Hearn takes huge swipe at Croke Park for reluctance to host Katie Taylor fight

Katie Taylor is yet to announce her retirement from boxing

After beating Amanda Serrano for the third time at Madison Square Garden last month, the 39-year-old is yet to announce her retirement and even suggested a third fight against Chantelle Cameron at Croke Park.

But with Croke Park’s costs seemingly impossible for Matchroom to contend with, Hearn has questioned whether organisers are even interested in the sport.

“When you look at Croke Park, I just don’t think the people there are massive fans of boxing. I think they’re fans of Katie Taylor, but I just don’t they really like boxing. But Katie Taylor is beyond boxing.

“I mean, she’s sport - but she’s also history and heritage, and probably one of the greatest ever athletes from that country.

“Now you see the sports minister [Charlie McConalogue] saying after she beat Serrano: ‘Yeah, we should look at bringing Katie Taylor to Croke Park.’

“We don’t want handouts. We just want parity between Croke Park and Wembley in terms of the cost being the same.

“But I don’t know if she’ll fight again. It’s probably 50-50, and it’s the first time I’ve ever heard her say: ‘if I fight again.’

“But I think if we could go to Croke Park, that would certainly maybe twist her arm.”

The 42 reported on Wednesday that the cost of a fight night at Croker is around €1.1m, roughly twice as much as Wembley or the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Earlier in July it looked like a new possibility had emerged for Taylor, in the form of US fighter Mikaela Mayer.

The WBO welterweight champion had offered to go down to Taylor’s weight of light-welterweight, but also suggested a fight at 147lb, which, if Taylor was victorious, would make the Bray woman a three-weight world champion.

Mayer said on X: “I’m willing to come down to 140 for @KatieTaylor or she can take her shot at another division and fight me for my 147 lb title.

"Either way, I always hoped we would cross paths and this may be our last chance if Katie is looking to retire soon. Still think she’s got a lot left tho!”