Taylor made for Cork?

There are many moving parts in the ongoing Katie Taylor homecoming fight venue fiasco, with Cork GAA remaining tight-lipped on the possibility of a Páirc Uí Chaoimh bid.

Following the announcement last week that Dublin native Katie Taylor would get a home turf rematch against undisputed featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano, reports came in that Croke Park was ruled out for the fight due to security costs.

Taylor, the undisputed lightweight world champion, beat Serrano at Madison Square Garden last April and the hotly anticipated rematch, scheduled for 20 May, will be one of the biggest world sporting events to take place in Ireland in recent decades.

Concern has also been raised that the fight would clash with the Heineken Cup final which is also set to take place in Dublin on 20 May.

With Croke Park seemingly out of the question, a number of rumours have circulated suggesting that the event could be brought to Cork’s 45,000 seater Páirc Uí Chaoimh, rather than the alternative 3Arena in Dublin which has only 8,000 seats.

Last week, West Cork TD Michael Collins made a public call for the fight to be brought to Cork in order to give Taylor the homecoming fight she deserves. His call followed a number of sources claiming that Cork GAA had already made contact with Matchroom Boxing, Taylor’s promoter.

The Cork Independent reached out to the Cork County Board asking if a bid had indeed been made for the fight and if the stadium would be available on the date, however no response confirming or denying the bid was received by time of going to print.

Meanwhile, controversial UFC fighter Conor McGregor has stepped in with a reported offer of €500,000 to cover the costs of security for the event at Croke Park.

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed he had been in contact with McGregor to discuss what it would take to get the event over the line in its original venue.

On 3 February, McGregor contacted Hearn on Twitter writing: “The extra security bill is 500k to have Katie Taylor fight at Croke park? I will sponsor the event to see this happen.”

Hearn responded by saying, “Let’s talk”, with McGregor later writing: “What’s the craic lad. Give me the current landscape. I’m in. Is this doable still? Or is it a double show, the point first with Croke Park later in year, post the GAA season? I’m in either way. She better be getting her worth for this also.”