Katie Taylor's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has asserted that everyone in Ireland, from politicians to the public, should exert maximum pressure on the GAA about Katie Taylor's potential Croke Park fight.
Last Saturday, Taylor secured victory over Chantelle Cameron in their much-anticipated rematch at the 3Arena in Dublin. With Taylor winning by a majority decision, the focus has now shifted to a trilogy fight at Croke Park next year.
Prior to Taylor's first bout against Cameron in May, where she suffered a loss, Hearn had engaged in discussions with the GAA about hosting the event. However, talks collapsed over security costs, leading to the fight taking place at Dublin's 3Arena.
Hearn asserted that the GAA was considering hosting costs approximately "three times the price of England's national Wembley Stadium." This claim was rebutted by GAA chiefs in a back-and-forth exchange.
Now, Hearn is urging members of Ireland's government and the public to rally behind Taylor's dream of fighting in the 80,000-seater stadium. The promoter believes that such an event would be a significant success story for Ireland.
"I feel like everyone has to put the pressure on, from the country to politicians to the sport," said Hearn after the fight.
"We could make a financial case on tourism and why an event like this would be a huge success for this country.
“Croke Park has to happen” @KatieTaylor @EddieHearn @CrokePark 👏👊☘️🇮🇪🌍 pic.twitter.com/wmEvGG0Slv
— Fighter.ie (@fighter_ie) November 25, 2023
"But if they can’t understand the compassionate side of giving this event and night to their greatest ever athlete, then I really don’t know what we are doing.
"We're not even asking for favours. All we are asking for is for the cost to be in line with the biggest stadiums in the world where we hold boxing."
Hearn also believes that the crowd at the 3Arena, seeing Taylor's victory over Cameron in their rematch, was just a glimpse of what could be achieved. He is confident that Taylor's boxing profile would draw significant numbers next year. Hearn also referenced Taylor's earlier fight in New York, where she beat Amanda Serrano.
"We don’t want a free stadium—if they want to give us one that would be marvellous—all we are saying is if we could just make it there or thereabouts at Wembley, or Millennium Stadium or Dallas Cowboys (in terms of cost)," he added.
"Should we just all try and work together—what a moment that would be. You saw that tonight, and that’s only 9,000.
"This is Katie’s third successive seven-figure gate—Madison Square Garden and now twice at the 3Arena.
"You can count on one hand the draws in boxing the size of Katie Taylor. There’s Canelo, it’s AJ, it’s Fury and it’s Katie Taylor, and that is it really, globally.
"So, to reach those heights of what they deserve, we need to be in Ireland."
