Latest news with #KATIETaylor
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Croke Park was unreasonable' – Matchroom chief's damning Dublin verdict when asked about Katie Taylor's dashed dream
KATIE Taylor's dream Croke Park fight has not come to fruition due to Dublin's rip-off culture across the entire city. That damning verdict was expressed by Frank Smith, Advertisement 4 Smith laid out the headaches they've encountered when trying to arrange a Dublin fight for her Credit: @arielhelwani 4 It's not just costs around Croke Park that he deemed unreasonable 4 Once again she will be fighting stateside which is a pity from an Irish fan perspective 4 This latest Netflix fight will begin around 3.30 am on Saturday morning Credit: Sportsfile Appearing on He outlined: "We had a lot of meetings with Croke Park, it was very expensive. To run an event in Dublin is possibly one of the most expensive places in the world. "It's not just security either. There's hotels, transport... "Everything around Dublin - and I don't know why - is more expensive. We've done shows all around the world obviously. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport "At the biggest stadiums around the world too. Croke Park was like something I've never seen." Asked by host Ariel Helwani if the total costs were 'almost unreasonable' Smith agreed. He added: "I think so." Further on in the clip he didn't fully close the door the Irish icon ever getting her night at GAA HQ. But he sounded very pessimistic, adding: "It's very hard to make those numbers stack up is the reality. I'd always love to say (maybe) but no (it's not in the works)." Advertisement Most read in Boxing Exclusive The 39-year-old — who fought also fought Serrano in Madison Square Garden in Katie Taylor emotionally reconciles with dad Pete after NINE YEARS and welcomes him back for Amanda Serrano trilogy "I love Madison Square Garden. It's obviously one of the most epic and iconic arenas out there. 'It would have been special to fight in Croke Park but there's nothing I can do about that.' Advertisement A planned bout at GAA HQ was shelved in 2023 due to issues surrounding security costs. Taylor has fought twice in Dublin, with both battles against Chantelle Cameron — a defeat and Promoter Eddie Hearn Taylor added: 'Those things are out of my control. I don't let those things frustrate me. Advertisement "I can't let those things frustrate me. It's a pity it hasn't happened. But I'm very excited to be fighting at MSG again."
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Nothing in comparison' – Katie Taylor reflects on her highest pressure fight ahead of Amanda Serrano bout
KATIE Taylor helped inspire a generation of female boxers — but her career only started by pure chance. 2 The Bray native is preparing for her third fight against Serrano later this week 2 In 2007 Taylor fought Katie Dunn in Chicago in front of IOC officials It was only when Taylor's running training got rained off that she went down to her local St Fergal's Boxing Club to try it out for herself. And by the time her dad found out, she was already in the ring sparring with boys in the gym. Ahead of her Read more on Irish sport 'I just remember going to the gym and my dad looked around and I was already sparring. I always knew how to throw a punch, maybe it was years of watching my dad shadow boxing, but obviously much coaching was needed as well. 'I had good raw materials there and couldn't wait to get in there and fight. I think it was always part of who I am — it's in my blood to be a fighter.' Taylor was just 12 when she first started boxing and immediately earned the backing of her dad. But they had to pretend she was a boy at first by pushing her ponytail into her headguard and going by the alias K Taylor. Most read in Boxing Her future was determined from the moment she walked into the gym — maybe accidentally on purpose — even falling in love with the club's smell. Taylor, who also has 11 caps for Ireland in football, added: 'I don't think I ever really thought I was going to be a boxer. Katie Taylor takes on Amanda Serrano in dramatic rematch at Madison Square Garden 'I just always knew how to fight and how to throw a punch, where to put my hands, where to stand. That was just part of my make-up. But I don't think my parents, or anyone in my family, really thought I was ever going to be a fighter. 'But the minute I set foot in a boxing ring, that first day, I just fell in love with the sport and boxing gym. Just the atmosphere in the gym, seeing the guys sparring and hitting the bags, that was the start of the journey for me.' Taylor made history in 2001, aged 15, when she boxed Alanna Audley in the first officially-sanctioned female boxing match in Ireland. OLYMPIC TRAILBLAZER But still a problem lingered for Taylor and so many other girls — there was no room for women's boxing at the Olympic Games. In a bid to change the landscape of the sport forever, Taylor was selected to box in front of the International Olympic Committee. She travelled to Chicago in 2007 and Saint Petersburg two years later — with the hopes of every young female fighter on her shoulders. And after impressing IOC officials women's boxing was officially added into the London 2012 Games, where Taylor won gold. But earning the right for females to box at the Olympics meant much more than that 18oz medal, or any world title she won as a pro. Taylor said: 'People talk about the pressure today but it's nothing in comparison to the pressure I felt then. Then, I'm not just fighting for myself — but for every female fighter for boxing at the Olympic Games. 'I knew that I just had to perform in those fights because this was more important than myself. So, those were huge pressure fights and what I'm experiencing today is nothing in comparison.' Taylor qualified for the 2016 Olympics as a hot favourite — but was stunned by defeat to Finland's Mira Potkonen in the opening bout. She turned pro months later, embarking on the next chapter of her already illustrious story. Taylor became lightweight world champ in under a year and just seven bouts — since becoming undisputed in two divisions. But perhaps the opponent that will define her career more than anyone is Puerto Rican great Serrano. TAYLOR 2-0 SERRANO Taylor beat seven-weight champion Serrano, 36, in their 2022 classic at Madison Square Garden — both earning historic $1.5million paydays. Their Now, they will meet one last time — at New York's famed MSG again — in the early hours of Saturday. And Taylor explained: 'The nature of both our styles means it's always going to produce epic fights, it's just who we are. I can't imagine the third fight will be much different. 'The fights just keep getting better and better between us so I imagine that the trilogy will be as exciting — hopefully not too exciting! 'But just the nature of who we are, it's always going to be an absolutely great fight.'
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Nothing I can do about it' – Katie Taylor makes heartbreaking admission about her Croke Park dream
KATIE Taylor admits it is 'a pity' she has not fought at Croke Park. The Bray Bomber will face rival Amanda Serrano in a trilogy bout — with Advertisement 2 Taylor called back in 2022 for her next fight to be in Croke Park after defeating Karen Carabajal Credit: EPA 2 Croker has not held a boxing fight since Muhammad Ali defeated Al Lewis in 1972 Many believed Taylor would have fought at GAA HQ but those plans never came to fruition. Taylor — who fought at MSG against Serrano in "I love Madison Square Garden. It's obviously one of the most epic and iconic arenas out there. 'It would have been special to fight in Croke Park but there's nothing I can do about that.' Advertisement Read more on Irish Sport A planned bout at GAA HQ was shelved in 2023 due to issues surrounding security costs. Taylor has fought twice in Dublin, with both battles against Chantelle Cameron — a defeat and Promoter Eddie Hearn But Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna claimed there had been no talks. Advertisement Most read in Boxing Taylor added: 'Those things are out of my control. I don't let those things frustrate me. "I can't let those things frustrate me. It's a pity it hasn't happened. 'Irish cannot handle spice' - Watch Katie Taylor struggle in hilarious challenge with TWO Hollywood A-listers 'But I'm very excited to be fighting at MSG again."
