'Icing on the cake' - Katie Taylor's farewell fight at Croke Park to be confirmed this week
An official announcement is expected on Friday
Katie Taylor’s long-held dream of fighting at Croke Park is expected to become a reality this week, with reports indicating that a deal is close to being finalised for the biggest event in Irish boxing history.
The Bray boxer has made no secret of her desire to end her glittering career on home soil, and Croke Park has always been her preferred venue.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport in April, Taylor, who turns 40 in July, said,
“It would be the icing on the cake to end my career n 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.
“The thoughts of seeing all the tricolours, 80,000 people in Croke Park for my farewell fight,” she added, “Can it get any better than that? That would be very, very special.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn has been engaged in lengthy discussions with Croke Park officials in recent months, with both sides expressing optimism that an agreement could be reached.
Reports suggest that September 5 has been provisionally earmarked for the highly-anticipated event, with an official announcement expected on Friday.
Questions remain over who will stand across the ring from Taylor on the night with recent reports suggesting it could be undefeated French boxer Flora Pili as the frontrunner, though no opponent has been officially confirmed.