Croke Park might be off for the Taylor-Serrano rematch but Eddie Hearn continues to talk up the venue hosting a Taylor fight this year. He's revealed the fighter he wants to see in the ring against Ireland's greatest ever boxer that night.
The Wicklow native had been tipped to headline a massive repeat of her fight with Serrano in GAA HQ to mark her first fight back in Ireland since she turned professional. However, the plans were abandoned and the proposed venue was changed to the 3 Arena when organiser Eddie Hearn's Matchroom boxing found themselves at an impasse with the GAA over the cost of security for Croke Park. Eddie Hearn claimed the cost of renting was too high and unreasonable in comparison to other stadiums, while Croke Park disputed this claim and stuck to their original stance.
What's Next?
Speaking to RTE this week Hearn revealed that the 3 Arena was the only realistic venue for Taylor's May 20th showdown with Serrano. However, he did float Croke Park as a potential venue for a September fight. Talking about Katie's next fight, Hearn revealed yesterday he's in talks with Chantelle Cameron to fix an undisputed v undisputed, Ireland v England fight for September. On that topic, the boxing promoter said that Taylor wanted Cameron and that he wanted to bring her to Croke Park.
We want to bring Katie Taylor to Croke Park
Hopefully, we can finish her career, however many fights that may be, in Ireland
Cameron is the undisputed light-welterweight champion and has called Taylor out on a number of occasions before and Hearn made it clear it's the fight Katie wants too. The bout would see two of boxing's best create a de facto England v Ireland fight in Croke Park in September. Both fighters are undefeated in their professional careers, Cameron has fought seventeen times and won eight of those by knockout, while Taylor has fought twenty-two times with six of those coming by way of knockout. Cameron, who Hearn revealed he's in discussions with, has already been calling out Taylor, tweeting that she'd be available for a Taylor fight in March before revealing to the BBC that she's got her eyes set on Taylor.
March 17th Croke Park Katie Taylor Undisputed v Undisputed If the Serrano rematch doesn't happen. I’ll be free.
There are three names I want. Katie Taylor a rematch with Jessica McCaskill. I think I deserve those.
Before I wasn't a world champion... this and that, whereas now I'm a world champion, I was unified world champion, now I'm undisputed. I think I've proved myself that I'm worthy of fighting Katie Taylor.
Will it happen?
While Katie Taylor fighting in Croke Park has been proposed as an idea, an awful lot still stands in the way of any potential fight there. The GAA and Matchroom Boxing would have to overcome the significant financial issues that stand in the way. However, if all this happened, Taylor may get the opportunity to create one of the most iconic moments in Irish sport and in women's boxing.
