On March 14, the Irishman’s fight with Mark Chamberlain will act as the chief support to the WBA junior lightweight title fight between Jazza Dickens and Anthony Cacace at the city’s 3Arena.

The junior welterweight grew up less than two minutes from the arena but the man known as "Big Bang" has never had the chance to fight in front of his hometown fans as a professional.

Beating the dangerous Chamberlain would be the most significant win O’Leary’s career and do wonders for his ranking but galvanising the city’s passionate boxing fans would give him the type of drawing power that could turn him into a major player in the division.

“I think so. If you look at the crowd we’re drawing so far, it’s absolutely astonishing,” O’Leary (18-0, 10 KOs) told The Ring.

“I am the Ricky Hatton of Dublin and that's just the way it is. They’ve asked me, they’ve delivered and we’ve proved it.

“Queensberry are going to come back to Dublin - they said it already - so my main focus is getting the win on March 14th and bringing them back because I am the gate through for Queensbury to get into Dublin. I am the ticker seller. They all get behind me, they all support me and I'm just a friendly young lad who just wants to succeed like everyone else.

“Once I'm in that ring and I'm in the flow, forget about "Big Bang." Forget about the power. My boxing IQ is on another level and I think that's going to be one of the main key points on fight night.”

Chamberlain (17-1-1, 12 KOs) poses a genuine threat.

The southpaw was a knockout artist at lightweight and battled to an exciting, hard fought draw with undefeated British and Commonwealth champion, Jack Rafferty, in his only real test at 140 pounds.

If fighting the relentless Rafferty is a test of endurance, facing O’Leary is boxing’s equivalent of Squid Games. The 25-year-old has instant power and one tiny error can have dramatic consequences.

"Who has he fought at 140? Just Rafferty. Look, he got through it. It was a great fight, a great barnburster for both of them, but I'm no Rafferty, that’s the difference,” O’Leary said.

“I'm looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great style. Obviously the southpaw style is awkward but we'll adapt quick. It’s nothing I haven't seen.”