Katie Taylor will retire without Croke Park finale, says Eddie Hearn
Irish boxing superstar Katie Taylor could announce her retirement from the sport if she fails to secure a career finale at Croke Park late this summer.
The Olympic gold medallist has already achieved legendary status by becoming an undisputed world champion in two separate weight divisions.
The acclaimed fighter spectacularly avenged her sole professional defeat against Chantelle Cameron and recently completed a historic trilogy with Amanda Serrano.
However, competing in front of a capacity crowd at Ireland’s 80,000-seat national stadium remains the one elusive goal for the undisputed champion.
‘Croke Park or bust’ for final bout
Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn admits that failing to deliver the Dublin venue would likely mark the immediate end of her professional journey.
“Croke Park or bust. [If] it’s not happening, I think she’d go: ‘I’m done,'” Hearn stated.
“I think the deflation of not getting Croke Park will lend itself to saying I surrender.”
Despite the stark warning, the promoter remains highly optimistic that an agreement for a late August or early September bout is nearing completion.
He revealed that huge progress is being made to stage a spectacular event that transcends the sport itself.
A celebration of Irish heritage
Hearn envisions the proposed stadium show as a monumental national event rather than just a standard boxing card.
“This is above and beyond boxing, this is folklore in this country,” Eddie Hearn explained.
The massive spectacle would heavily feature Irish music, heritage, and culture, supported by a strong undercard of competitive fights.
An opponent for the prospective swansong has not yet been finalised, with financial demands and weight class considerations playing a pivotal role in negotiations.
Initial discussions have taken place with Most Valuable Promotions regarding lightweight world champion Stephanie Han and highly-rated contender Caroline Dubois.
The Irish icon also holds four mandatory challenger obligations across different governing bodies, providing ample options for a legitimate final test in the ring.
“We want a good fight. It’s got to be a real fight,” Hearn concluded.