Boxer Katie Taylor’s homecoming fight next year will be one of the greatest sporting events Ireland has ever seen, her promoter said yesterday.
Eddie Hearn and her manager Brian Peters vowed to get a deal done for a rematch between the undisputed lightweight champion and Amanda Serrano after their epic Madison Square Garden bout this year. Olympic champion Katie returned to action on Saturday to beat Argentina’s Karen Elizabeth Carabajal in London to retain her Ring/WBC/WBO/IBF/WBA belts for the seventh time.
After the bout, Hearn promised Taylor’s next fight will come at Croke Park in 2023 and believes the event will be a boxing event without parallel for his Matchroom promotion company. He said: “It would have to be the biggest thing we have ever done in boxing.
Read more: Katie Taylor and Eddie Hearn hint at Croke Park fight after victory in London
“I think I messaged Brian Peters this week and I think we said it would be the biggest night – and selfishly you look for those nights. And Madison Square Garden, Anthony Joshua vs Bryan Ruiz was one thing but Taylor vs Serrano was bigger really because how good the fight was.
“Because the promotion was so good for that fight and the interest and way everyone came together but it’s still got to be delivered and the way it was delivered was unbelievable.
“We have done some great things to date and I don’t want to sound cheesy. But to see Katie get that moment as well [in Croke Park] – and it’s not just a night for her it is a night to remember for Irish sport.
“You are talking about a night that honestly would be up there I guess in the top three of greatest for Irish sport. It is something you have never seen and you will never see again.”
GAA headquarters has long been a dream for Taylor but Hearn admitted he had doubts she would ever headline Madison Square Garden, boxing’s spiritual home in New York. He explained: “We always talked about Croke Park.
“It was just one of those things as a promoter you say ‘Yeah, Croke Park one day’ just like we actually said ‘the Garden’ one day. I used to say when Katie started that one day she will fill Madison Square Garden and think actually no chance.
“And then obviously she does and then three or four years ago we were saying ‘Croke Park one day’ and were thinking, ‘80,000, no chance’.
“And we have got a fight or fights that do it and you have got to make the most of it.” Taylor, widely considered among the finest fighters of her generation, paid tribute to the Irish fans at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.
She said her proposed Croke Park homecoming is as much for her supporters as it is for her.
She added: “The atmosphere tonight was fantastic and the ring walk again was just brilliant. To see all the Irish flags around. I pinch myself thinking of the support I am getting over the last few years. Just an amazing event.
Read more: Katie Taylor hopes to reward Irish fans with massive Croke Park homecoming in 2023
“I was even backstage just about to make my ring walk and I could hear the chants of, ‘Ole, Ole, Ole,’ around the stadium.
“I didn’t know what to expect tonight to be quite honest. I wasn’t sure how packed the stadium was going to be but just stepping out and seeing the amount of people there [was amazing].
“The support was just fantastic and really I’m just so humbled by all the terrific support I’ve been getting over the last few years.
“It’s one of the main reasons why I’d love to give them a big show in Croke Park.
“I think this is as much for them as it is for me for all the support they’ve given me over the last few years.” Meanwhile, Hearn does not believe his €100million lawsuit against Amanda Serrano’s promoter Jake Paul will be a stumbling block in making a rematch with Taylor.
The Matchroom boss is suing the YouTuber turned boxer turned promoter over comments it is claimed Paul made about Hearn over the Taylor vs Serrano fight and also the bout between Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.
When asked about the lawsuit, Hearn joked fans could also be in for a bonus if the case goes his way.
He said: “If I win 100 million, tickets are free. I honestly don’t [think the lawsuit will impact negotiations]. We will sort that out.
Read more: Katie Taylor’s personal life from father fallout to relationship questions
“We can’t, as businessmen, just go out and have a fight. We actually could with Jake Paul but I’d probably get knocked out so that is no good. You have to protect yourself like you would in a fight.
“We have built a very impressive business over the years and one that means a lot to our family.
“That is how we defend ourselves. Like I said, we can’t have a fight in the ring.
“So, we take that very seriously and that will be dealt with but that is totally separate to the Serrano fight.
“Serrano knows that over a period of time it is nice to talk about becoming undisputed at 126lbs. But Katie and Serrano have many fights to come but at the same time they are in the backend of their career.
“This is where you have to make it count. They have worked so hard for so many years to get to this position. Let’s not lose the opportunity while we are here. I think they will be sensible and I don’t think it will have any effect.”
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