Katie Taylor’s long-awaited farewell fight appears set to take place at Croke Park, with official confirmation expected at a press event scheduled for Friday at the Dublin stadium.
Taylor’s promoter and management team met with Croke Park officials in April as negotiations continued over staging the final bout of the undisputed champion’s professional career at Ireland’s largest sporting venue. Promoter Eddie Hearn said last week that Saturday, 5 September, was the proposed date for the event, subject to successful completion of talks.
The Croke Park fight has been a longstanding ambition for Taylor, who earlier this year stated that she would only fight in Dublin again if it was for the final contest of her career. “It would be the icing on the cake to end my career in Croke Park. I fought in Madison Square Garden. I fought in the Excel Arena in London. I fought all around the world. This might even top it to be honest if I ended my career here. So here’s hoping,” said Taylor in April, according to RTÉ Sport.
Taylor has also also spoke last year of her desire to fight at the venue. “It’s definitely still a dream to fight at Croke Park,” said Taylor, according to the Irish Independent. “I think to have a chance to fight here in Ireland is always absolutely incredible, but to have a chance to fight in our most iconic arena at Croke Park would be the icing on the cake, I think. That would be the pinnacle of my career to have a chance to actually fight in Croke Park… I’m still hanging on to that hope, but we’ll see what happens.”
An opponent has not yet been confirmed for the bout. “There is no opponent confirmed to be honest but I’m willing to fight anyone whether it’s Holly Holm, Chantelle Cameron or anyone else. I think my whole career has stated I’ve never backed down from any challenge or any fight. That is why I’ve been involved in so many exciting fights in my career. I still have the heart for those big battles. Now one last time, we’ll see what happens,” said Taylor, also to RTÉ Sport.
Matchroom Boxing, chaired by Hearn, has arranged a media event at the Jones’s Road venue on Friday, where the fight is expected to be formally announced. Further details, including Taylor’s opponent and undercard arrangements, are anticipated in the coming weeks.
Taylor, a two-weight world champion and one of the most influential figures in women’s boxing, has repeatedly highlighted the significance of ending her career at Croke Park. “The thoughts of seeing all the tricolours, 80,000 people in Croke Park for my farewell fight, can it get any better than that? That would be very, very special,” said Taylor.
