Katie Taylor’s long-awaited rematch with Amanda Serrano could take place early next summer at Croke Park, according to stadium director Peter McKenna.
The Bray fighter has been adamant that she wants her second blockbuster showdown with Serrano to take place at the GAA’s Dublin HQ. Taylor secured a split-decision victory during their first bout at New York’s Madison Square Garden in April.
The Croke Park clash would be the first time the Olympic gold medalist has fought in Ireland during her entire professional boxing career. Earlier this month, Serrano’s promoter and YouTube star Jake Paul confirmed Amanda would be willing to take on Taylor in Ireland.
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Previously, there had been suggestions the bout could take place in September or October of 2023 but during the summer now seems more likely. Croke Park stadium director Peter confirmed that early summer time slots had been made available at GAA headquarters for the potential fight and discussions with Taylor’s manager and promoter are at an advanced stage.
Speaking on RTE Radio’s All Roads to Croker, Mr McKenna said: “We’re looking at dates earlier in the year. “We’re quite a way along the road in the talking with Brian Peters [Taylor’s manager] and Matchroom [her promoter]. It could be early summer – that’s the time.
“What we do is we say that we have these dates available, and this is how it would work from our perspective.
“That job has been done. And now we need to make sure Matchroom, and Brian Peters can make all the other things come together.”
Taylor and Serrano’s first bout earlier this year was the first women’s boxing match to headline at Madison Square Garden. It was described as the “biggest women’s fight of all time”.
Katie, 36, who remains undefeated with a record of 22-0, has since taken on Karen Carabajal at the SSE Arena in London in October and won by unanimous decision. Last November, Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn told how his company Matchroom required a helping hand from both Croke Park and the Government here in order to make the Croker bout with Serrano a reality.
And Mr McKenna said he believed the Government was still supportive of the long-awaited event. Peter said: “The Minister for Sport has been supportive but he’s not, nor should he, write a blank cheque.
“He’ll want to see value in this. Any messaging I would have said to Matchroom, or Brian Peters, would be to put a compelling case together and I think you are pushing an open door.”
Mr McKenna also said he hoped the stadium could stage a NFL game at some point but doesn’t think it will happen next year.
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