"Croke Park is like hallowed turf for us."
Andy Lee called for Katie Taylor to fight at Croke Park after the Bray boxer defended her lightweight world titles in style on Saturday night.
Taylor dispatched Karen Carabajal at Wembley Arena via unanimous decision. The Argentinian boxer came into the bout undefeated in her 19 professional fights. Carabajal, however, had no answer to the Irish fighter's excellence.
Immediately following the contest, Taylor and her promoter Eddie Hearn signalled their intent for a fight to be staged at
Croke Park in 2023.
Katie Taylor's homecoming fight at Croke Park.
The 2012 Olympic champion has never fought in a professional contest in Ireland. Hearn, however, said that they almost staged a rematch against Amanda Serrano in September earlier this year before it fell through.
The Matchroom promoter and Taylor still want a rematch against
Serrano in Dublin next year, but they are no longer prepared to wait for Puerto Rican.
Hearn and Taylor determined to stage Croke Park bout.
"Regardless of who it is, we want the fight at Croke Park," Taylor told DAZN,
"80,000 people. Every single person here will be at the fight. That will be the biggest event in women's boxing history."
Hearn said it now 'doesn't matter' who Taylor fights at Croke Park, as they are determined to stage her next bout at the storied Irish venue.
"We already had everything in place with Croke Park, with (Katie's manager) Brian Peters, the authorities," Hearn said.
"September the 15th, this year, we had been hoping to go. Amanda Serrano is saying the right things now.
"Honestly, time won't wait for Amanda Serrano. We hope it's her. It doesn't matter who it is, it's going to be the biggest fight. It has to be next, and it has to be Ireland."
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1586483229284044801
Andy Lee: Katie Taylor deserves Croke Park bout.
The push for Taylor to fight at Croke Park continued once the cameras left the ring. Former world middleweight champion Andy Lee was a pundit on DAZN's coverage and he gave the audience watching at home a historical overview of Croke Park's significance.
Lee explained that the Dublin venue is considered 'hallowed turf' for Irish sports fans. He also said that fighting at Croke Park would be the ultimate homecoming for Taylor, who has achieved everything else in the sport.
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Image via DAZN.[/caption]
"It's been called out for, people are begging for it at home," the Limerick native said on DAZN's coverage.
"They wonder why it hasn't happened already. It's long overdue, and there is historical significance to it.
"Croke Park is like hallowed turf for us. It's the home of Irish games, Gaelic games, hurling and Irish football.
"The only fight that happened there was Muhammed Ali back in 1972, he fought Al 'Blue' Lewis, so, it's long overdue.
"She's done everything, she's been all over the world, she's fought the best, she's won every belt there is to win, give her her homecoming now.
"C'mon, everyone wants it and she deserves it."
https://twitter.com/DAZNBoxing/status/1586477633100951552?t=hQiU0aEMUnapZKmHMX0WnQ&s=08
Related links.
Katie Taylor speaks about the phone call she received from Roy Keane after the 2016 Olympics
