Eddie Hearn plans to fly to Ireland to hold talks with Conor McGregor over Katie Taylor's Irish homecoming fight.
Taylor announced she will face a rematch with female rival Amanda Serrano for her undisputed titles in Dublin in May, but it is not expected take place at Croke Park. Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn suggested the venue was too expensive to be justified for the event, but UFC superstar McGregor had another idea and made a public offer to stage the event.
He tweeted: "The extra security bill is 500k to have Katie Taylor fight at Croke Park? I will sponsor the event to see this happen." Responding to Hearn's planned talks, he then added: "What’s the craic lad? Give me the current landscape. I’m in. Is this doable still? I’m in either way. She better be getting her worth for this also."
Hearn has since revealed further meetings will be required to arrange the deal, which could see McGregor's whiskey brand Proper Twelve involved. "Conor is obviously a passionate Irish man who loves Katie Taylor, and wants to see her accomplish her dream, which is one to fight in Ireland and two, to potentially do it in Croke Park," Hearn told Matchroom Boxing when assessing the chances of McGregor being involved with Taylor's rematch .
"So we talked. He wanted the background, why the costs were so high, what could we do, was there an opportunity with Proper Twelve as well. I think Conor's main priority is to see history made in Ireland. So we went backwards and forwards, we'll speak again this week. I may well fly to Ireland this week as well for a few meetings.
"Whatever happens, Katie Taylor's next fight will be in Ireland. It's very helpful to have a chat with the champ champ, to see what he could do to help. I said I could pop to Ireland this week to sit down and meet him, and talk about any way that it could happen. The priority is to make sure that Katie fights in Ireland next, and probably the one after. Maybe we end her career from here, in Ireland."
Would you like to see Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano at Croke Park? Let us know in the comments section below
Taylor and Serrano were brought back together in New York at the weekend following the Puerto Rican's win over Erika Cruz to announce their second meeting. Serrano's promoter Jake Paul stated last time out that the pair were handed seven-figure paydays for the match-up in the Big Apple.
McGregor could also have an ulterior motive if he is to become involved with Serrano represented by Paul on the opposite side of proceedings. Hearn even suggested that both men being at the event could spark a confrontation between the pair who have been heavily linked with a boxing clash.
