Joshua, Fury Heavyweight Fight Won’t Happen At Croke Park – Hearn

A heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua “is not going to happen at Croke Park”, according to Eddie Hearn, who also confirmed he will have talks in Dublin on Friday to secure the stadium for Katie Taylor’s farewell fight.

Last week, Croke Park stadium chief executive Peter McKenna suggested a long-awaited fight for Taylor at the 82,000-capacity home of Gaelic games could happen on a card shared with Tyson Fury.

‘The Gypsy King’ marked his return to the ring after 16 months at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, out-pointing Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds and immediately calling for a fight with long-time rival Joshua, who was present at ringside.

Although no contracts have been signed, a long-awaited fight between the pair may take place later this year, but it will not be in Dublin according to Hearn, who promotes Joshua and Taylor, who he says deserves to be the star attraction of any big night at Croke Park.

“There is nothing else on the agenda apart from Katie Taylor,” Hearn said on Matchroom Boxing’s social media channel.

“Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury, for me, is not going to happen at Croke Park.

“Katie Taylor is not fighting on any undercard. If there is a fight at Croke Park, it should be Katie Taylor and Katie Taylor only.

“That is the whole story; that is the history, the legacy and nothing short of what she deserves, so on Friday, we will be at Croke Park to try and advance those talks.”

‘We’ll do all we can to make Taylor’s dreams come true’
Katie Taylor flanked by Eddie Hearn following her win over Amanda Serrano in New York last summer.

Taylor, 39, has made no secret of her desire to fight in the stadium before she retires.

The Irishwoman has not boxed since her trilogy victory over Amanda Serrano in New York’s Madison Square Garden last summer but has indicated she wants one final fight in Dublin this year before hanging up her gloves.

A two-weight undisputed champion, Taylor has fought twice in the Irish capital before, both at the 3 Arena against Chantelle Cameron after attempts to secure Croke Park fell through, with security costs offered as a reason.

However, Hearn feels the time is right to try again and says he and his team will “do everything we can to make it happen”.

“There’s massive public demand and momentum for this to happen,” he added.

“Katie Taylor has made it clear she wants to fight one final time. She has done everything in the sport you can do: she’s European amateur champion, world amateur, Olympic gold medallist, world champion, unified champion and undisputed champion.

“She’s sold out Madison Square Garden, boxed at Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Stadium, so this is the moment Irish sport stops and pays homage to not just one of the greatest people of all time, but one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Ireland.