LONDON, England — Eddie Hearn says that
Katie Taylor might have had her last fight, unless he can deliver an unprecedented farewell night at Croke Park, Dublin.
Taylor, 39, is considered one of the greatest fighters of all time having won five world amateur titles and an Olympic gold medal before becoming undisputed at two different weights as a professional.
Most recently, she produced one of the best performances of her career to
beat Amanda Serrano at a sold-out Madison Square Garden on July 11 in another huge night for women’s boxing. The victory took her record to 3-0 against the Puerto Rican multi-weight champion.
Taylor's resume reads like a who’s who of her era and Hearn, who has been her promoter for the entirety of her career, says there are few viable challengers left. In fact, the Matchroom boss says there is every chance that the Bray icon might never box again. However, there is one box still left unchecked.
Fighting outdoors at Croke Park, Ireland’s largest stadium, has been floated but it has never quite materialised. Taylor did box twice in Dublin, both at 3Arena, but she is yet to head outdoors.
Now Hearn says that finally securing the fight at Croke Park, in front of around 60,000, would be the perfect way for Taylor to "bow out."
“After the Serrano fight it was the first time I’ve ever heard Katie say, 'If I fight again,' rather than when,” Hearn told
The Ring.
“I think that bowing at the right time is so important. I just think that last fight would be an amazing way to bow out.
“But there has been some conversations and you’ve seen the sports minister in Ireland saying they should get behind Katie Taylor at Croke Park. It’s still probably the only thing that may get her back in the ring.
“Selling out Madison Square Garden in front of a huge audience on Netflix and winning a trilogy is a great way to bow out, but so is having your last fight at Croke Park. It could be one of the only ways we see her in the ring again.”
When asked about the sort of opponent which might fit the bill for a fight of that magnitude, Hearn conceded that it’s not an easy question to answer.
“
Chantelle Cameron is a great fight but she doesn’t really have the profile necessarily,” he said. “Obviously you can’t do Serrano four but there are some other fights out there.
“Maybe
Caroline Dubois. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but they don’t necessarily have the profile for it. In that instance at Croke Park it’s about Katie Taylor but at the same time Caroline Dubois, Chantelle Cameron and Terri Harper are all in the same boat really.
“We haven’t even looked at opponents yet and she may not fight again, but we will give her a good rest and see what happens later in the year.
“Whoever it is against, I do think with her profile she has a chance of selling that place out. The occasion would just be incredible.”