations and midway through the third, he pinned Bielma in a corner and unloaded to head and body until the referee stepped in to stop the action.

It is an open secret that the talented 28-year-old is being lined up to headline a massive open air show at the home of Southampton Football Club and after making short work of Bielma, he can take his seat and watch tonight's main event play out.

Jono Carroll and Colm Murphy opened the DAZN broadcast with a 12-round junior lightweight clash.

Carroll navigated the distance brilliantly and eked out a split decision victory in the all-Irish showdown. The scores were 116-112, 117-111 and 112-116.

Carroll (26-3-1, 7 KOs) is a bundle of energy and he seemed to surprise the taller Murphy (16-1, 6 KO’s) with his hand speed during the opening round, scoring with a number of looping southpaw right hooks.

Murphy quickly settled down and found his timing and range. Holding the center of the ring, he used his jab and a sharp right uppercut to keep Carroll at bay but the man known as ‘King Kong’ isn’t easy to tame and he upped his work rate in response. He scored with a big overhand left in the fourth but the effort seemed to be taking it’s toll on the 33-year-old.

Murphy continued to keep his tactics simple and his punches straight. Although the 26-year-old won the Commonwealth title at featherweight just six weeks ago, he looked strong at 130 pounds and absorbed Carrol’s punches without too much trouble.

Neither man was able to seize total control of the fight. Carroll rationed his short, sharp attacks whilst the upright Murphy poked out his jab and tried to get his right hand working.

With the fight in the balance, Carroll’s experience began to tell. His work took on an extra urgency and he made sure to keep his hands moving when the two were working inside. Murphy was willing to punch with Carroll but the older man’s work did seem to be the more eye catching.

The judges preferred Carroll’s aggression and gave him the nod.

Lightweight: Steven Cairns (13-0, 8 KOs) def. Arnie Dawson (8-1, 4 KOs) by a 10th-round TKO.

Middleweight: Eoghan Lavin (8-0, 4 KOs) def. Liam Walsh (9-1-2, 4 KOs) by eighth round stoppage

Heavyweight: Thomas Carty (11-1, 9 KOs) def. German Skobenko (6-19-2, 2 KOs) by six round decision (60-54).

Super lightweight: Gary Cully (19-2, 10 KOs) def. Benito Sanchez Garcia (17-18-4, 5 KOs) by six round decision (60-54).

Junior middleweight: Bobbi Flood (1-0, 1 KO) def. Bela Istvan Orban (6-20-2, 4 KOs) by first round stoppage.

Junior welterweight: Barry McReynolds (4-0, 2 KOs) def. Jonatas Gomes de Oliveira (6-39, 5 KOs) by four round decision (40-36).