‘I can’t quite believe it’s happening’: Eddie Hearn on Katie Taylor’s historic Croke Park fight

Katie Taylor’s next fight looks set to be her final fight, with the Irish legend getting her dream farewell at Croke Park, where she will face Flora Pili as she defends her WBO, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine titles and fights for the vacant WBC super lightweight championship in a historic undisputed clash. Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has spoken to The Stomping Ground, reflecting on delivering the desired final bout.

Katie Taylor’s next fight: Dream Croke Park farewell confirmed

The dream final fight of Taylor’s career had been heavily rumoured this week, with Matchroom Boxing announcing the Irish woman will face Flora Pili at Croke Park on September 5. Eddie Hearn for Matchroom Boxing, in association with Aiken Promotions, Brian Peters and Title Event Partner, Lidl Ireland, made the monumental announcement at a launch press conference today.

Should Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) defeat Pili (12-0, 2 KOs), she will become the undisputed champion for the third time. Pili is the current IBO champion, and will be eager to ruin the farewell party. The French woman’s best wins have come against Silvia Bortot and Diana Rodriguez. 

Revealing Katie Taylor’s next fight, Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said:

“For everything Katie Taylor has accomplished, and for all those she has inspired along the way, it is absolutely beyond deserved. From turning over as a professional a decade ago, to fighting in the most iconic stadiums around the world and making history at Madison Square Garden, she’s done it all. What a magical adventure it has been. Getting here to Croke Park has been years in the making. But we were never giving up on delivering this dream.

“And to end this special journey together by becoming a three-time undisputed champion of the world is indeed the perfect farewell to what has been an extraordinary fairytale. The noise when Katie Taylor walks out in front of Croke Park on September 5 – live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN – will reverberate around the world. She is the ultimate trailblazer for this amazing sport. She is a living legend.”

Eddie Hearn discusses Katie Taylor’s next fight

Reflecting on making the fight, and what to expect on September 5, Hearn told The Stomping Ground:

“I can’t quite believe it’s happening, and the response from the Irish people has just been incredible. And also the support throughout the whole process in trying to make it happen. This is going to be, of course, the biggest female fight of all time, the biggest crowd ever for an individual female athlete in any sport, one of the biggest events in Irish sporting history. 

“More importantly than that, Katie Taylor will be getting what she absolutely deserves. And I think if she would have retired without doing this, we would have always been kicking ourselves. This goes down as probably our greatest achievement because of what it is. You know, there was no blueprint for women’s boxing. There was no plan to follow. 

“It was a little bit of luck and some good promoting, but also more than that, a really special individual and a special fighter. And this will be a day that the Irish public will never forget, the way she’s represented them. The way she’s carried that flag through her biggest sporting moments. She’s unbelievably special, not just as a fighter, but as a person. Everybody here, everybody who buys a ticket, will leave this stadium on September 5, and just go, ‘That was one of the greatest nights I’ve ever had.’ 

“You’ll never forget it. You’ll never forget this moment. Not just a great night of boxing, but a great night of appreciation and support of Irish music and culture. And like I said, a big family element to this event as well in parts of the stadium, and just something the whole country will stop and appreciate on September 5.”

Featured Image Credit:

Picture By Mark Robinson