Boxing fans have been left hugely disappointed by the news that Katie Taylor will not fight at Croke Park in her next bout.
It had been expected that the undisputed lightweight champion would defend her belts against Amanda Serrano at GAA Headquarters in May, but that is now off the cards due to the cost of renting the Jones Road venue, according to Taylor's promoter Eddie Hearn.
The Matchroom boss says time is running out to get a deal done for the Bray Bomber's next outing, with Taylor now set to fight in the 3Arena on May 20, but Hearn insists they will revisit the possibility of a Croke Park bout later in the year.
Hearn explained: "The cost of hire and everything involved in the event is three times hire nearly than staging it in Wembley Stadium.
"Ultimately Katie Taylor has financial demands for this fight and so does Amanda Serrano and we want to make sure we deliver on that. We're so far out on that possibility on the cost of running that show and we're out of time on delivering that date to the broadcaster.
"Now we'll be in a big arena in Dublin and then hopefully in September we revisit Croke Park."
The news has come as a huge blow to thousands of people who were hoping to pile into Croke Park to see the 2012 Olympic gold medallist.
Sinn Fein TD for Meath East Darren O'Rourke tweeted: "Government should move heaven and earth to deliver Croke Park for Katie Taylor.
"80,000 cheering fans - celebrating her achievements and everything she has done for sport, for Irish sport and for Ireland - is the least Katie deserves."
One fan wrote: "A disgrace Katie Taylor won't be fighting in Croke Park. The 3 Arena is no venue for her ffs."
Another said: "Can’t believe the Katie Taylor fight isn’t in Croke park @EddieHearn what a shame."
One other comment read: "Sorry to hear that the GAA's Croke Park has proved too expensive to rent for the Katie Taylor homecoming fight and that it will, therefore, not take place."
Someone else posted: "3Arena isn’t big enough for Katie Taylor. Has to be Aviva or Croke Park."
Serrano faces Erika Cruz for the opportunity to become the undisputed world featherweight champion this weekend at Madison Square Garden and victory for the Puerto Rican is expected to secure her a rematch with Taylor at the 3Arena.
Hearn added that Taylor will be in attendance at the New York venue on Saturday night.
He stated: "I promised Katie Taylor she'd be in Ireland for the next fight and it would be the most sensational atmosphere wherever she is.
"Sooner or later you have to make a decision and make a move and the move is we have to go May 20th and unless we go now it's going to be another moment that we miss a fight for Katie in Ireland and I'm not prepared to do it anymore.
"We keep working towards Croke Park, maybe Taylor-Serrano III in September but for now her next fight is in Ireland. She'll be at the show on Saturday and if Serrano is to win it looks almost certain we'll get that rematch in Ireland."
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