Katie Taylor’s dream of a Croke Park homecoming rematch against Amanda Serrano is over for now after talks broke down.
The Bray boxing hero’s promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed the challenger’s camp have no interest in a headline event at GAA HQ this year.
The Matchroom boss said: “They don’t want that fight unfortunately.
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“They don’t want to go to Ireland, they don’t really want a rematch this year.
“It was kind of like regardless of the offer, ‘We don’t want to do the rematch’.”
The pair’s titanic tussle in New York on April 30 saw Taylor beat Serrano on points in the toughest battle of her pro career.
It was the first ever headline bout by two women at Madison Square Garden and was billed as the biggest fight in women’s boxing history.
Afterwards, 2012 Olympic champ Taylor insisted she wanted a rematch in Croker in the autumn.
But Serrano has now opted to fight in August, most likely on the undercard of her promoter Jake Paul’s fight against Tommy Fury, which is expected to be confirmed.
Hearn explained he thinks Serrano wants to go away and “build some confidence” by getting a win before she may come back to face Taylor.
Speaking to the Pro Boxing Fans website, he added: “Maybe we can look at it next year.
“It’s very disappointing, because I love that fight. I think it’s a great fight and such a close fight. It doesn’t look like it’s a fight that unfortunately Amanda Serrano wants.” It is understood that Taylor’s camp is re-examining their options and may decide to wait until next year in the hope that Serrano would agree to a Croke Park fight.
Another defeat for the Puerto Rican would put a major dent into her career at the top level.
Although other options are available, they are seen as less viable.
One is that Taylor could face MMA fighter and former world boxing champ Holly Holm.
But she does not have the same profile as Serrano and this has raised red flags as to whether or not that bout would come close to selling out the 80,000 capacity venue.
Taylor’s camp may also look at holding a show at an indoor venue in the capital but it would not compare to a fight night in Croke Park.
And therefore it is looking increasingly likely that Hearn will bide his time and try to make a deal with Serrano’s team for the fight to take place next year.
Taylor has never fought professionally on Irish soil and as she turns 36 next month, time is running out for her to do so. A major event like one at Croke Park would represent a major watershed moment too.
No major professional boxing event has taken place in Dublin since David Byrne was shot dead at a weigh-in at the Regency Hotel in 2016. Daniel Kinahan was the intended target.
But the US sanctions imposed on the mob boss in April have the Dubliner dumped from the game, where he was attempting to sportswash his image.
And gardai had given such an event with Taylor the go-ahead as security concerns have reduced dramatically.
There has also been contact at Government level with Taylor’s team to try to get a Croke Park fight organised.
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