Pierce O'Leary defends his IBO super-lightweight world title against Mark Chamberlain at the 3Arena

Pierce O'Leary warned Mark Chamberlain 'you better show up this time' as the pair came face-to-face in Dublin on Tuesday.

'Big Bang' defeated Maxi Hughes to win the IBO super-lightweight world title at the 3Arena back in March and defends the belt when he headlines the Dublin 1 venue against Chamberlain on August 1.

English southpaw Chamberlain (17-1-1) was meant to be O'Leary's opponent for that St Patrick's weekend bout, but withdrew due to a chest infection a number of weeks before it.

As the fighters faced off at a press conference at The Gibson Hotel on Tuesday, O'Leary, aiming to go 20-0, wanted his opponent's guarantee that he will definitely show up in eight weeks time.

"I'm a bit annoyed at Mark, because Mark was the one that left the show in jeopardy. Fair play to Maxi for stepping in to save the show, but he nearly let the whole crowd down," said the Dubliner.

Chamberlain hit back by saying: "I will be turning up. Health comes before anything else, so should it in anyone else's camp. Obviously, we had to make a decision, and it wasn't an easy one, but we move on.

"It was frustrating, and it was gutting because every fighter knows what time and money goes into a camp, and to have to pull out three weeks from the fight is gutting. But, obviously, like I say, health comes before anything.

"There's no issues with me turning up, because why would I accept to take the fight for X amount of money and an opportunity to be sat here now, to be scared to fight you? Come on."

O'Leary warned the Portsmouth native that he missed the only chance he had of beating him by pulling out of the March event, which saw a sold-out crowd of 9,000 pack into the 3Arena.

"I think the only chance you had of coming close to beating me, Mark, was the first one and you missed your chance, all the pressure was on me," added O'Leary.

"I've been there, I've done it. It's time to go and do it again. I know the feeling, I know what it's like and I want more of it."

After Chamberlain told the 26-year-old that the pressure only gets worse, O'Leary hit back with: "If the pressure gets worse, I become better, so I don't mind. Put the extra pressure on me then."

The full card has yet to be confirmed for August's show, but the Irish trio of Steven Cairns, Adam Olaniyan and Bobbi Flood were at Tuesday's press conference and will all be in action on the night.