'Croker or nowhere' as deal nears for Taylor's final bout

Katie Taylor feels excitement growing as her dream of fighting in Croke Park nears, while also acknowledging her career may be over if it doesn't materialise.

Taylor’s promoter and management met with Croke Park officials earlier this month with a view to finalising a farewell bout in the biggest stadium in the country.

The venue has been a long-term aspiration for Taylor, having conquered two weight divisions and broken down many barriers in female boxing.

Earlier this year Taylor committed to fighting in Dublin only for the final fight of her professional career.

Now the veteran pugilist feels it’s Croke Park or nowhere.

She told RTÉ Sport: "All I can say is a few weeks ago my promoter Eddie Hearn and [manager] Brian Peters had an amazing meeting with Croke Park. It was a very positive meeting. That's all I can say, I have no other confirmation other than that, but I know that the meeting went very, very well.

"From my perspective, it will be an absolute dream to end my career at Croke Park. It feels like the only way to wrap it up, really.

"I'm very, very hopeful. I know that the meeting did go very, very well. I think everybody seems to be on board. We're just waiting for confirmation. We're just waiting for a fight date now. But I'm still in the gym training. I'm not far away from fight ready. So once a day and once the flight is locked in, that's when I'll be focused on the actual flight itself."

Asked whether it was a case of the iconic GAA venue or retirement, she admitted that it remains her only target, having twice fought in the 3 Arena.

Taylor, speaking at the launch of Fizzique, a new soda drink co-created between SiSú and the world champion boxer, explained: "Yeah, Croke Park or nowhere for me. If it doesn't happen, it would be very, very disappointing.

"But just the thoughts of seeing all the tricolours, 80,000 people in Croke Park for my farewell fight, can it get any better than that? That would be very, very special.

"I don't know if anything else interests to be honest, there's not much else to go after. I felt that even in my last fight against Serrano, it felt different after that fight. It felt like a sense of closure, it felt like a sense of fullness to the journey. It was weird.

"Usually after every fight, I'm thinking about the next milestone or the next level. But after Serrano, the last fight, I was thinking about what else is there to go after?

"The only thing that would really interest me is the Croke Park fight. I felt like I was passing on the baton in a certain aspect. But I remember even speaking to my family the next morning at breakfast saying that this journey is coming to an end.

"We sat around the breakfast table just crying about all the amazing nights we had as a family on this amazing journey. We were hoping for one last night in Croke Park as a family, as a nation. It gives me goosebumps thinking about it."

A September date has been mooted for the fight. With no chance of Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua taking place in Dublin, it leaves Taylor the opportunity to headline, as well as a host of Irish fighters on an undercard.

An obvious opponent has yet to emerge, with Taylor open to any potential bout.

She explained: "It would be the icing on the cake to end my career in Croke Park. I fought in Madison Square Garden. I fought in the Excel Arena in London. I fought all around the world. This might even top it to be honest if I ended my career here. So here's hoping.

"There is no opponent confirmed to be honest but I’m willing to fight anyone whether it’s Holly Holm, Chantelle Cameron or anyone else. I think my whole career has stated I’ve never backed down from any challenge or any fight. That is why I’ve been involved in so many exciting fights in my career. I still have the heart for those big battles. Now one last time, we’ll see what happens."